# Drugs for REDUCING sex drive? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 18, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674 "2004-07-18T07:17:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pride\_of\_the\_Peaches](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Pride\_of\_the\_Peaches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pride_of_the_Peaches)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674/1 "2004-07-18T07:17:09Z")
I know that anti-depressants often have this effect, but I am a little surprised that there seems to be absolutely no interest in creating drugs that reduce sex drive. I can see how they could be abused by being forced on people, but still, it seems like there has to be someone out there besides me who would appreciate just shutting their libido down until it could be something besides a nuisance. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674/2 "2004-07-18T07:19:08Z")
This topic has actualy come up several times before. In all of the threads the only answer was anti-depressants. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Pride\_of\_the\_Peaches](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Pride\_of\_the\_Peaches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pride_of_the_Peaches)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674/3 "2004-07-18T07:22:37Z")
It has? Dang, I thought I searched thoroughly enough . . . ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674/4 "2004-07-18T15:25:17Z")
Anti-androgens like progesterone do reduce the male sex drive to some extent, and have been recommended for use in some jurisdictions for sex offenders. ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674/5 "2004-07-18T22:33:11Z")
**Qadgop the Mercotan** Is progesterone the “chemical castration”? I’m asking this because I’ve heard about sex offenders getting that stuff. Will it work? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674/6 "2004-07-18T22:52:43Z")
> [@gum](#): > > **Qadgop the Mercotan** Is progesterone the “chemical castration”? Pretty much. It or one of its related compounds, configured to be given by injection in the muscle and lasting for months. > [@](#): > > I’m asking this because I’ve heard about sex offenders getting that stuff. Will it work? It does reduce the sex drive. Many people who have been given it (either for sex crimes or because of their own discomfort with their sexual urges) report that it gives them a “break” from their urges. But it will not render a man incapable of having sex. While it helps some control their urges, it will not prevent inappropriate sexual activity in someone who still is dead-set on engaging in such. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674/7 "2004-07-18T23:20:06Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Pretty much. It or one of its related compounds, configured to be given by injection in the muscle and lasting for months. > It does reduce the sex drive. Many people who have been given it (either for sex crimes or because of their own discomfort with their sexual urges) report that it gives them a “break” from their urges. > > But it will not render a man incapable of having sex. While it helps some control their urges, it will not prevent inappropriate sexual activity in someone who still is dead-set on engaging in such. This is off topic, but does it reduce the desire for destructive sexual urges (the desire to rape or molest children) or does it just reduce the ability to get physically aroused and able to commit these acts? Does it actually eliminate desires for sex which is psychological in nature (rape and molestation strike me as being more about psychology than sex) or just sex with a biological origin? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674/8 "2004-07-18T23:25:14Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > This is off topic, but does it reduce the desire for destructive sexual urges (the desire to rape or molest children) or does it just reduce the ability to get physically aroused and able to commit these acts? Does it actually eliminate desires for sex which is psychological in nature (rape and molestation strike me as being more about psychology than sex) or just sex with a biological origin? Depends on the individual, their urges, motivations, responses, etc. But many men troubled by their desire for inappropriate (including violent) sexual contacts reported a significant decrease in these sorts of desires. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674/9 "2004-07-19T00:32:25Z")
I recall reading that a side effect of both finasteride and duatesteride (sp?) was reduced libido. Both were originally developed to reduce the prostate gland, but have also been found to have the possible side effect of increased hair growth. So if you are male and want to potentially reduce your libido and shrink your prostate and grow hair (or keep from going bald), these might be worth researching. Check trade names Proscar and Propecia for starters. (Add standard disclaimers about NAPhysician or Pharmacist or even someone who reads the PDR) ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674/10 "2004-07-19T02:09:12Z")
Strychnine or cyanide are effective and permanent! ---
**Author:** ![RingOfFire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47774/32.png) [@RingOfFire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RingOfFire)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674/11 "2004-07-19T02:14:26Z")
What about SaltPeter? ---
**Author:** ![Pride\_of\_the\_Peaches](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Pride\_of\_the\_Peaches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pride_of_the_Peaches)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drugs-for-reducing-sex-drive/255674/12 "2004-07-19T03:31:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Strychnine or cyanide are effective and permanent! Well, if I threatened to try those perhaps I could get me some anti-depressants . . .