# What Aphrodisiacs Work?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-aphrodisiacs-work/551128>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 23, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-aphrodisiacs-work/551128 "2010-08-23T02:17:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 4

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kamrusepas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@Kamrusepas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamrusepas)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-aphrodisiacs-work/551128/61 "2010-08-28T11:28:13Z")

</div>

Being a hot guy.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-aphrodisiacs-work/551128/62 "2010-08-29T05:18:04Z")

</div>

> [@outlierrn](#):
>
> > [@BigT](#):
> >
> > Actually, I was referriing to the same drug mentioned earlier: PT-141. According to the Wikipedia link, the use for sexual dysfunction has been abandoned.
> > 
> > For a while, it was all over the news. I think there was even a thread here discussing the ethics of using it.
> 
> Maybe not, seems like the inhaled version had some blood pressure spikes in a subset of test subjects, but a subcutanous injection may be ok, they’re trying to get the FDA to let them resume trials.
> 
> I don’t remember the thread you speak of, why did people think it was unethical?

Now that I think about it, I actually think it was in a discussion of pheromones, and how ethical it would be to use ones that would actually work, and someone mentioned the trial. The ethics questions about the drug were if it were possible to use like a pheromone, not about the usage for sexual dysfunction. Would such a pheromone/drug take away free will, or is using it the same as other things people do to make themselves more attractive?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-aphrodisiacs-work/551128/63 "2010-08-30T17:11:10Z")

</div>

> [@Ladymarmalade](#):
>
> > [@Ladymarmalade](#):
> >
> > So, aphrodisiacs - for women- what works? What doesn’t work? How do you know? 🆒 Thanks.
> 
> Has anybody (women especially) tried maca, damiana, yohimbe or other herbal aphrodisiacs?

I don’t think you hear what we are saying.

There is zero evidence that any herbal aphrodisiacs work.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-aphrodisiacs-work/551128/64 "2010-08-30T22:34:18Z")

</div>

> [@md2000](#):
>
> Deep down, according to evolution, guys are looking for good breeding stock and gals are looking for the best alpha male provider.
> 
> Hence guys are looking for young and nubile, gals are looking for a guy with a wallet and power.

So does that mean batteries not included?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-aphrodisiacs-work/551128/65 "2010-08-30T23:16:51Z")

</div>

> [@AskNott](#):
>
> Keep in mind, mid-February is the most expensive time to buy roses.

I dunno, they’re dirt cheap on the 15th…

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-aphrodisiacs-work/551128.md?page=3)