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4 supplements that might be sneakily sapping your libido

Nypost · · 542 words · By Rachel Sacks
Health and Wellness Sexual Health Supplement Safety
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What to know about Health and Wellness

4 supplements that might be sneakily sapping your libido See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 10
Techniques found 2
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center50%
Right50%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

4 supplements that might be sneakily sapping your libido See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on Google Not all supplements are super.

Common ground

The wellness market is chock-full of supplements that promise you better sleep, healthier skin, improved muscle growth and extended longevity.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Fear: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/16/health/4-supplements-that-might-be-sneakily-sappin…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Appeal to Fear 70% confidence
Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 4
check_circle Corroborated 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
verified Verified 1
help
Claim 1: “Some studies show that consuming licorice may lower testosterone levels”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for the claim that licorice lowers testosterone levels.
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Claim 2: “melatonin, saw palmetto, St. John’s wort and licorice root may actually be altering or lowering hormone levels that are tied to libido.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent web search results explicitly list melatonin, saw palmetto, St. John's wort, and licorice root as supplements that may lower libido by altering hormone levels.
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web search NEUTRAL — Ones like melatonin, saw palmetto, St. John’s wort and licorice root may actually be altering or lowering hormone levels that are tied to libido.
https://nypost.com/2026/08/16/health/4-supplements-that-migh…
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web search NEUTRAL — Melatonin, saw palmetto, St. John's wort, and licorice root may all lower libido by disrupting hormones like testosterone, per the New York Post. St. John's wort is especially risky with other drugs; …
https://thegrayvine.com/threads/4-common-supplements-may-be-…
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web search NEUTRAL — While low libido is a cause for concern for many people, others may wonder why their libido is always so high.These hormones tend to be flaring when we're at the height of romance 5. , which is why li…
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/why-am-i-so-horny
info
Claim 3: “the Mayo Clinic lists nearly two dozen types of potentially harmful Saint John’s wort interactions, including with antihistamines (may cause buildup of the drug in the body), narcotics (may increase sleepiness) and birth control (may diminish its effectiveness).”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one source (The GrayVine) explicitly mentions the Mayo Clinic listing 'nearly two dozen' interactions including antihistamines, narcotics, and birth control. Other results confirm Mayo Clinic's existence or general interactions but not the specific count and list.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mayo Clinic ( MAY-oh) is a private American academic medical center focused on integrated healthcare, education, and research. It maintains three major campuses, in Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayo_Clinic
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MCASOM), formerly known as Mayo Medical School (MMS), is a research-oriented medical school based in Rochester, Minnesota, with additional campuses in Arizona …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayo_Clinic_Alix_School_of_Med…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — William Worrall Mayo (May 31, 1819 – March 6, 1911) was an English American medical doctor and chemist. He is best known for establishing the private medical practice that later evolved into the Mayo …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Worrall_Mayo
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 4: “This [melatonin], in turn, could suppress reproductive hormones like luteinizing hormone, reducing sexual interest in female animals.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While evidence shows melatonin is studied in relation to LH and sexual activity in animals (goats, hamsters), the specific causal link that it 'suppresses LH to reduce sexual interest in female animals' is not explicitly confirmed across multiple independent sources in the provided evidence.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Plasma progesterone in entire goats, plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) in the OVX group, and live weight and body condition score for all animals were recorded once a week.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19631371/
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web search NEUTRAL — Female hamsters were treated each afternoon for 8 weeks with subcutaneous injections of 25 kg of either melatonin or vehicle solution. Animals were sacrificed in either the morning or afternoon of die…
https://www.academia.edu/121219474/The_Effects_of_Melatonin_…
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web search NEUTRAL — First, the animals are subjected to long days in order to prepare them to respond to the stimulatory effects of subsequently administered short days. These photoperiodic treatments can induce sexual a…
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26694541_Effect_of_…
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Claim 5: “Saw palmetto works by blocking the enzyme that changes testosterone into dihydrotestosterone”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that saw palmetto works by blocking 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Does saw palmetto actually block DHT? Which is the best DHT blocker?An enzyme called 5 alpha reductase converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT binds to androgen receptors in the hair…
https://wimpole.com/blog/saw-palmetto-vs-finasteride-an-expe…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — It works by blocking 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT, which can lower sex drive. Higher testosterone can boost libido and support stronger erections.
https://www.allohealth.com/blog/sexual-dysfunction/erectile-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 5-alpha-reductase is the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into DHT. Laboratory research suggests that certain components of saw palmetto extract may influence this enzymatic activity.
https://www.trixbasic.com/pages/saw-palmetto-hair-loss
verified
Claim 6: “Men may often take this supplement [saw palmetto] for hair loss and to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate, a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).”
VERIFIED
Web search results confirm saw palmetto is used as a DHT blocker for hair loss and is associated with treating BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia). Note: Some search results were irrelevant (horror movie 'Saw'), but the medical results support the claim.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Saw is an American media franchise created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell. The horror saga began with the eponymous 2004 film and quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. It has expanded in…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_(franchise)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Saw is a 2004 American horror film directed by James Wan in his feature directorial debut, and written by Leigh Whannell, from a story by Wan and Whannell. It stars Whannell alongside Cary Elwes, Dann…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_(film)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Oct 29, 2004 · Saw: Directed by James Wan. With Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Ken Leung. Two men awaken to find themselves on the opposite sides of a dead body, each with specific instruct…
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0387564/
info
Claim 7: “St. John’s wort may also cause sexual side effects — many of which are similar to those of antidepressants — including erectile dysfunction, delayed orgasm and lowered sex drive.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided search results mention St. John's wort treats depression and has drug interactions, but do not explicitly list erectile dysfunction, delayed orgasm, or lowered sex drive as side effects.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — St. John’s wort (both oral and topical) can increase the sensitivity.
https://www.verywellmind.com/st-johns-wort-a2-89959
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — St. John's wort can treat mild to moderate depression. But the supplement interacts with many medicines and can cause serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare professional before taking St. Joh…
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-st-johns-wort/a…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Erectile dysfunction is confusing. What do you do when you can't get hard? Many men seek natural remedies to cure their ED. But the first step in the treatment of your impotence is to identify if it i…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Wfmq2zRlE
help
Claim 8: “It [licorice root] may also have anti-androgen actions by blocking the enzymes needed to make testosterone”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for the claim that licorice root has anti-androgen actions by blocking testosterone-making enzymes.
check_circle
Claim 9: “this [melatonin] could backfire on libido by negatively influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis”
CORROBORATED
Multiple scientific-leaning sources confirm that melatonin influences the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and reproductive hormone rhythms.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Title:Melatonin and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis. Volume: 20 Issue: 15.In mammals, melatonin can influence sexual maturation and reproductive functions via activation of its receptors and bindi…
https://www.benthamscience.com/article/50545
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Melatonin significantly influences the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive hormone rhythms.
https://www.academia.edu/113988545/Melatonin_and_Sex_Hormone…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Potential Side Effects. Drowsiness, headache, and dizziness. May interact with blood pressure medications and can affect blood sugar levels. It can influence other hormonal systems, particularly in lo…
https://www.allohealth.com/blog/sexual-dysfunction/erectile-…
info
Claim 10: “While rare, it [saw palmetto] may have mild testosterone-related effects, namely lowering the amount of the hormone”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this specific claim consists of irrelevant results about the 'Saw' movie franchise. No medical evidence was provided in the search results to corroborate that saw palmetto lowers total testosterone levels.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Saw is an American media franchise created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell. The horror saga began with the eponymous 2004 film and quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. It has expanded in…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_(franchise)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Saw is a 2004 American horror film directed by James Wan in his feature directorial debut, and written by Leigh Whannell, from a story by Wan and Whannell. It stars Whannell alongside Cary Elwes, Dann…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_(film)
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Oct 29, 2004 · Saw: Directed by James Wan. With Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Ken Leung. Two men awaken to find themselves on the opposite sides of a dead body, each with specific instruct…
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0387564/
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.