Tons of people struggle to get revved up about sex. It can mess with their relationships and how they feel about themselves. So enter the multimillion-dollar supplement industry with miracle solutions. Even Big Pharma has joined the battle for our libido, with drugs that claim to work wonders. But what if our ideas about sex drive are completely wrong? What if a pill (or testosterone injection) isn't the answer? We dive into the groundbreaking science on libido — and what you can do if you can't get no satisfaction. With sex therapist Professor Heather Goltz, sexual health researcher Professor Caroline Pukall and endocrinologist Professor Waljit Dhilo.

Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsSexDrive 

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) Chapter 1: Our limping libidos

(04:16) Chapter 2: Sex drive and testosterone

(08:24) Chapter 3: Kisspeptin: The new kid on the block

(17:13) Chapter 4: Libido-boosting supplements and medications

(24:39) Chapter 5: When your libido takes work

We're performing at Beaker St in Tasmania and Wendy Zukerman will be at Splendour in the Grass. 

This episode was produced by Wendy Zukerman with help from Joel Werner, Rose Rimler, Michelle Dang, R.E. Natowicz, and Meryl Horn. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Emma Munger, Peter Leonard and Bobby Lord. Data Analysis by Sam Levang.

Thanks to everyone we reached out to for this episode, including Professor Sari Van Anders, Dr Emily Harris, Dr Jennifer Power, Dr Simone Buzwell, Dr Alexandra James, Professor Sheryl Kingsberg, Professor Barbara Mintzes, Dr Leonor Tiefer, Dr Mats Holmberg, and Dr Alexander Comninos. 

Special thanks to Jack Weinstein and Hunter, Katie Vines and Finn and Jules, Chris Suter, Elise and Dylan, the Natowicz family, the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson.

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices