Libido product, what are your thoughts on this product?
There are many of us out there having a problem with the Mojo in our lives. My DH is always trying to find something to help us in that area, but unfortunately most of the things he has found has some sort of estrogen or something else in it that we are not suppose to have. Well this is the latest one that he found, supposedly all natural and I would just like to know if anyone has tried it or their thoughts on it. I thought about emailing the company to ask if it were safe for cancer patients that are ER PR positive, but they say if you have questions, ask your doctor....so I didn't even bother to send one.
The product is Libido for Women 4 way support. Manufactured by Pure Essence Labs. The ingredients are as follow:
Looking forward to hearing from anyone with any comments on this product. I would so love to try something, but then again so scared that it could be harmful and I know nothing about all the stuff that is in it!
Lori
Comments
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It is very rare for supplements to be tested using scientifically sound methods in humans (due to huge expense). So probably no one can tell you with any honesty what affect that supplement, especially one with so many ingredients, will have on you, especially concerning a potential breast cancer recurrence.
If you are taking tamoxifen, please be aware that many, many drugs interfere with tamoxifen effectiveness, so there is a big potential for supplements to also interfere with tamoxifen effectiveness.
Sorry. I know it stinks. I could also use some help in the mojo department but am not confident that anything is safe. I have a theory that women on tamox may actually be safe, even if getting a little estrogen since the whole purpose of tamox is to block estrogen receptors in breast tissue. That is why it is helpful in reducing recurrence in premenopausal women (who still have much estrogen floating around in their bodies) - because the tamox is effective at blocking estrogen effects in breast tissue. But I have no data to support this - its just my theory.
Edited to ad: Without rigourous testing, I would not consider it safe to supplement with estrogen. I work in the science field - and I see perfectly rational theories fail again and again. Many/most? theories regarding complex issues turn out to be worthless.
Best - Jackie
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Does anyone have any thoughts on compounded testosterone cream?
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Thank you Jackie, I appreciate the response. I am not on Tamox. but I am on Arimidex, also a hormone blocker.
Shanagirl, sorry no help from me on your question.
Lori
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goldie - Since you are on Arimidex, an aromatase inhibitor, you don't have to worry about other drugs or supplements interfering with its effectiveness, but you should probably stay away from additional estrogen because an AI works by blocking the formation of estrogen in your body, but does not block the effect of estrogen in your body once it gets there.
Shanagirl I believe testosterone can be converted by the body to estrogen, so I would be wary of it.
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Orange, thanks for your reply. I wonder if any of these ingredients would work in the same manner as soy, which we are suppose to avoid! It would take me days to google all these different herbs, roots, etc. Maybe I should just forget it!
Still open to thoughts, opinions, etc.
Lori
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Hi Lori,
I don't know what most of the ingredients in this supplement are, but I do know that dong quai is estrogenic. I know a couple of women who've taken it to help combat their menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, etc.) Here's a quote about it from the University of Maryland Medical Center website:
"People who are at risk of hormone-related cancers, including breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers, should not take dong quai because researchers aren't sure if it has estrogen-like effects."
Unfortunately, I think a lot of supplements out there that claim to have a positive impact on women's libido have at least one type of ingredient that might be contraindicated for women who have had ER+/PR+ breast cancer. It's a bummer, isn't it?!
Audrey
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I've seen several conference presentations in which dong quai killed breast cancer cells in a test tube. Donq quai is more like progesterone. It promotes progesterone and vaginal lubrication. It also works the same way progesterone and iodine do to lengthen menstrual cycles which have become too short due to lack of progesterone.
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Goldie, L Arginine is an amino acid. the other ingredients are in such small amounts. The The L Hisitdine is actually part of the Arginine, but they list it just to make it look impressive on the label. Since these supplements are not scientifically tested a lot of these mfrs. don't even have the propriety to meet the label claims. My Onc told me to stay away from supplements that are phyto estrogens. Soy is a good example. But there are such trace amounts of each ingredient I don't believe it would "feed" the BC. The BioPerine listed on the bottom is nothing more than pepper and is in such a tiny amount if it's even in there. The first ingredient is the active ingredient but even that is not in really high quantity... Hope this helps.
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That's such a complexity of ingredients its hard to believe anyone could give you the lowdown on it. I see tribulus listed as the second ingredient. Its a know libido booster. It was originally thought to be a lutenizing hormone mimic, which then should cause increased hormone production. Bodybuilders and weightlifters flocked to it in the belief it could increase testosterone production. I believe that theory is now shot down, and how it actually works is unknown. Yet there are many studies verifying that in animals, it does boost libido. But the problem as to what it might do to breast cancer cells is no doubt unknown.
Yes, testosterone does convert into estrogen. That's what's known as aromatization, and is the target of the aromatase inhibitors. What I'd like to know is whether a non-aromatizing androgen (and thus incapable of converting to an estrogen), such as winstrol would be safe. Its definately known to boost libido (so say female bodybuilders who have used it). You'd need to talk to an endocrinologist.
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