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Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
How I stuck a £3.99 patch on my body to turbo boost my flagging libido… but did it help spice up sex life?
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. We also reveal four libido boosting alternatives t o the patches to rev things up in the bedroom SEXUAL HEALING How I stuck a £3.99 patch on my body to turbo boost my flagging libido… but did it help spice up sex life? NO matter how much you love and fancy your partner, there are times when you just don't feel sexy. I've been with my husband Bryn, 42, for 17 years and our sex life looks a lot different to when we first met, especially since having our two daughters, now ten and three. 9 Clio Wood, with husband Bryn, finds out if a stick-on supplement can rev up things in the bedroom Credit: Lorna Roach 9 She tested out The Patch Collection's Libido version Credit: Lorna Roach 9 The patches contains a variety of plant extracts and herbs Credit: Supplied Recent research by Higher Nature found one in four women aged over 50 has no interest in sex, while 81 per cent say their libido has declined since menopause. But it isn't just Gen X struggling – studies have shown Millennials and Gen Z have less sex than previous generations at their age. A 2018 study by counselling Relate found that 61 per cent of people in their 30s were having less sex than they would like and 31 per cent said they've 'lost their libido since having children'. I can relate to this. After a traumatic birth with my first daughter, sex was painful for a long time due to scarring and pelvic floor issues. It took months for me to find out what the problem was and years to recover. Thankfully we've put in a lot of work to get back to enjoying sex. Bryn and I have a happy balance, both favouring quality over quantity, and trying to avoid comparisons with other couples. Sometimes we have sex three times a week, particularly just after I've ovulated and my hormones are telling me to get busy making babies. But at other times things are a bit quiet in the bedroom department and it might not be for weeks or months. Forget vibrators and sexy lingerie - perk your sex life up with a libido-enhancing supplement This tends to be because we're tired and busy. On top of raising our kids, we are moving house, Bryn has changed jobs and I'm running my own business. These are all some of the most stressful things you can do in life and there's little time to switch off, let alone find an extra hour to get turned on. We all know sex can be fun, but it's also about connecting with your other half and even with yourself - which isn't always easy. For us, the times when we are both in the mood are when sparks really fly. But the tricky part is getting our libidos in sync, especially of late. I'm not expecting a long-term relationship like ours to feel like a teen romance – but finding an easy way to kickstart arousal would be welcome, especially when we know we have a child-free few hours to enjoy ourselves. Luckily, there's a growing market for products that claim to boost your libido. I'm not expecting a long-term relationship like ours to feel like a teen romance – but finding an easy way to kickstart arousal would be welcome Rather than drugs like Viagra, designed to get things up and ready for action, these are more subtle. They contain ingredients that claim to stimulate your desire for getting intimate. One of the most affordable options is patches that you stick onto your body half an hour before you'd like to jump into bed. They enter your bloodstream topically through the skin, for faster absorption and no impact on the gut. I was sent a pack from The Patch Collection, who produce patches to aid with everything from jetlag and metabolism to insect bites and period pain. Their Libido version contains a variety of plant extracts and herbs - fo-ti, damiana, gotu kola, saw palmetto, tribulus terrestris, Siberian ginseng and L-arginine. These ingredients lay claim to benefits like increased energy and better mental clarity. Saw Palmetto may balance hormones while L-arginine could increase blood flow. Cringe-free A single patch costs £3.99 – or you can get a pack of 15 for £19.99, working out at just £1.33 each, with extra discounts if you subscribe. Generally, we enjoy vanilla sex but with a few sprinkles thrown in. It's not unusual for us to try a new toy and we have tried libido boosters in the past - with some success, so we are both up for trying these. They're discreet, arriving in the post in anonymous and cringe-free packaging. The instructions are straightforward. You simply peel off the back, stick on a hairless area of skin and you're done. They are barely noticeable, with no pulling when you take it off. The first time I use them, the instructions say to put the patch on around 30 minutes ahead of time to feel the effects. I do this after dinner, a bit ahead of going to bed. As I wait, there's a little shift in my libido - but not much. 9 There wasn't the real oomph of arousal that I was hoping, says Clio of the patches Credit: Lorna Roach 9 Bryn says there wasn't the impact he'd expected either from the £3.99 product Credit: Lorna Roach I give it a little longer but don't get the hoped-for turbo boost and luckily (or not), Bryn slept badly the night before so our planned sexy session doesn't happen. It's a disappointing start. The second time, after a few days apart from each other, we both try the patches - they are unisex. It's not just women whose libido fluctuates. According to the NHS, one in five men suffer with loss of libido at some point in their lives. We try to keep things as 'normal' as possible to make the experiment fair, so we avoid having romantic or sexy touches, like a special dinner or lacy underwear. We go to bed at the usual time and this time we do have sex. It's enjoyable. It's not just women whose libido fluctuates However, we're often more turned on when we've been away from each other so it's hard to tell if the change is due to that absence or the boost from the patches. We decide to give it one last shot. Maybe 30 minutes before a roll in the hay just isn't long enough to light our fires? We choose a weekend when we are away together with friends, both wearing our patches for the whole day. The result? Well, we do have sex - we're away without the kids, after all. We had spent quality time together, in grown-up company, not worried about the kids all day, and had a delicious dinner date. This can make all the difference. However, there wasn't the real oomph of arousal that I was hoping for. Bryn says there wasn't the impact he'd expected either. We've used other libido boosters before which, in our experience, have worked better. Hanx's Libido Lift - which is £3 per sachet - works fast, and lasts for ages. When I tried that I was stunned by how quickly I felt turned on. I had gulped it down mixed with water before bed and it worked wonders. We also once experimented with libido boosting chocolates by the brand ForPlay. Gold-flecked, they brought on an intense feeling which lasted well into the next day. So much so that the second time we used them I only ate half a square of chocolate so I wasn't left turned on the next morning. For me these libido patches did not have the same effect. Maybe the placebo effect of using the patch may be stronger than the work of its ingredients. When I felt a twinge of arousal, it could have been from circumstances as much as the patch itself. This might be due to the delivery method – I don't think you can get as much active ingredient as you need via the skin. I also wonder if different people will respond to the ingredients better than others or need a stronger dose of one element to have an effect? But it's still worth giving a go, as even just the thought of getting frisky with your partner might be the bedroom boost you need. And if it doesn't work, give a different one a try! Clio is the author of Get Your Mojo Back: Sex, Pleasure and Intimacy After Birth, £14.99, Watkins. 4 MORE LIBIDO BOOSTING BUYS Hanx Libido Lift, £14.99 for five sachets, 9 Hanx Libido Lift are peach-flavoured supplement easily dissolvable in water or cocktails Credit: Supplied This peach-flavoured supplement is easily dissolvable in water, smoothies or cocktails, containing traditional aphrodisiac maca root powder, as well as vitamin B6, Tribulus terrestris, L-arginine and maritime pine bark extract. ForPlay Chocolates, £28, 9 ForPlay Chocolates includes three for him and three for her, plus six play cards Credit: Supplied There's a luxury vibe to these adaptogen-infused treats to enjoy together. Includes three for him and three for her, plus six play cards. Available in milk or dark. Oh Collective Date Night Chocolates, £14.95, 9 Oh Collective Date Night Chocolates include a truth or dare card Credit: Supplied These dark chocolate and strawberry treats have extra oomph thanks to maca, panax ginseng, damiana and cayenne. Box includes four chocs plus a truth or dare card. Novomins Turn Me On Gummies, £19.99, 9 The Novomins Turn Me On Gummies are a classic vitamin supplement boost wellbeing Credit: Supplied These gummies are more of a classic vitamin supplement, containing maca, damiana and L-arginine as well as zinc and vitamins B6 and B12 to boost wellbeing.
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
How I stuck a £3.99 patch on my body to turbo boost my flagging libido… but did it help spice up sex life?
NO matter how much you love and fancy your partner, there are times when you just don't feel sexy. I've been with my husband Bryn, 42, for 17 years and our sex life looks a lot different to when we first met, especially since having our two daughters, now ten and three. 9 Recent research by Higher Nature found one in four women aged over 50 has no interest in sex, while 81 per cent say their libido has declined since menopause. But it isn't just Gen X struggling – studies have shown Millennials and Gen Z have less sex than previous generations at their age. A 2018 study by counselling Relate found that 61 per cent of people in their 30s were having less sex than they would like and 31 per cent said they've 'lost their libido since having children '. I can relate to this. After a traumatic birth with my first daughter, sex was painful for a long time due to scarring and pelvic floor issues. It took months for me to find out what the problem was and years to recover. Thankfully we've put in a lot of work to get back to enjoying sex. Bryn and I have a happy balance, both favouring quality over quantity, and trying to avoid comparisons with other couples. Sometimes we have sex three times a week, particularly just after I've ovulated and my hormones are telling me to get busy making babies. But at other times things are a bit quiet in the bedroom department and it might not be for weeks or months. This tends to be because we're tired and busy. On top of raising our kids, we are moving house, Bryn has changed jobs and I'm running my own business. These are all some of the most stressful things you can do in life and there's little time to switch off, let alone find an extra hour to get turned on. We all know sex can be fun, but it's also about connecting with your other half and even with yourself - which isn't always easy. For us, the times when we are both in the mood are when sparks really fly. But the tricky part is getting our libidos in sync, especially of late. I'm not expecting a long-term relationship like ours to feel like a teen romance – but finding an easy way to kickstart arousal would be welcome, especially when we know we have a child-free few hours to enjoy ourselves. Luckily, there's a growing market for products that claim to boost your libido. I'm not expecting a long-term relationship like ours to feel like a teen romance – but finding an easy way to kickstart arousal would be welcome Rather than drugs like Viagra, designed to get things up and ready for action, these are more subtle. They contain ingredients that claim to stimulate your desire for getting intimate. One of the most affordable options is patches that you stick onto your body half an hour before you'd like to jump into bed. They enter your bloodstream topically through the skin, for faster absorption and no impact on the gut. I was sent a pack from The Patch Collection, who produce patches to aid with everything from jetlag and metabolism to insect bites and period pain. Their Libido version contains a variety of plant extracts and herbs - fo-ti, damiana, gotu kola, saw palmetto, tribulus terrestris, Siberian ginseng and L-arginine. These ingredients lay claim to benefits like increased energy and better mental clarity. Saw Palmetto may balance hormones while L-arginine could increase blood flow. Cringe-free A single patch costs £3.99 – or you can get a pack of 15 for £19.99, working out at just £1.33 each, with extra discounts if you subscribe. Generally, we enjoy vanilla sex but with a few sprinkles thrown in. It's not unusual for us to try a new toy and we have tried libido boosters in the past - with some success, so we are both up for trying these. They're discreet, arriving in the post in anonymous and cringe-free packaging. The instructions are straightforward. You simply peel off the back, stick on a hairless area of skin and you're done. They are barely noticeable, with no pulling when you take it off. The first time I use them, the instructions say to put the patch on around 30 minutes ahead of time to feel the effects. I do this after dinner, a bit ahead of going to bed. As I wait, there's a little shift in my libido - but not much. 9 9 I give it a little longer but don't get the hoped-for turbo boost and luckily (or not), Bryn slept badly the night before so our planned sexy session doesn't happen. It's a disappointing start. The second time, after a few days apart from each other, we both try the patches - they are unisex. It's not just women whose libido fluctuates. According to the NHS, one in five men suffer with loss of libido at some point in their lives. We try to keep things as 'normal' as possible to make the experiment fair, so we avoid having romantic or sexy touches, like a special dinner or lacy underwear. We go to bed at the usual time and this time we do have sex. It's enjoyable. It's not just women whose libido fluctuates However, we're often more turned on when we've been away from each other so it's hard to tell if the change is due to that absence or the boost from the patches. We decide to give it one last shot. Maybe 30 minutes before a roll in the hay just isn't long enough to light our fires? We choose a weekend when we are away together with friends, both wearing our patches for the whole day. The result? Well, we do have sex - we're away without the kids, after all. We had spent quality time together, in grown-up company, not worried about the kids all day, and had a delicious dinner date. This can make all the difference. However, there wasn't the real oomph of arousal that I was hoping for. Bryn says there wasn't the impact he'd expected either. We've used other libido boosters before which, in our experience, have worked better. Hanx's Libido Lift - which is £3 per sachet - works fast, and lasts for ages. When I tried that I was stunned by how quickly I felt turned on. I had gulped it down mixed with water before bed and it worked wonders. We also once experimented with libido boosting chocolates by the brand ForPlay. Gold-flecked, they brought on an intense feeling which lasted well into the next day. So much so that the second time we used them I only ate half a square of chocolate so I wasn't left turned on the next morning. For me these libido patches did not have the same effect. Maybe the placebo effect of using the patch may be stronger than the work of its ingredients. When I felt a twinge of arousal, it could have been from circumstances as much as the patch itself. This might be due to the delivery method – I don't think you can get as much active ingredient as you need via the skin. I also wonder if different people will respond to the ingredients better than others or need a stronger dose of one element to have an effect? But it's still worth giving a go, as even just the thought of getting frisky with your partner might be the bedroom boost you need. And if it doesn't work, give a different one a try! Clio is the author of Get Your Mojo Back: Sex, Pleasure and Intimacy After Birth, £14.99, Watkins. 4 MORE LIBIDO BOOSTING BUYS Hanx Libido Lift, £14.99 for five sachets, 9 This peach-flavoured supplement is easily dissolvable in water, smoothies or cocktails, containing traditional aphrodisiac maca root powder, as well as vitamin B6, Tribulus terrestris, L-arginine and maritime pine bark extract. ForPlay Chocolates, £28, There's a luxury vibe to these adaptogen-infused treats to enjoy together. Includes three for him and three for her, plus six play cards. Available in milk or dark. Oh Collective Date Night Chocolates, £14.95, These dark chocolate and strawberry treats have extra oomph thanks to maca, panax ginseng, damiana and cayenne. Box includes four chocs plus a truth or dare card. These gummies are more of a classic vitamin supplement, containing maca, damiana and L-arginine as well as zinc and vitamins B6 and B12 to boost wellbeing.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
One in four women aged over 50 has no interest in sex, research suggests
It's a statistic sure to provoke debate: One in four women aged over 50 has no interest in sex, research suggests. Some 24 per cent have gone off the idea while 15 per cent never get frisky and 81 per cent say their libido has declined since going through the menopause. Suzanne Noble, host of the podcast Sex Advice For Seniors, said of the findings: 'While a reduced libido does play a role in a woman's enthusiasm for sex, improved communication between partners, increased knowledge about changes in arousal patterns and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine can all help restore feelings of sexual desire.' The report, commissioned by vitamins and minerals firm Higher Nature, found 26 per cent of over-50s women would consider taking a supplement to boost their sex drive. A separate study shows that staying in work can help women remain mentally and physically sharp as they enter their 60s. It is especially good for keeping 'cognitive functioning' going for those living alone rather than with a partner, according to researchers at the Institute for Fiscal Studies economic think-tank. The research examined the impact on women resulting from big increases in the state pension age over the past 15 years. It is now 66 and will rise to 67 next year.
Telegraph
18-02-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Why you need more vitamin C and the best foods to boost it
As we battle through the final stretch of winter, staying resilient against sickness is key. Vitamin C, as most of us know, is one of the essential nutrients doing a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to supporting our immunity and keeping us well. But as Lynsey Vaughan, an associate nutritionist at Higher Nature says, it also has many other roles to play. 'It's a crucial antioxidant also needed for energy production, wound healing, bone, teeth and skin function, supporting the nervous system and psychological function as well as helping us absorb iron from foods.' Crucially vitamin C isn't stored in the body (unlike fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D and E), so it's necessary to get a regular intake from food, explains Nichola Ludlam-Raine, a registered dietitian and author of the book How Not to Eat Ultra-Processed. Here we explain the health benefits of vitamin C and the top 10 fruits and veg packing the mightiest punch. How much vitamin C do I need? The NHS advises that adults between 19 and 64 require 40mg of vitamin C a day. However, Dr Sabine Donnai, the founder of longevity company Viavi, says vitamin C deficiency is common. ' Studies suggest that 34 per cent of men and 27 per cent of women are not getting enough.' Both experts point out that in the UK, we have much lower recommendations as opposed to in the US and EU, which 'reflects the daily intake for healthy individuals to prevent deficiency,' says Vaughan, not to support 'optimal' health. The NHS levels are 'based largely on studies in the 1940s looking to prevent scurvy.' Bear in mind, the elderly, smokers and those struggling with chronic illness are more vulnerable to deficiency, suggests Vaughan. Does vitamin C actually prevent colds? We tend to think of vitamin C in general terms crediting it for 'curing' colds, but according to Ludlam-Raine this is slightly misleading. 'While vitamin C won't stop you from catching a cold, studies show it may help to reduce the duration and severity of symptoms in certain people,' she says. Dr Donnai highlights that it's a nutrient that's busy in our bodies behind the scenes. 'As well as supporting immune functioning (so keeping us well), it also helps neurotransmitter production, wound healing, fatty acid metabolism, blood vessel formation, as well as many other processes and pathways in the body.' How do we know if we are deficient in vitamin C? Serious vitamin C deficiency results in scurvy, which although still rare in the UK, has been increasing significantly over the last 10 years, says Lynsey Vaughan. 'Low levels are associated with a range of common symptoms such as fatigue, iron deficiency, bleeding gums, bruising easily, dry, scaly or bumpy skin, brittle hair and frequent infections.' 'Fortunately, there are plenty of delicious and naturally rich sources of vitamin C, from everyday favourites like oranges and peppers to lesser-known, and so-called 'superfoods' such as guava and kiwiberries. When considering what the 'best' sources go for the fruit or veg that is most accessible and therefore easiest to incorporate into your daily diet.' Ten of the best foods to boost your vitamin C intake It's the classic go-to fruit for vitamin C. Cheap and readily available all year round, and one small glass of its juice counts as one of your five a day. Satsumas have around half the amount of vitamin C, but they're easier to eat. However, while oranges may be the most commonly associated fruit with vitamin C, it's not actually the one most packed with the nutrient. Many of us in the UK were raised on the 'hero' cruciferous vegetable rich, being well-known to be rich in antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds. But vitamin C? That's not an obvious association, but good to know. 'It's a brilliant source and can so easily worked into many classic favourite dinners,' says Vaughan. For those who can digest it raw – such as in salads – even more of the vitamin will be retrained, 'or just lightly steaming it also means you'll reap the benefits,' she adds. These incredible cherries may be hard to find but they are the richest in vitamin C of all the fruits and veg. Not to be confused with the regular kind (although similar in size and usually ruby red too) acerola cherries (also known as Barbados cherries or West Indian cherries as they're grown in the sun) are one of the most potent sources of ascorbic acid, a natural form of vitamin C. Their flavour is tart but sweet, and since the cherries tend to spoil fairly quickly after picking, they're often made into juice, frozen or dried and ground into a powder (the latter of which is sometimes used as an ingredient in vitamin C supplements). They're not easy to buy here in the UK, admits Dr Donnai, 'but the freeze-dried versions contain the same amount of vitamin C as the fresh variety.' They're sweeter in the early summer of course, hence the association with Wimbledon, but ingesting the red fruit supports skin and immune health all year round. Even in small doses, says Dr Sabine, vitamin C helps modulate inflammatory responses, 'potentially reducing excessive inflammation that can harm tissues during infections,' she adds. So simply adding a few chopped onto yogurt or breakfast cereal all helps. Ludlam-Raine suggests the 'tiny but mighty' blackcurrant berries are a great alternative for people who might find citrus fruits harder to digest. Like strawberries, the smaller purple berries are also grown in the UK (as well as abroad) and ripen in our summers. The sweet yellow fruit isn't only rich in vitamin C, says Ludlam-Raine, but also bromelain, a group of enzymes (found in the stem and flesh) that break down proteins. In South and Central America the rough-skinned fruit has been traditionally used for medicinal purposes (including postoperative pain after wisdom tooth extraction, sinusitis, osteoarthritis, and exercise-induced muscle soreness). While pre-prepared pots of fresh pineapple sold in supermarkets contain similar levels to the freshly chopped fruit, canned versions do not, as the heat used to can the pineapple has been found to reduce vitamin C levels. 'The gold varieties of kiwis (those with smooth, hairless skin that's golden-brown in colour) offer more vitamin C but slightly less fibre than the green (those with fuzzy brown skin and oval shape),' says Vaughan. 'Kiwiberries can be harder to source – and more expensive – than kiwis, but can be up to four times as rich in vitamin C,' she adds. 'These tiny, smooth-skinned kiwis pack a punch, containing more vitamin C per gram than an orange,' says Ludlam-Raine. They're grown in many places including China (hence also being known as 'Chinese gooseberries') New Zealand and California, and in France, Greece, and Italy in Europe. Interestingly, the colour of peppers, whether bell or chillis, greatly changes how much vitamin C they each boast. 'A single red bell pepper delivers over 150mg of vitamin C [as opposed to a green one which only contains a third of the amount], making it an excellent source,' says Ludlam-Raine. A yellow pepper sits between red and green, containing 100mg. After bananas, mangoes, and pineapples, papayas are the fourth most traded tropical fruit, although they prefer warmer climes they can actually be grown in the UK. The flesh is a pleasingly cheerful orange, but the musty smell they have when chopped isn't for everyone. 'The antioxidants are great for skin health though,' says Ludlam-Raine. The round or pear-shaped tropical fruit native to Central and South America and the Caribbean is 'one of the richest sources of vitamin C, with just one large guava providing over 200mg, five times the daily requirement,' says Ludlam-Raine. The normally pink-coloured, sweet-tasting flesh can be eaten raw, sliced, or added to desserts, juices, smoothies, jams, and jellies. 'Guavas offer similar levels of vitamin C as kiwiberries (see below) but are not always available in supermarkets here,' says Vaughan. Another surprising entry proving fruits aren't the only way forward in the quest for vitamin C boosting. 'These winter favourites offer around 75mg per three heaped tablespoons - almost twice as the recommended daily base level in the UK, and they come with added fibre benefits,' says Ludlam-Raine. So why wait until Christmas? FAQs Can you get too much vitamin C? In the EU, says Vaughan points, the upper safe limit for daily supplementation is 2,000mg. But 'overdosing' is unlikely. Vitamin C is water-soluble, meaning excess is excreted in urine rather than stored, says Ludham-Raine. 'Consuming over 1,000mg per day may cause stomach upset or diarrhoea,' she adds. If you find that you're suffering from any undesired laxative effect, splitting intake into lower doses throughout the day can help. Can supplements be as good as eating vitamin C rich foods? The best sources of vitamin C are fresh fruits and vegetables, however in the UK data suggests less than a third of adults manage the recommended five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day. As humans – unlike many other animals – are unable to synthesise our own vitamin C, so according to Dr Donnai 'it's crucial we get this unique antioxidant from our diet or through supplementation '. 'Due to vitamin C's roles in immunity, energy production and the body's antioxidant systems, supplementing can be helpful during times of stress, illness and recovery,' says Vaughan. 'If you're feeling sluggish, topping up may give you a boost. Powdered vitamin C is great as it can be flexibly dosed and helps with hydration goals- simply mix with any cold drink.' Does cooking destroy vitamin C? Vitamin C is heat-sensitive, so lightly steaming or eating vegetables raw is best to preserve its benefits, says Ludlam-Raine. Are frozen fruits rich in vitamin C? Don't rule out the freezer aisle if fruits are out of season, says Ludlam-Raine. 'Frozen fruits and vegetables retain most of their vitamin C or even contain more (due to it being preserved nearer to the time of picking so the nutrient doesn't degrade), making them a great option when fresh produce isn't available.' Levels of the vitamin are also dependent on the fruit and how far it's travelled and in what condition it is eventually consumed. If you're opting for tinned versions, check on the labels for those with the least added sugar. 'And the tinned versions, like the dried varieties, have slightly less due to the heat that is used during processing,' says Ludlam-Raine. 'But tinned fruit still counts as one of your five a day as not all nutrients are reduced, so if that's more accessible to people, don't be put off.'
