Coffee may boost sexual desire in females

Caffeine found in coffee and tea may increase sexual motivation in female mammals, at least in female rats, according to a Southwestern University study that will be published in the next issue of Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior.

In the study, Fay Guarraci, an assistant professor of psychology at Southwestern University, and Stacey Benson, a 2005 Southwestern graduate, administered a moderate dose of caffeine to 108 female rats, observing their sexual behavior in a mating test.

The researchers found that caffeine shortened the amount of time it took the females to return to the males after receiving an ejaculation, indicating the females were more sexually motivated to be with the male rats.

Although there is a possibility that caffeine may enhance sexual motivation in other female mammals such as humans, Guarraci cautioned that the results might not be applicable to humans. Dr. Guarraci stated this caution because most humans consume moderate doses of caffeine on a daily basis.

“These rats had never had caffeine before,” she said.

“In humans, it might enhance the sexual experience only among people who are not habitual users.”

Results of the study were presented at the recent meeting of the Society for Neuroscience