bulgarian tribulus - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[kettlebell king]

I just wondered if any one had any bad experiences or advice on Bulgarian tribulus? I took it for over a month a few months ago- I didn't notcie any real difference although for the first 2 weeks I fel a bit more buzzed up about things- the trouble came about 3-4 weeks in I lost my sex drive completely! ops: pretty unsual for me! It took about a month to come back after stopping the tribulus. One of my training partners also experienced the same problem too- any ideas?

[muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT]

Hey Sam,

Well if Bulgarian tribulus does what it is suppose to, raises testosterone levels, it may be that after you stop taking it, your body had to cut back it's testosterone production to return to its normal levels of testosterone.

Less testosterone flowing through your veins = less sex drive.

Steroids work in the same way except adding artificial testosterone via steroids almost shuts down your body's own production of testosterone. So the steroids increase your sex drive a great deal, until you go off of them.

Joe Cannon may have some further insight, Joe? opcorn:

All the best,


Dave

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

Yes I have a few ideas about Tribulus. Ive been investigating and writing about supplements (those that work and don't work) for over a decade I can tell you that I see no good peer reviewed evidence the tribulus boosts testosterone, improves strength or any aspect of exercise performance. In my book, Nutritional Supplements What Works and Why I review the major claims and evidence for Tribulus. Ive copied much of the tribulus/exercise section below for you to read:

Tribulus and Exercise

"Tribulus is another member in the long list of supplements marketed to bodybuilders and others who desire bigger, stronger muscles. The general theory behind tribulus is that it is supposed to elevate luteinizing hormone which in turn sends instructions to the testes causing them to make testosterone. More testosterone might mean more muscle growth if combined with exercise. In theory it all sounds plausible however the problem is that most experts don’t think it works. While the amount of good studies that have been conducted on tribulus are few in number, they tend show that it doesn’t increase strength, decrease body fat or improve sports performance-even when it is combined with a strength training program.782 In other words, even if tribulus could significantly elevate testosterone levels—which is debatable—it’s irreverent because that doesn’t seem translate into the real reason people use it—to make them stronger...."

Its ironic you should say it knocked out your sex drive because tribulus is usually a major component of some "male performance" supplements....

Forget Tribulus. I hope this helps. you can read more about other supplements you may be taking at my website
Joe

[kettlebell king]

thanks- to be honest id never take it again ive tended to stick to creatine now days- funny as i've known a few people now who said it knocked out there sex drive- waste of money and time!

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

sounds good I'm glad I can help. thats interesting about the sex drive issue. I did not see anything on it in the medical literature. Ill have to do some digging on it and see what I can find.
Joe

[kettlebell king]

about 10 years ago when i got into training seriously unfortunately I did a 6 week course of steroids- misguidedly recommended by a local trainer- but the tribulus had the same effect on my sex drive as that did the first two weeks felt extremely hot under the collar so to speak like a teenage boy then this petered completely off in the following weeks even when taking the tribulus to a point where maintaining any sort of ridgity was a complete problem :shock: !

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

thats really interesting. just as an aside, I would not have any faith in a personal trainer who recommended anabolic steroids to healthy people. stuff like that could get his certification (if he had one) revoked.
Joe

[kettlebell king]

I know - he was qulaified but was well into pro body buiding and as i was young and impressionable kind of foolishly looked up to him! very different mind set now days!

[Joe Cannon MS CSCS]

thats normal don't worry about it. making mistakes is part of being human.
Joe

[kettlebell king]

a funny man once said- 'when people say they are only human its usually because they have been making beasts of themselves!' :lol: