Tanko, Y., Eze, E. D., Olatunji, M. O., Jimoh, A., Mohammed, K. A., Balarabe, F. and Mohammed, A.,
Fasting has been advocated to have numerous effects including reduction of libido. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of varying duration of fasting on sexual behavior (libido) in sexually normal male albino rats. Twenty rats were divided into four groups of five rats each. Group I served as the control and had access to food and water, Group II were fasted for 6 hr, Group III were fasted for 12hr daily for four weeks and Group IV were administered with Depo provera (Medroxyprogesterone) 5mg/kg b w intramuscularly that reduce libido. Libido was then assessed in male rats by observing the mounting frequency and post ejaculatory interval. The study showed no significantly (p>0.05) decreased mounting frequency after 6 hr and 12 hr in fasted male rats when compared with the control group. Post ejaculatory interval did not significantly (p>0.05) change in the fasted male groups after 6 and 12hr respectively when compared with the control group. In conclusion, the result obtained revealed that 6 hr and 12hr complete fasting for four weeks produced no significant reduction of libido in normal male wistar rats.
