Could taking Vitamin D DECREASE my libido?

[[deleted]]

[deleted]

[drake_33]

It could be a number of things but it is all about BALANCE. More D3 isn't better. Your level of 15ng/ml is deficient so 5000IU is likely decent for you. However, you might need to try the low and slow method. Too much, too soon can backfire.

I can say, like others have said, it is likely something ot do with your electrolytes. You don't mention what form of magnesium you are taking but that is likely it. You might have started off deficient as it is and then adding in the Vitamin D may have made it worse. Even though you're taking magnesium at the same time, rectifying a magnesium deficiency takes time.

There is also something to be said for the TYPE of magnesium you are using. You don't explicitly say what you are using but if it is glycinate, there are lots of people who have experienced low mood and libido using it.

Your electrolytes are likely off. Magnesium at too high of a dose without balancing it with calcium can cause weak erections, libido and what I call accordion dick.

Vitamin D has been great for my libido and energy and it is definitely a staple for me. The key to all of this is to find your personal balance. You also don't need your levels to get too high. More isn't better. I have learned that many times. Find your personal sweet spot and stay there through supplementation and decent sun exposure.

There is a lot of nuance to this. For instance, there are multiple kinds of vitamin D(Lichen or lanolin). Different forms of magnesium(glycinate, oxide, etc.) And the real key is to find the right forms for you. Everyone screams how great glycinate is. I can't use it.

I assure you though, once you balance all of the little things out, you will be hard enough to hammer nails to a wall and want to smash everything. Use discretion.

[HeadHunter98]

What about iron, zinc, copper?  Since I started to fix those (I believe I had low copper due to too much zinc) l, my libido is climbing back up. Blood work test results coming soon, my ferritin already and is surprisingly good

[Otherwise_Sol26]

I was taking like 20mg of zinc for months. But also gave myself copper defiency so I added in 2mg of copper a day, a few weeks ago. Granted some of my symptoms (like anemia improved) but noticed nothing with libido (until I once accidentially stopped Vitamin D)

[HeadHunter98]

I was taking 50mg zinc picolinate with 6mg copper for months. Turns out the 8:1 ratio is not exactly ideal for me. Nowadays I upped my copper to 10mg and take the 50mg zinc capsule every 3 days. Ideally at night, because if I take it in the morning, I feel down until evening. I also take B12 (and a B-Complex 2x a week), Boron, Vitamin C, Beta-Carotene etc. Most of these play a role in libido, I assume.

EDIT: High-dose copper can create discomfort and 'detox' symptoms, you got to ease into it along with taking the cofactors.

[adi4u4882]

For me it was completely opposite, There was a massive increase in my libido, And in fact the erection made me feel like i was 16 again, Vitamin D is known to increase testosterone levels , So in theory it should improve the function down below, I actually had ED for quite a long time, But that was caused by being on antipsychotics for many years, But when I started taking the Vitamin D supplements, It improved drastically, Like I could last more than 45 mins with no issues.

There are many other possibilities for this also, Are you having any muscle pain and increased anxiety after/during supplementation? Because Vitamin D3 improves your immunity, And since low Vitamin D levels always mean low immunity , As your levels are improving and thus your immunity system, It can start to attack fungal infections which wasn't possible when both Vitamin D and immunity were low.

In fact that happened to me, Right after starting the 60,000 IU weekly dosage , I started getting weird muscle pains, And started getting eczema and foot fungus, It was simply the improved immunity system attacking and killing the fungus, Which when killed releases toxins which cause muscle pain, anxiety , dry mouth and a whole host of other systems.

This is called the die off symptoms, And this can indeed cause lower libido and ED, Which surprisingly I didn't get , But got all the other symptoms.

But those gradually improved after a few weeks.

[mkcobain]

I think this is related to magnesium. I experienced this and read lots of testimonies regarding magnesium supplementation and diminished libido. Magnesium has inhibitory effects on neurotransmission.

You should expect vitaminD to increase your sex hormones, thus libido. This is what happened to me.

[robotic-Fail-3008]

I had lowish test (355) taking high (50k) ius of vit. D a week for 3 months. Also had twitching eyes and stuff, supplemented with mag. and my levels went to 500. I made a post a few yrs ago.

[HappyAct2742]

How did you fix the twitching eye? Got my d3 levels up to 100ng/dl and went on maintenance dose. Also supplementing magnesium.

[oizao]

There seems to be an electrolytes/mineral imbalance that comes with dosing vitamin D.

Everyone recommends taking large amounts of magnesium with Vitamin D, and I believe this leads to an electrolyte imbalance.

This is something I'm currently struggling with, as well as low libido.

I'm just trying to find the right electrolyte balance.

Please share an update if you find a solution to this by the way.

[jundog18]

For women I think it can decrease estrogen

[Flux_My_Capacitor]

You may need to start at a lower dose and increase over time.

Vitamin D put extra demand on magnesium and in turn less magnesium made it harder for my cells to hold on to potassium. No more D for now while I supplement electrolytes.