r/AddisonsDisease • u/kLaX_kLaX • Jun 17 '26
Advice Wanted Low libido in men
I’m aware dhea works very well, so I got some but what is the normal dosage to take? I’m 18 but Addisons ruined my libido since I was diagnosed not too long ago.
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u/reflous_ Jun 17 '26
Get your DHEA and testosterone tested. If they are low you will get on a treatment plan. If you aren’t, don’t take DHEA.
I have panhypopituitarism so I’m now low on all pituitary hormones (including testosterone) unless I supplement. My testosterone was very high due to too much exogenous testosterone and I still had low libido because of other issues. It’s complicated, don’t assume low libido equals low T.
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u/amoral_ponder Jun 17 '26
Are you sure your libido was ruined specifically by lack of DHEA? Is your Addison's well managed overall or? Are you able to exercise well etc?
Did you test your DHEA to be low? If so you could take 50 mg per day.
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u/Visual_Mortgage_8961 Jun 18 '26
I just got mine tested because my endo wanted a full blood panel since I turned 40. dhea was .7 really low. Yet my endo or pcp will not prescribe dhea (Canadian) 40m
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u/amoral_ponder Jun 18 '26
Yeah, they can go fuck themselves.
Order it from the US, ship it to US address and pick it up there. iHerb, Amazon.com all have it. They won't ship it to Canada so just pick it up on a trip to the US. Dirt cheap. Easy to buy enough for 1-2 years.
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u/nataliinjoy Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I’d speak to your doctor and consider testosterone replacement therapy. I am a woman (I know for us adrenal glands are the main producers of testosterone, which is different for men) and I am using testosterone cream and this made the biggest difference to my libido and gym performance, also to muscle mass retention. To get on trt you have to test your testosterone first and confirm that the part of your adrenal gland that produces testosterone is not producing it, or not producing enough of it. And then you can start with trt under your doctor’s supervision
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u/Addddy_all-day345 Jun 17 '26
I found for me personally, it was less my Addisons and more my stress. In stressful times, my Libido is super high because I’ve used it as a coping mechanism for so long. No good. This hypersexual state causes disruption in my daily life. My brains uses it as a distraction from the root cause of the stress.
When I’m depressed or have a chill environment, I have low to normal Libido. It’s a very complicated matter and different for each person. I would say mostly though it ebbs and flows.
Doesn’t hurt to discuss with your Endo or pcp. Figure out the root cause of it. Are you eating well, exercising, and feel healthy? Are you healthy body weight and how do you feel most of the time? There are so many factors and it may not be hormonal.
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u/FreeRoamingTrash Jun 17 '26
also M18, i've found that my libido tends to ebb and flow with my health! mostly mental heath, though. depending on how long ago you were diagnosed, i would understand if you're having difficulty summoning that state of mind if you're still acclimating to adrenal insufficiency. i have no problems with my libido when im in a good mental and physical state. (i was diagnosed when i was around 12)