Hello! I was so happy to hear about this book, finally something to help libido I used to have a HUGE libido, but then years of being on the Pill completely killed it, and even after being off it, it never came back Anyway, so I've been trying to follow the guidelines in the book, I admit I haven't been as strict with it as I should be but I'm trying. I've been on it for about 4 weeks but haven't seen much of an effect yet.

I'm wondering if you have any advice for vegetarians? I find it a bit hard to eat high protein/low carb without any soy, before I was eating lots of bread, rice dishes, pasta, and lots of soy! I am trying to add in more dairy and eggs though to help replace the protein, or like if I eat like a roll or something with no protein in it, I'll eat a spoonful of peanut butter with it, do you think that's good enough? Also if I gave in and eat soy, how long will that effect me for?

I'm taking the Omega-Zen-3 DHA algae pills, was taking 900mg but just bumped it up to 1200mg(I'm 5'2 115lbs). If I'm also eating eggs that contain DHA should I take that into consideration or is it not much? I think the DHA is just in the yolk right? I usually try to eat just one egg yolk a day. Also, if I take 2 pills right before I go to bed at night, will it still have an effect in general or is it just a fast acting thing?

Also is it ok if I take just a calcium/magnesium supplement with no zinc in it? My multivitamin has 100% RDA for zinc already.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: african_cichlid79,

It's so hard for vegetarians to be on this diet!

Try and get as much protein as you can. I know it's hard without soy. Go ahead and take the calcium/magnesium/zinc even if your multi has the RDA (it's the zinc that helps the most with libido). The important thing for vegetarians--are you getting enough iron?

The DHA content of the eggs should be on the label, so check. Yes, that would contribute. Although vegetarians just taking the DHA should take a little extra since they aren't getting any EPA. I would even try going up to 1500 mg.

The DHA is rather fast-acting, the effect usually hits around an hour or two after taking, once the baseline has been reached.

I hate to say this, but Dr. Irwin Goldstein has found that some women on the Pill for a long time can permanently lose healthy testosterone levels. If you fall into that category, you might need the additional help of testosterone replacement therapy--you might want to consider getting bloodwork done on your hormone levels.

I think you need more than a spoonful of peanut butter to balance out a roll, in terms of protein. I know it's really hard without soy. I know the classic way to balance is to eat a lot of beans and cheese, to get a complete protein. Beans, cheese and rice dishes can be a good balance, with lots of vegetables added in. In fact there is a pro-sexual bean--fava beans. It raises dopamine.

Make sure to take the iron supplement; vegetarians have a difficult time getting enough iron.

If after a month of staying at 1500 mg of DHA and getting three ounces of protein at every meal things are still not happening, I would say it's not working for you, and advise you to see an endocrinologist.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Marrena,

With the fava beans you have to eat it whole, not just the beans themselves.

So iron definetly has a sexual effect on libido then? I know it's needed for general health, and that it would indirectly affect libido that way, but what is in iron that actually affects libido directly. Does it affect SHBG, or testosterone levels?

Thanks for responding so quickly As far as iron, my iron actually is a bit low so I started taking an iron supplement every other day(not because I'm veg., it just runs in my family). Do you know what I should aim for my iron levels to be?

The problem with a calcium/mag/zinc pill is that all of them seem to have calcium carbonate which is not good for my IBS(not to be TMI but it's constipating!). I can look around though and see if I can find something. What is the amount of zinc we should be having?

So every meal I should try for 3oz of protein? I will definitely check out the fava beans! I think one thing that could be hindering things is I've been eating a bread everyday that contains a bunch of soy fiber, today I'm going to buy a different kind!

I actually have had my hormone levels tested, the doctor said they're fine. She also said that she would not prescribe testosterone and that I probably wouldn't find someone who would. I've read about the long term effects of the Pill too, I hope this isn't permanent, I never would have gone on the Pill if I knew this was a side effect!!

That's good to know then! So good total testosterone to work with.

Do you have the bloodwork with the ranges? I am particularly interested in your SHBG levels.

Iron is not in itself pro-sexual, but if a woman has an iron deficiency it will kill libido. Vegetarians tend to be iron deficient. Here's more on iron and healthy levels and foods

http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/iron.asp

Although iron is MUCH more constipating than calcium carbonate. But if you take enough fish oil, constipation will certainly not be a problem! Fish oil keeps you very regular.

Yes, try for three ounces of protein per meal, at the very least.

Here was my blood tests(you probably don't need the bottom 3 but I'll include them anyway):
Testosterone, free- 1.1
Testosterone- 55
DHEA Sulfate- 202
Follicle Stimulating Hormone- 4.2
Luteinizing Hormone- 11
Prolactin- 17

Did they not do my SHBG levels or is it in there?

I don't find the algae oil to be helping me go at all, then again I have IBS so my digestive system is weird! I did find a Calcium/Mag/Vitamin C powder that looks easier to digest, perhaps I will get that and add in a zinc with it. You didn't say though, how much is the amount of zinc I should go for ontop of the 100% with my multi?

If I am assuming the correct units, your doctor was quite right! Your total testosterone is great. Your free testosterone is good, but it could be a little higher, and that is done by dropping your SHBG level, which my diet will do. The Pill raises SHBG. So does soy, at least according to some studies. Zinc lowers it.

I generally say it's okay to double the RDA of zinc, but you are so small I'm not sure in your case. I guess stick with what you are doing.

Although I do wish you could try fish oil, rather than the algae stuff.

http://www.oilofpisces.com/inflammatoryboweldisease.html

Ok that's good you agree with my blood test results. I'm really going to try to eat high protein/low carb more, the past few weeks I added more protein but still have been eating rice, bread, cereal, etc more then I should be, I'm still getting used to the diet. No can do on the fish oil , algae will have to do!

The human body can convert DHA to EPA, so I'm tempted to tell you to take even more than 1500 mg, despite your weight. But stay at 1500 mg for a month and see what happens. That should at least give you some initial signs of libido!