Klin Farmakol Farm. 2026;40(3):170-175 | DOI: 10.36290/far.2026.016

Magnesium and sexual health: biological mechanisms, clinical evidence and practical implications

Marek Broul^1-3, Aneta Hujová³, Kateřina Langmaierová⁴

¹ Sexuologické oddělení, Krajská zdravotní, a. s. - Masarykova nemocnice v Ústí nad Labem, o. z.

² Urologické oddělení, Krajská zdravotní, a. s. - Nemocnice Litoměřice, o. z.

³ Fakulta zdravotnických studií, Univerzita J. E. Purkyně v Ústí nad Labem ⁴Oddělení klinické farmacie, Krajská zdravotní, a. s. - Masarykova nemocnice v Ústí nad Labem, o. z.

Magnesium is an essential intracellular cation involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions. In the context of sexual health, its relevance mainly derives from its role in neuromuscular function, endothelial homeostasis, vasodilation, energy metabolism, glucose and blood pressure regulation, stress response and sleep quality. Direct clini­cal evidence that magnesium supplementation improves sexual function remains limited. The strongest signal concerns male sexual health, particularly the association between lower magnesium stores and erectile dysfunction, but available data are mainly observational. In women, direct evidence is scarce and the literature rather supports an indirect role through pain, premenstrual symptoms, mood and sleep than a proven direct effect on sexual function. In the psychiatric and psychosomatic domain, limited to moderately convincing evidence suggests a possible benefit for selected sleep and depressive outcomes, although study results are heterogeneous and cannot be directly extrapolated to sexual complaints. From a clinical pharmacology perspective, magnesium salts differ in solubility, bioavailability, elemental magnesium content, tolerability and interaction profile. Current evidence therefore does not support recommending magnesium as a standard treatment for sexual dysfunctions. It may, however, be considered a potentially modifiable factor in selected patients, particularly in the presence of suspected deficiency, cardiometabolic risk, sleep disturbance or psychosomatic burden.

Keywords: magnesium, sexuality, sexual health, erectile dysfunction, endothelial function, clinical pharmacology.

Received: March 29, 2026; Revised: March 29, 2026; Accepted: May 6, 2026; Published: October 14, 2026  Show citation