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Maca

Maca

Best for

Feel more sexual desire

Large effect, needs confirmation 1500–3000 mg/day 2–12 weeks 1 meta-analysis, n=89 #1 of 9 studied

Maca shows a large effect on sexual desire, with an early erectile-function signal in adults; confirmation remains necessary because trials are small.

Median effective dose, most-studied outcomes

  • Feel more sexual desire 2,250 mg 2–12 wk
  • Improve sexual function 3,000 mg 12 wk
  • Get and keep firmer erections 2,400 mg 12 wk
Full protocol, 6 outcomes

Risk, worst reported severity

  • Falsely elevated total plasma testosterone due to immunoassay interference mild
  • Taste dislike mild
  • cyclophosphamide major
  • finasteride moderate
All 12 events and interactions

What maca actually does

Outcome Effect Evidence Dose Time Rank
Worth watching 4
Feel more sexual desire Large effect, needs confirmation Sexual desire and arousal can make intimacy feel more wanted and engaging.
large 		1 meta-analysis 3 papers · n=89 1500–3000 mg 2–12 wk #1 /9
More reliable erections Large effect, needs confirmation Erectile function shapes comfort, confidence, and intimacy during sex.
large 		1 meta-analysis 1 papers · n=50 2400 mg 12 wk #5 /8
Better sexual function for women Promising early signal Sexual function includes desire, comfort, arousal, and satisfaction, including around menopause.
moderate 		1 meta-analysis 4 papers · n=170 1500–5000 mg 6–12 wk #4 /8
Greater sexual satisfaction Promising early signal A satisfying sex life can include enjoyment, connection, and time for intimacy.
moderate 		1 RCT 1 papers · n=18 3000 mg 12 wk #3 /7
Early research 1
Less overall discomfort during menopause Not enough research Menopause symptoms can affect comfort, sleep, mood, and daily life.
— 		1 RCT 1 papers · n=— 2000 mg 8 wk —

Effect tiers come from native-unit MCID where available, Cohen's d otherwise.

Protocol

Dose, timing & forms

How much

For maca's strongest early signal, sexual desire, trials used 1,500 to 3,000 mg daily for 2 to 12 weeks. Studies of overall sexual function often landed around 3,000 mg daily, while the single erectile-function trial used 2,400 mg daily for 12 weeks.123 These are research protocols, not proof that a higher dose produces a bigger result.

When and how long

The studies tested oral maca as a daily routine over several weeks, not as an occasional supplement taken right before sex.134 Pick a time you can repeat consistently. The clinical reports do not establish that morning versus evening use, or taking it with food versus without food, changes the sexual-function results.4

Forms & standardisation

Look for a product that clearly identifies maca root or Lepidium meyenii and states the amount per daily serving. Human trials have used oral root preparations, but reports vary in how fully they describe processing and standardization, so labels that promise a special color or proprietary active compound do not yet carry stronger clinical backing.14

Studied range, by outcome

Outcome Studied range Median effective Duration Evidence
Feel more sexual desire 1,500–3,000 mg 2,250 mg 2–12 wk 3 papers 4 sig. endpoints
Improve sexual function 1,500–5,000 mg 3,000 mg 12 wk 3 papers 5 sig. endpoints
Get and keep firmer erections 2,400 mg 2,400 mg 12 wk 1 paper 1 sig. endpoint
Enjoy more satisfying sex 3,000 mg 3,000 mg 12 wk 1 paper 1 sig. endpoint
Lighten the menopause symptom burden 2,000 mg 2,000 mg 8 wk 1 paper 2 sig. endpoints
Ease menopause-related sexual symptoms 3,500 mg 3,500 mg 6 wk 1 paper 1 sig. endpoint

Adverse events and drug interactions

Safety events

Falsely elevated total plasma testosterone due to immunoassay interference mild
Taste dislike mild
gastrointestinal disorder mild
gastrointestinal upset
headache
irritability
panic attack
urinary frequency

Drug interactions

cyclophosphamide major decreases effect
other moderate unknown
finasteride moderate unknown
dexamethasone moderate decreases concentration
Buy well

Recommended Maca products

Real products that dose Maca where the research does, in a clean formulation, from brands we've audited. We only list ones we'd stand behind.

Chosen for adequate Maca dosing vs. the studied range, a clean formulation (grade A–C), and independent brand-quality audits. Not sponsored.

In context

What this is and how it works

  • Three studies (n=89) reported increased sexual desire; one study (n=50) reported improved erectile function.1
  • The review covered 13 papers and 54 outcomes, with sexual-desire evidence concentrated in adults.4
  • Small samples and limited trials leave the promising sexual-function findings unconfirmed.4

Maca is the edible root of Lepidium meyenii, a plant grown in Peru's high Andes and commonly dried into powder or made into capsules. People have traditionally eaten it as food, while modern trials have focused mainly on sexual function and menopause-related concerns.4

Maca does not appear to work by pushing up testosterone. In a human trial, sexual desire increased without a matching rise in testosterone, which makes it more like adjusting the brain's interest dial than stepping on the body's hormone gas pedal.1 Researchers have not yet pinned down the exact human signaling pathway, so confident claims about how it works run ahead of the evidence.4

Bottom line

Maca is worth considering if your main goal is sexual desire and you are comfortable treating it as an early, not settled, option. The signal is encouraging, including one erectile-function trial, but the research base remains small and the exact mechanism is unresolved.134 Skip the testosterone hype, and check with a clinician before using it if medicines or hormone-related lab testing are part of your situation.

Frequently asked

Common questions

Does maca increase testosterone?

Human trials found that maca increased sexual desire without raising testosterone levels. If your goal is a higher lab testosterone result, maca is not the evidence-based pick.1

How long does maca take to work for libido?

The libido trials ran for 2 to 12 weeks, with several key studies assessing outcomes at 12 weeks. Think in weeks of consistent daily use, not a one-time dose before sex.14

Can maca improve erections?

One 12-week randomized trial found improved sexual function in men with mild erectile difficulties at 2,400 mg daily. That is a promising result, but one study cannot settle the question.3

Is maca useful for menopause symptoms?

Early research is exploring maca for menopause-related sexual symptoms and overall symptom burden. The evidence remains too thin to set reliable expectations or call it a proven option.4

Sources

Sources

  1. 1. Effect of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on sexual desire and its absent relationship with serum testosterone levels in adult healthy men (2002) ↑
  2. 2. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of maca root as treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in women (2008) ↑
  3. 3. Lepidium meyenii improved sexual function in men with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (2009) ↑
  4. 4. Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review (2013) ↑

Generated August 27, 2026

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