Hormonal/Women/Heart

Tribulus terrestris

Herbal extract used for libido and sexual function, with mixed evidence and no reliable testosterone increase in healthy adults.

Tribulus terrestris

Herbal extract used for libido and sexual function, with mixed evidence and no reliable testosterone increase in healthy adults.

score

evidence

Caution

risk

Proven Benefits

01Improves female sexual function

02Improves male sexual function

03May improve sperm parameters

04May lower fasting glucose

05May improve lipid profile

Chemical Forms

Recommended

Standardized fruit extract (40-60% saponins)
Standardized extract with declared protodioscin content

Avoid

Raw unstandardized powder (highly variable active content)
Proprietary 'test booster' blends (actual tribulus dose unclear)
Products promising drug-like ED effects (higher adulteration risk)

Expert Note

Trials usually use standardized extracts because tribulus products vary widely in saponin and protodioscin content by species, plant part, and growing region. Raw powders are less consistent. Third-party testing also matters because some libido or testosterone blends have been adulterated with PDE5 drugs or anabolic agents.

Protocol

Amount

500-1500 mg

Frequency

Split into 1-2 doses daily

When

With meals; if using 1000 mg/day or more, split the dose for better GI tolerance.

Condition-Based Dosing

Women with low sexual desire

500-750 mg daily for 4-8 weeks— Usually studied as a standardized extract; stop if there is no clear change by 8 weeks.

Men with mild erectile symptoms or low libido

750-1500 mg daily for 8-12 weeks— Evidence is mixed and effects are modest; not a substitute for ED evaluation.

Men with low sperm motility or idiopathic infertility

750-1500 mg daily for at least 12 weeks— Spermatogenesis takes time; use symptom and semen follow-up rather than relying on hormone claims.

Adults trying it for glucose or lipid markers

500-1000 mg daily for 8-12 weeks— Evidence is weak; do not use in place of standard diet, exercise, or medical care.

Safety & Limits

Upper Safe Limit

No official UL; up to 1500 mg/day of standardized extract has been used short-term in trials, but long-term safety is not well established.

Cycling

8-12 weeks on, then 2-4 weeks off; discontinue if there is no clear benefit.

Contraindications

Pregnancy or breastfeeding — insufficient safety data

Diabetes medications or insulin — may add to glucose lowering

Kidney or liver disease — rare toxicity case reports and limited safety data

Hormone-sensitive conditions — endocrine effects are unclear; avoid unsupervised use

Planned surgery — stop 2 weeks before because blood sugar and blood pressure effects are possible

Synergies

L-arginine

L-arginine provides substrate for nitric oxide production, which may complement tribulus's proposed effects on genital blood flow and erectile function.

Zinc

Correcting zinc deficiency can improve spermatogenesis and androgen production, addressing a reversible factor that tribulus alone may not fix.

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