Maca for Libido, Energy and Menopause: What Trials Found
What clinical trials and reviews found when maca root was tested for sexual desire, energy and menopause symptoms, how small those trials were, and what they say about hormones.
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Short answer. Maca has been tested in a handful of small human trials. Reviews of those trials call the evidence for sexual function and menopause symptoms "limited", and say the trials were too few and too small for firm conclusions. [1][2] Two small trials that measured hormones in postmenopausal women found no change in them, even where symptom scores improved. [3][4] So the claim that maca "balances hormones" is not supported by those trials.
Before you start. This is information, not medical advice. Two of the menopause trials report changes in depression or anxiety scores. Nothing we read shows maca treats depression. If low mood or anxiety is affecting daily life, see a clinician; in the US you can call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) at any time. For medicine, pregnancy and quality cautions, see Maca side effects and cautions.
The plant and how it is used
Maca is Lepidium meyenii Walp., a plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), according to GBIF. [5] The edible part is the hypocotyl. [6] Traditional use: a 2011 review says it has been used for centuries in the Andes as an adaptogenic plant for anemia, infertility and female hormone balance. [1] That is a description of tradition, not evidence it works. The full profile is at Maca.What trials found
| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Form and people studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menopause symptoms | A review of four randomized trials found favorable results on the Kupperman and Greene menopause scales, but called the evidence limited because trials, sample size and quality were too limited. [1] | Promising but limited | Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women |
| Postmenopausal mood and sexual function | 14 women got 3.5 g/day of powdered maca for 6 weeks and placebo for 6 weeks (crossover); scores for anxiety, depression and sexual dysfunction fell versus placebo. [3] | Promising but limited (very small) | Postmenopausal women |
| Postmenopausal blood pressure and depression | In 29 women given 3.3 g/day of maca or placebo for 6 weeks each, diastolic blood pressure and depression scores fell after maca. [4] | Promising but limited (pilot) | Hong Kong Chinese postmenopausal women |
| Sexual function, general | Four trials: two positive (menopausal women; healthy men's desire), one found no effect in healthy cyclists, one positive in erectile dysfunction. Authors: limited evidence. [2] | Promising but limited | Mixed groups |
| Mild erectile dysfunction | In 50 men given 2,400 mg of dry extract or placebo for 12 weeks, scores rose more with maca (1.6 vs 0.5 points), though placebo also improved. [7] | Promising but limited | Men with mild ED |
| Symptoms of low testosterone-type complaints | In 80 men, gelatinized maca (1,000 mg, two pills at a time, three times a day for 12 weeks) improved symptom questionnaires versus placebo. [8] | Promising but limited | Men with normal testosterone but symptoms |
| Semen quality | Five trials gave mixed results; the pooled analysis did not show higher sperm concentration; effects unclear. [9] | Mixed / insufficient | Infertile and healthy men |
| Energy and mood | In 175 people given 3 g/day of extract or placebo for 12 weeks, mood, energy and health status improved; red maca did better than black on mood, energy and a chronic mountain sickness score. [10] | Promising but limited (one trial) | Adults living at low and at high altitude |
Amounts are those reported by each trial, not advice. A clinician or pharmacist decides what is right for a person.
Hormones: what was measured
In the 14-woman trial, blood levels of estradiol, FSH, LH and sex hormone-binding globulin did not differ between maca and placebo. [3] In lab assays, maca extracts showed no physiologically significant estrogen-like or androgen-like activity. [3] The 29-woman trial also found no differences in estradiol, FSH, TSH or SHBG. [4] Both were small and short, so they cannot rule out effects in other groups. The sources we read do not say whether maca is safe for people with hormone-sensitive conditions; ask a clinician.Limits to keep in mind
- Few, small trials. Reviews say numbers, sample sizes and quality were too limited for firm conclusions. [1][2]
- Different products. Trials used powder, gelatinized maca, dry extract and spray-dried red or black maca. [3][8][7][10] A result for one does not transfer to another.
- Funding and ties. One author of the 175-person trial is the manager of a small company producing nutraceuticals. [10]
- Exercise reviews mix species. A 2024 review of physical performance included animal and human experiments, so its large effect sizes are not a human result. [11] The earlier sexual-function review found no effect in healthy cyclists. [2]
- Placebo response. In the erectile dysfunction trial, placebo scores also rose significantly. [7]
Related guides: Adaptogens for perimenopause and menopause, Perimenopause and menopause, Low libido in men, Male fertility concerns.
Frequently asked questions
Does maca balance hormones?
In two small trials in postmenopausal women, hormone levels did not change, though symptom scores did. [3][4] The "hormone balance" idea comes from traditional use. [1]
Does maca help menopause symptoms?
A systematic review found limited evidence from four trials and said firm conclusions were not possible. [1]
Does maca raise libido?
A review found limited evidence for sexual function, with two positive trials and one negative. [2] Evidence is promising but limited.
Does maca improve sperm count?
Reviews found mixed, unclear effects on semen quality, and the pooled sperm concentration result was not significant. [9]
Does maca give energy?
One 12-week trial reported better self-rated energy and mood. [10] That is one trial with a disclosed company tie, so the evidence is limited.
References
- Lee MS, et al. Maca (Lepidium meyenii) for treatment of menopausal symptoms: A systematic review. Maturitas. 2011. Read 2026-10-23.
- Shin BC, et al. Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2010. Read 2026-10-23.
- Brooks NA, et al. Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen content. Menopause. 2008. Read 2026-10-23.
- Stojanovska L, et al. Maca reduces blood pressure and depression, in a pilot study in postmenopausal women. Climacteric. 2015. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, species records for Panax ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Ocimum tenuiflorum and Lepidium meyenii. Read 2026-10-23.
- Valerio LG Jr, Gonzales GF. Toxicological aspects of the South American herbs cat's claw and Maca: a critical synopsis. Toxicological Reviews. 2005. Read 2026-10-23.
- Zenico T, et al. Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well-being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction. Andrologia. 2009. Read 2026-10-23.
- Shin D, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) in Patients with Symptoms of Late-Onset Hypogonadism. World Journal of Men's Health. 2023. Read 2026-10-23.
- Lee HW, et al. Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) on semen quality parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2022. Read 2026-10-23.
- Gonzales-Arimborgo C, et al. Acceptability, Safety, and Efficacy of Oral Administration of Extracts of Black or Red Maca (Lepidium meyenii) in Adult Human Subjects. Pharmaceuticals. 2016. Read 2026-10-23.
- Huerta Ojeda A, et al. Effects of Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) on Physical Performance in Animals and Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2024. Read 2026-10-23.