Does maca boost libido and energy?

Last updated: June 2026 · Reviewed by the FactoWiki Editorial Team for clarity and source accuracy

Written by FactoWiki Research Team · Reviewed by Supplement Research Editor

Last reviewed: June 2026 · Sources checked: PubMed, NIH, MedlinePlus, NCCIH, FDA

What the evidence says about maca for libido, energy and fertility — and why it doesn't raise testosterone.

Key takeaways

Maca's best evidence is for libido — and notably it works without raising testosterone.
Energy, mood and fertility claims are weaker and more tentative.
It's a food with a good safety record, but it's not a testosterone booster or an ED treatment.

What maca is

Maca is a root vegetable from the high Andes of Peru, eaten as a food for centuries and now sold as a supplement for libido, energy and fertility. It comes in different colours (yellow, red, black) that are sometimes marketed for different benefits. Because it's a traditional food, it has a reassuring safety profile — and a more modest, food-like effect than the bolder 'natural Viagra' marketing implies.

Libido: the better-evidenced use

Maca's most consistent evidence is for libido. Several small studies suggest it may improve sexual desire in both men and women over a few weeks of use. Notably, this effect appears to be independent of testosterone — maca doesn't work by raising hormone levels. So it may genuinely help desire for some people, but through a different (and not fully understood) route than the 'testosterone booster' framing suggests.

Energy, mood and fertility

Maca is also marketed for energy and mood, with weaker, more anecdotal support, and for fertility — where some studies suggest it may improve certain measures of sperm quality in men. These are more tentative than the libido data. As with most traditional tonics, the broad 'energy and vitality' claims outrun the evidence, even if some users report feeling better.

Why it doesn't raise testosterone

This is worth being clear about, because maca is often lumped in with testosterone boosters. Studies have generally not found that maca increases testosterone or other sex hormones. Its libido effect, where it occurs, happens without changing hormone levels. So if your goal is specifically raising testosterone, maca isn't the ingredient — and any product claiming it boosts testosterone is misrepresenting the research.

Safety

As a food, maca has a good safety record and is generally well tolerated, with mild digestive effects the main complaint. One theoretical caution: maca belongs to a plant family containing goitrogens, so people with thyroid conditions sometimes wonder about it, though normal supplemental amounts are unlikely to be a problem for most. People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have hormone-sensitive conditions should check first.

Is it worth trying?

For someone interested in a low-risk, food-based option for libido, maca is among the more reasonable to try, with realistic expectations of a modest effect over a few weeks. It won't raise testosterone, isn't a treatment for erectile dysfunction or a medical cause of low libido, and works best as a gentle addition rather than a fix. Persistent sexual or energy problems are worth discussing with a doctor.

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Frequently asked questions

Does maca boost libido?

Some studies suggest it may improve sexual desire over a few weeks — and notably without raising testosterone.

Does maca raise testosterone?

No — studies generally find it doesn't change testosterone; its libido effect works through a different route.

Is maca good for energy?

The energy and mood claims are weaker and more anecdotal than its libido evidence.

Is maca safe?

As a food it has a good safety record; people with thyroid or hormone-sensitive conditions should check first.

This article is general information, not medical advice. See our medical disclaimer, and talk to a qualified healthcare professional about your own situation.