Urology

Yohimbe (yohimbine) can significantly raise heart rate and blood pressure, triggering palpitations and anxiety, and it is especially risky if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, liver problems, or take interacting medications. There are several factors to consider, including dosing, monitoring, who should avoid it, safer alternatives, and when to seek care; see below for complete details that could shape your next steps.

Niacin, or vitamin B3, may improve blood flow and erections by boosting nitric oxide, improving endothelial function, and supporting healthier cholesterol; early studies suggest potential benefits, particularly when high cholesterol and ED coexist. There are several factors to consider, including dose and formulation, side effects like flushing and possible liver or glucose changes, and the need to assess cardiovascular causes of ED. See the complete details below for guidance on monitoring, combining with ED medicines, and deciding next steps with your clinician.

Tongkat Ali may modestly help erectile function and libido based on limited short human trials, typically at 200 to 400 mg of standardized extract for 8 to 12 weeks. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more, including how evidence quality and product standardization affect results. Safety red flags include liver or kidney disease, prostate conditions, cardiovascular issues, mood or sleep changes, medication interactions, and risks from adulterated or low quality supplements. Discuss with a clinician first and use it only as an add-on to proven ED treatments; key details that could guide your next steps are outlined below.

Tongkat Ali may help some men with erectile dysfunction by raising testosterone and lowering stress hormones, with a placebo-controlled study showing improved erection quality after about 8 to 12 weeks on a standardized extract at 200 to 300 mg daily. See details below. There are several factors to consider, including product quality, dosing, side effects and drug interactions, and the possibility that ED signals cardiovascular or metabolic disease; for complete guidance and next steps to discuss with your clinician, review the information below.

Research shows men with low vitamin D have higher rates of erectile dysfunction, and a randomized trial found that correcting deficiency improved erectile function in some men; there are several factors to consider, including vascular, inflammatory, and hormonal pathways. See more details below. Before starting supplements, check your 25(OH)D level and talk with a clinician about safe dosing and monitoring, since ED can also signal cardiovascular or metabolic disease; the complete guidance on who benefits most, safety, and next step recommendations is below.

Vitamin D can support erectile function in men over 65 by improving endothelial nitric oxide and blood flow; consider supplementing if a 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood test is low, using 50,000 IU D3 weekly for 8–12 weeks when deficient or 1,000–2,000 IU daily if insufficient, with a target of 40–60 ng/mL. There are several factors to consider, including cardiovascular risks, medications, and toxicity limits, so recheck levels after 3–4 months, avoid more than 10,000 IU daily without medical supervision, and pair vitamin D with lifestyle and hormone evaluation; see below for important details that could shape your next steps.

Ashwagandha may help when anxiety is the main driver of low arousal by lowering stress and cortisol, which can indirectly support genital blood flow and sensitivity, but direct evidence in women is limited. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. If you try it, use a quality standardized extract and pair it with stress management and communication, and review dosing, timing, safety, interactions, and red flags that warrant medical care in the detailed guidance below.

Folic acid may support erectile function by lowering homocysteine and improving blood-vessel health, but ED is often really about heart health and can precede cardiovascular disease by 2 to 3 years. Large trials show folic acid reduces stroke risk and slightly lowers heart events, yet ED-specific evidence is limited and the best next step is a medical evaluation and broader cardiovascular care; there are several factors to consider, so see below for important details that can guide your next steps.

Maca root can modestly boost sexual desire but is not proven to treat erectile dysfunction; short-term use appears generally safe for healthy adults, with mild effects like stomach upset or insomnia, and most studies used 1.5 to 3 g daily. For women considering it to support a partner’s ED or their own sexual well-being, evidence in women is limited and it should not replace medical evaluation if ED persists. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand who should avoid maca such as pregnancy, hormone-sensitive or thyroid conditions, how to start at 500 mg and titrate up, possible interactions, how long to try, and when ED symptoms should prompt a doctor visit.

Magnesium deficiency can contribute to erectile dysfunction by reducing healthy blood flow, nerve function, and insulin sensitivity, so correcting a true deficiency may help but it is not a standalone cure. There are several factors to consider. See below for who is at risk, how to test levels, food first strategies, safe supplement forms and dosing up to 350 mg elemental magnesium daily, possible drug interactions, and other causes of ED like cardiovascular, hormonal, psychological, and lifestyle factors that may change your next steps with a clinician.

Yes, niacin can cause flushing and medication issues; flushing is very common, and evidence for using niacin to improve sexual arousal in women is minimal. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Niacin can raise liver enzymes and blood sugar and may interact with statins and blood pressure medicines, so talk with a clinician before using it. See the complete guidance below for ways to reduce flushing, who should avoid niacin, and warning signs that mean you should stop and seek care.

Korean red ginseng may modestly improve mild to moderate erectile function over 8 to 12 weeks, but results vary and depend on the dose used, standardized product quality, and the person's overall health. There are several factors to consider, including possible insomnia or stomach upset, blood sugar and blood pressure changes, interactions with blood thinners and diabetes or hypertension medicines, and red flags that warrant medical care. Review the complete guidance below to understand what to expect, what to watch for, and how partners can help.

Tongkat ali may modestly support erections and libido, with early evidence suggesting it is generally heart neutral at 200 to 400 mg daily and may ease stress to improve sleep and mood; high doses can rarely cause insomnia or irritability. There are several factors to consider, especially if he has heart or liver disease or takes medications. See below for important details on evidence limits, interactions, dosing and product quality, monitoring, and red flags to guide your next steps.

Vitamin D supports hormones and blood flow, and low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are linked to a higher risk and greater severity of ED; testing makes sense if there are deficiency symptoms or risk factors, or if ED persists after lifestyle and psychological factors are addressed. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. If levels are low, supplements can help as part of a broader plan, but this is not a standalone cure and ED can signal cardiovascular or metabolic disease, so coordinate with a clinician. See below for target levels, dosing ranges, lifestyle steps, and specific red flags that should prompt medical care.

Yohimbe has little proven benefit for women and is often viewed as a higher risk supplement due to variable potency, increases in blood pressure and heart rate, anxiety, and serious drug interactions. There are several factors to consider, including who should avoid it, side effects, interactions, dosing cautions, product quality, and safer alternatives; review the complete guidance below and speak with a healthcare provider before using it.

There are several factors to consider. Zinc supports testosterone and nitric oxide, but research suggests supplements help mainly when a true deficiency exists and are not a proven fix for most cases of ED. Before trying it, assess deficiency risks and other causes of ED, focus on zinc-rich foods first, and avoid high doses that can cause harm; key details on safe amounts, product quality, and when to see a doctor are outlined below.

Yohimbe and yohimbine may offer modest help for psychogenic erectile dysfunction, but experts warn they can raise blood pressure and heart rate, trigger palpitations, and pose serious risks for people with hypertension, heart disease, anxiety disorders, or interacting medications. There are several factors to consider, including dosing, product variability, side effects, and safer alternatives like PDE5 inhibitors, lifestyle changes, and therapy. See below for complete details that could change your next steps.

Zinc deficiency can contribute to erectile dysfunction by lowering testosterone, impairing nitric oxide mediated blood flow, and raising oxidative stress; optimizing zinc through diet and, if needed, cautious supplementation may help. There are several factors to consider, including who is at risk, how to test, safe dosing and copper balance, drug interactions, and when to seek urgent care; see the complete guidance below to inform your next steps with a healthcare professional.

Zinc can support erections after 65 if you are truly deficient by aiding testosterone and nitric oxide, but taking extra when levels are normal is not proven to fix ED and can be harmful. Discuss testing before supplementing, aim near 11 mg daily and avoid more than the 40 mg upper limit, since excess zinc can trigger copper deficiency, drug interactions, and other issues; there are several factors to consider, and key dosing details, food sources, cautions, and next steps are outlined below.

Zinc is an often overlooked factor in erectile function because it supports testosterone production, nitric oxide, and vascular health; deficiency can lower libido and weaken erections, so correcting low zinc through diet or modest supplementation may help. There are several factors to consider. See below for who is at risk, safe dosing and food sources, potential side effects, how zinc fits with lifestyle changes, and when ED could signal a condition that needs medical evaluation.