Best Sexual Performance Supplements 2026

How to Choose a Sexual Performance Supplement

Start with a check-up, not a pill. The American Urological Association (AUA) says erectile dysfunction (ED) is a risk marker for heart disease and other conditions, such as undiagnosed diabetes, that may need treatment. It recommends that men with ED be told about FDA-approved PDE5 inhibitor tablets (such as sildenafil and tadalafil) unless they cannot take them. The AUA guideline does not recommend any supplement.

Ingredients with evidence

• L-arginine: a 2019 meta-analysis of 10 trials in 540 men with mild to moderate ED found that 1,500 to 5,000 mg a day improved erections compared with placebo or no treatment. Doses and trial lengths varied. See our L-arginine page.
• L-citrulline: in one small single-blind study, 24 men with mild ED took 1.5 g a day for a month. Erection hardness improved in 50% of them, versus 8% on placebo. The authors say citrulline is less effective than PDE5 inhibitors.
• Korean red ginseng: a Cochrane review of 9 trials found only a "trivial" effect on erectile function, with low certainty. The best-known positive trial used 2,700 mg a day. More on our Panax ginseng page.
• Maca: a review of 4 small trials called the evidence limited. In one trial, 1,500 or 3,000 mg a day raised sexual desire after 8 weeks without changing testosterone. See our maca page.
• Tribulus: mixed. In men, a 12-week trial at 1,500 mg a day improved ED scores, while a 30-day trial at 800 mg a day did not. In women, a review of 5 small trials found better sexual function scores but rated the evidence very low certainty.
• Zinc: the NHS advises no more than 25 mg a day from supplements.

Red flags to avoid

• "Male enhancement" pills from unknown sellers. The FDA says sexual-enhancement products are likely to be contaminated with hidden drug ingredients. Its public list of contaminated products has grown to hundreds of notices, and it warns that a product missing from the list is not proof that it is safe.
• Yohimbe or yohimbine. NCCIH says there is not enough research to show it helps ED. Yohimbine has been linked to irregular heartbeat, blood pressure problems, heart attacks and seizures, and most products do not say how much they contain.
• Doses far below those used in trials, hidden inside proprietary blends.

How to use this ranking

Choose products that disclose every dose and match trial amounts, and allow the 1 to 3 months the trials used. Tell your doctor what you take, especially if you have heart disease or take blood pressure or heart medicines.

Sources:

• AUA: Erectile dysfunction guideline
• Rhim 2019, L-arginine meta-analysis
• Cormio 2011, L-citrulline study
• Lee 2021, Cochrane review of ginseng for ED
• Hong 2002, Korean red ginseng trial
• Shin 2010, maca systematic review
• Gonzales 2002, maca trial
• Kamenov 2017, Tribulus trial in men
• Santos 2014, Tribulus trial in men
• Tribulus for female sexual dysfunction, systematic review 2020
• NHS: Vitamins and minerals, zinc
• FDA: Sexual enhancement product notifications
• NCCIH: Yohimbe

Sexual performance supplements receive extra scrutiny due to widespread adulteration with unlisted PDE5 inhibitors. We prioritize third-party testing, clear standardization of named ingredients (ginseng, maca, epimedium), and clinically validated doses. We heavily penalize products with proprietary blends, vague "herbal extracts," or manufacturers with FDA warning letters.