Male Enhancement Pills
Medically reviewed by
Dr Kathryn BasfordLast reviewed: 15 Jul 2019
Do male enhancement pills really work?
‘Male enhancement pills’ is the name used for a range of herbal products marketed to improve sexual performance in a few different ways. They aren’t proven to work in the same way real medications do. They might not do anything to help with sexual performance and they definitely won’t improve your penis size, but they still come with some health risks.
What are male enhancement pills?
Male enhancement pills are sold in shops and online as natural remedies for improving sexual performance in different ways. They’re usually made from plants and they often include a number of different herbal supplements mixed together. Some manufacturers make claims that these products can increase penis size or improve sexual performance-related health conditions like erectile dysfunction and low sex drive.
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Do male enhancement pills really work?
‘Male enhancement pills’ have not been proven to improve sexual performance in the same way real medications have been. Sometimes they might have a placebo effect, which means you might see some improvement in your sexual performance because you believe you’re getting treatment.
Male enhancement pills are not licensed medications, so they haven’t been studied in the same way actual medications have to make sure they’re safe and effective. Some studies have been done, for example one study on the effect of a ‘VigRX Plus’ showed it might be more effective than a placebo for men with erectile dysfunction. But one study is not enough to prove products like this actual work, or they’re safe to take.
Can male enhancement pills improve my penis size?
There’s no way a pill can increase overall penis size. But, if you can’t reach your maximum erection size because of erectile dysfunction, then treatment could help. If a male enhancement pill has any positive effect on erectile dysfunction then it could help your erection reach its maximum size. But, it still won’t increase your maximum erection size and you’d be better off trying real medical treatments over male enhancement pills.
The only way to make the penis bigger overall is to get plastic surgery. There’s two main types of penis enlargement surgery:
- Release of the suspensory ligament – to make the penis longer
- Autologous fat injection – to make the penis thicker
Penis enlargement surgeries only improve the look of a penis. They won’t improve sexual performance overall. There are also some risks involved in penis enlargement surgeries and some of them could negatively affect sexual performance:
- Infection
- Scarring
- Penis shortening – the opposite of the outcome you might want
- Deformity of the penis
A study has shown that 13.12 cm (5.17 inches) is a realistic average penis size, measured during a full-length erection. The study also showed a gap between expected average penis size and reality. Other research shows that partners don’t give as much importance to the size of the penis as men do.
What are the best male enhancement pills out there?
Because no male enhancement pills are proven to work, unfortunately there’s no ‘best one’ to try. But, there are ones that are safer than others. Make sure if you do try male enhancement pills that you but they from a trusted seller. Look for the Traditional Herbal Registration logo to make sure the product you’re buying is properly regulated.
If you want to improve a specific condition like premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction, the best option might be licensed medications. You can get erectile dysfunction treatment over the counter in a pharmacy without seeing a GP first. You can also order online without an existing prescription and no face-to-face appointments.
Medication for erectile dysfunction available online:
Medication for premature ejaculation available online:
Can male enhancement pills give you side effects?
Many male enhancement pills are often claim not to cause any side effects because they don’t contain any actual medication. In reality, even if they don’t contain medication, they can still give you side effects. In the same way the effects aren’t properly proven, side effects of different herbal mixtures are also not properly studied.
Plus, a lot of herbal products have been found to contain amounts of active medication ingredients that aren’t properly disclosed by manufacturers. While this sounds like it might mean they could have some actual medical effect, they will be in amounts and combinations that could be unsafe. When you get checked for real medications, the doctor or pharmacist can make sure there aren’t serious health risks for you. If you take herbal products that contain trace amounts of medication then you could be putting yourself at risk.
Dr Kathryn Basford is a qualified GP who works as a GP in London, as well as with ZAVA. She graduated from the University of Manchester and completed her GP training through Whipps Cross Hospital in London.
Meet our doctorsLast reviewed: 15 Jul 2019
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British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS; 2017). Erectile dysfunction (impotence). [online] Available at: https://www.baus.org.uk/_userfiles/pages/files/Patients/Leaflets/Erectile%20dysfunction.pdf [accessed 15th July 2019].
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Chiang, J. et al (2017). The dangers of sexual enhancement supplements and counterfeit drugs to “treat” erectile dysfunction. Translational Andrology and Urology, 6(1), 12-19. [online] Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28217446/. [accessed on 12th May 2021]
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NHS (2017). Loss of libido (reduced sex drive). [online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/loss-of-libido/ [accessed 15th July 2019].
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Shah, G.R. et al (2012). Evaluation of a multi-herb supplement for erectile dysfunction: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study. [online]. BMC Complement Altern Med. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3478157/# [accessed 15th July 2019].
ZAVA offers a convenient and discreet service to help men improve their erectile dysfunction. There are a number of treatments you can consider. Continue to our erectile dysfunction service page to learn about the treatment options available.