Peak Male Performance. Stronger. Fuller. Confident.
Premium male enhancement solutions delivered discreetly to your door.
Physicians
Private
Delivery
Male Enhancement Pump
Electric pump engineered for stronger, fuller results.
- Hands-Free Electric Operation
- Promotes Blood Flow
- Discreet & Reusable
Nitric Oxide
Boosts blood flow for harder, fuller erections.
- Improves Circulation
- Supports Stronger Erections
- Daily Performance Support
Semen Volume Maximizer
Daily formula to support increased volume and intensity.
- Boosts Volume
- Enhances Intensity
- Once-Daily Formula
Highlights
- Semenax claims to improve the volume of semen and quality of sperm in men.
- While Semenax has funded at least one study to prove it works, definitive studies on its ingredients have yet to be conducted.
- Unless you’re allergic to Semenax’s ingredients, it seems to largely be safe but also to have little effect.
- FDA-approved methods of addressing male fertility and erectile dysfunction are better tested and safer, more effective options.
Semenax is one of many pills you’ll find online and at gas stations. The marketers of Semenax claim you’ll have better sex and more volume when you ejaculate, but does the science hold up? Learn what’s in Semenax, what the supplement claims it does versus the science, and where to get FDA-approved erectile dysfunction medication.
What is Semenax?
Where most gas station sex pills are focused on erectile dysfunction or talk about testosterone, Semenax is more blunt. It claims to give you better control over your orgasms, that they’ll last longer, and that, as the name implies, you’ll produce more semen for “an amazing finish.”
What’s in Semenax?
The ingredients listed in Semenax include:
- Swedish flower pollen
- L-arginine HCL
- L-lysine
- Epimedium sagittatum
- Zinc oxide & zinc aspartate
- L-carnitine
- Catuaba bark
- Pumpkin seed
- Maca
- Vitamin E
- Pine bark extract
- Muira puama
- Hawthorne
- Cranberry extract
- Sarsaparilla
- Avena sativa (Oats)
- Butea superba
Readers of our full series will find many of these ingredients familiar, and there’s a reason. The company behind Semenax, Leading Edge Health, makes several other products we’ve profiled in this series, including VigRX Plus and Erectin. They share many of the same ingredients found in Semenax.
Do Semenax’s Ingredients Work?
At the bottom of the Semenax website is this disclaimer: “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
With that in mind, let’s look at the evidence behind Semenax’s ingredients.
- Swedish flower pollen. As far as we can tell, “Swedish flower” is not the name of an actual flower, and it’s not clear from the label which flower is being used. The only evidence we’ve found was a survey of studies conducted in 2017 that found encouraging signs of possible treatment with flower pollen (no mention of the word Swedish) for prostatitis. The authors recommended more rigorous study.
- L-arginine HCL. This is a common amino acid found in foods high in protein. The research is mixed on this one. Some studies have found that l-arginine can have positive effects on erectile function and sperm quality, but others have found no effect. Either way, many experts feel it’s better to get l-arginine through your diet.
- L-lysine. Lysine is another amino acid, with similar possible benefits, but again, your best route for these is probably through your diet.
- Epimedium sagittatum. Better known as horny goat weed, this herb contains a substance called icariin that may be useful for increasing sperm count (though note that this study was conducted on rats and may not translate to humans). But it’s still under study, and unlikely to be available in herbal supplements in any effective amount.
- Zinc oxide and zinc aspartate. There is evidence that zinc can improve testosterone levels and sperm quality, but it’s not a silver bullet and is best consumed from what you eat.
- L-carnitine. Another amino acid that does show some promise to help with sperm production, high-protein foods are likely a better source.
- Catuaba bark. Catuaba bark is a traditional remedy from Brazil, and animal studies seem to indicate that it may protect the male reproductive system against pollutants called phthalates, such as those found in PVC plastic. But it’s not clear that low-level phthalate exposure is even a human health problem, and more research is needed.
- Pumpkin seed. Pumpkin seed is included in Semenax because it’s high in zinc, which is odd because zinc is also one of Semenax’s ingredients. One study conducted on rats found that pumpkin seeds may help the body increase its levels of nitric oxide and other reproductive chemicals, which may help with ED. But the rats were fed pumpkin seeds, and since they’re also high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats, having some pumpkin seeds as a regular snack is probably more beneficial.
- Maca. There are some intriguing small studies in men showing promise for fertility issues like sperm concentration and motility, but more research is needed.
- Vitamin E. A 2021 study of vitamin E found no impact on fertility in men. Vitamin E is an essential nutrient, but you should talk to a doctor about a possible vitamin E deficiency.
- Pine bark extract. Like many of the ingredients, there are small-scale studies that point towards possible benefits for sperm morphology, but more research is needed.
- Muira puama. This is another Brazilian folk remedy, but we were unable to find any meaningful studies linking this herb with sperm or semen.
- Hawthorne. Some interesting animal studies have shown overall fertility improvements in male rats, but there’s no conclusive evidence that hawthorne has any effect on human sperm.
- Cranberry extract. Probably the strangest included ingredient, this supposedly is in the mix because it encourages sexual thoughts. We were unable to find any evidence to substantiate this claim, but cranberries themselves are good for you, so this ingredient is unlikely to be harmful.
- Sarsaparilla. We couldn’t find any research, one way or the other, on any impacts sarsaparilla had on sperm count or male fertility.
- Avina sativa (oats). We weren’t able to find any evidence of oats having an impact on male fertility, positive or negative. Again, getting the nutrients directly by including oats in your diet is probably a better way to benefit from oats.
- Butea superba. Rat studies point toward this herb promoting an increase in sperm count, but it’s not clear that humans would benefit in the same way or what the mechanism may be.
Is Semenax Safe?
However, we were unable to find any evidence that any of the ingredients in the product are particularly dangerous, singly or in combination. As long as you’re not allergic to any of them, it should be safe to take. The caveat, however, is that this means we’ve also found no definitive evidence that the ingredients have much of an effect, alone or in combination.
There’s also a risk of contamination with any herbal supplement. Contraband pharmaceuticals can be added, by mistake or intentionally, anywhere in the supply chain, and there isn’t much that can be done to detect it until the FDA receives a complaint.
Counterfeiting and hidden ingredients are also common problems with supplements. Leading Edge has, as of this writing, not had any reports of tainted supplements that we can find. However, In 2017, the Australian government issued a safety alert that they had discovered counterfeit Semanax that contained yohimbe, an ingredient that was not listed on the label.
These are real risks with any supplement, and they should be weighed carefully before using any product that is not FDA approved and purchased from a trusted source.
Is There Peer-Reviewed Research on Semanax?
The answer is yes, but with caveats. A study of 78 Indian men published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics concluded that Semenax increased semen volume and orgasm intensity with no other notable adverse effects.
While the journal is a reputable one, there are several limitations to the study.
- It was conducted on a very small sample size (only 78 participants), which isn’t enough to draw valid conclusions about how the study results would apply to most men.
- It covered a period of only two months, so no conclusions could be drawn about long-term effects, positive or negative.
- The study was paid for by Leading Edge, the manufacturer of the product, with no mention of potential conflicts of interest, which are customary in this situation.
Getting Real, FDA-Approved ED Treatment That Works
While Semenax’s effects may or may not be exaggerated with no real evidence, sperm motility and male infertility are real medical conditions that have FDA-approved treatments. Mostly, these are focused on increasing testosterone. If you’re genuinely worried about your fertility, speak to your doctor about it and get tested.
For other concerns, like ED, you can get real medication that’s been rigorously tested by the FDA, such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, or their generic equivalents, often at a better price than many supplements.
Buying Viagra and Other Erectile Dysfunction Medications Online
When you shop with eDrugstore, you won’t need to go to the doctor or the pharmacy, as a free telehealth consultation is all most men need to get a prescription. We will ship your medications discreetly to your door at no extra charge.
To learn more, visit our erectile dysfunction page.
Dan is a long-time freelance writer focusing on technology, science, health, and medicine, with a lifelong interest in physics, biology, and medicine. His work has taken a particular focus on scientific studies “beyond the headlines,” reading the study to more closely examine the results.