Tribulus Terrestris for Sexual Function
Tribulus terrestris may modestly improve sexual desire and function in men and women already diagnosed with sexual dysfunction, but the supporting trials are small, low-quality, and partly industry-funded, so the evidence remains weak and far from conclusive.
Why this grade7-layer evidence engine
The signal is real but thin. A 2026 meta-analysis (PMID 40360723, 8 RCTs) found statistically significant gains in erectile-function scores (IIEF-5 MD 4.21; IIEF-15 MD 15.88), and randomized trials in women report improved desire and arousal, including a placebo-controlled trial in postmenopausal women with hypoactive desire (PMID 27760089) and a female systematic review (PMID 32736394, n=279). The benefit appears largely independent of testosterone, which is not reliably raised.
Study quality caps the grade at weak. A 2025 systematic review (PMID 40219032) rated half its trials low-quality and found only 3 of 5 erectile-dysfunction studies positive; the female review (PMID 32736394) graded overall certainty 'very low'; a key male RCT (PMID 28364864) was industry-funded by the maker of Tribestan; and one female RCT (PMID 34142638) lacked a placebo arm.
Authorities are unconvinced. EU EFSA authorizes no health claims and has flagged the herb for possible safety (CMR) concerns; the US FDA, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Harvard Health, and the sexual-medicine specialty society (ISSM) are all cautious, calling the evidence mixed and insufficient. Guideline-backed options such as PDE5 inhibitors and lifestyle change remain first-line.
Scoring transparency
All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditable▸View the full decision path (audit trail)
- compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.588
- tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
- apply_hec_rules — 高品質 SR/MA 顯示 positive (2 篇 > 0 negative)
- tier_strict_requirement_check — | B→C 因 scope.conflation_risk=true 且 L11 獨評較低 (B7-2 tier cap)
- detect_disputes — 偵測到 0 個 hard + 0 個 soft dispute
- decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status