Ginkgo biloba does not increase testosterone. The most direct human trial on this question gave healthy men and women a standardized ginkgo extract (240 mg per day) for 14 days and measured a comprehensive panel of hormones, including total testosterone, free testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone. None of these changed significantly from baseline levels.
What Human Trials Actually Show
A pilot study in healthy volunteers specifically designed to test whether ginkgo biloba alters circulating steroid levels found no meaningful effect. Researchers measured plasma concentrations of testosterone, free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and several other hormones before and after two weeks of supplementation at 240 mg per day, which is the standard recommended dose. The result was straightforward: ginkgo did not significantly alter any of these hormone levels in either men or women.
This finding aligns with what laboratory research has shown. When human adrenal cells were exposed to ginkgo extract in a controlled setting, testosterone levels actually decreased rather than increased. The extract appeared to affect genes involved in hormone production in ways that reduced both testosterone and estrogen output. This is essentially the opposite of what someone hoping for a testosterone boost would want.
Isolated Lab Results Don’t Tell the Full Story
One piece of evidence sometimes cited by supplement marketers is an animal study showing that ginkgo extract stimulated testosterone production in isolated rat Leydig cells (the cells in the testes responsible for making testosterone). While technically accurate, isolated cell experiments frequently produce results that don’t translate to a living human body. The human trial data, which measures what actually happens in your bloodstream after taking the supplement, overrides what happens in a petri dish. And that human data shows no testosterone increase.
Why People Confuse Ginkgo With a Testosterone Booster
The confusion likely stems from ginkgo’s reputation as a sexual health supplement. Ginkgo does have real effects on blood flow. It promotes vasodilation, meaning it helps blood vessels relax and widen. This is why it has been studied for erectile function and sexual arousal: better blood flow to genital tissue can improve physical arousal responses regardless of hormone levels.
In one study of 99 women with sexual arousal disorder, a single 300 mg dose of ginkgo produced a small but statistically significant increase in physiological arousal (measured by blood flow to vaginal tissue) compared to placebo. However, subjective arousal, meaning how aroused the women actually felt, did not improve. And when women took ginkgo daily for eight weeks, even the blood flow benefit disappeared, suggesting the effect is acute and short-lived rather than something that builds over time.
An animal study found that 14 days of ginkgo extract increased mating frequency in male rats, but this wasn’t linked to changes in the brain’s nitric oxide signaling, which is one of the main pathways involved in sexual behavior. The researchers concluded the mechanism behind the behavioral change was unclear. Notably, the same study found ginkgo reduced prolactin levels in rats, which could theoretically support sexual function through a completely different pathway than testosterone.
Limited Evidence for Sexual Function Overall
A systematic review that examined all available randomized controlled trials on ginkgo and sexual function found only five qualifying studies with a combined total of 475 participants. The conclusion: ginkgo has “limited positive effects on sexual function.” The strongest signal came from two small trials in postmenopausal women, where ginkgo appeared to help. But three trials in people taking antidepressants, a group commonly affected by sexual side effects, found no benefit at all.
The reviewers noted that the overall quality of existing research was too low and the sample sizes too small to draw firm conclusions. When combining ginkgo with other herbs, effectiveness may increase, but that makes it impossible to attribute any benefit to ginkgo alone.
Blood Flow, Not Hormones
If ginkgo has any role in sexual health, it operates through vascular mechanisms rather than hormonal ones. It improves circulation, and better circulation can temporarily enhance physical arousal responses. But it does not raise testosterone, free testosterone, or any related androgen. If you’re looking for a natural way to support testosterone levels, ginkgo biloba is not the supplement to choose.
Safety Considerations
Ginkgo is generally well tolerated at standard doses, but it carries a real bleeding risk. It reduces platelet aggregation, meaning your blood doesn’t clot as easily. A large study of veterans taking the blood thinner warfarin found that adding ginkgo increased the risk of a bleeding event by 38%. This risk extends to anyone taking anticoagulants, aspirin, or other blood-thinning medications. If you’re on any of these, ginkgo is worth discussing with a pharmacist before adding it to your routine.