When you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s normal to want to do everything you can to boost your chances.
Maca root, grown in the Andes of South America, has grown in popularity across the globe for both its taste and its potential health benefits.
Does maca root have fertility-enhancing capabilities? And if so, how do you use maca for fertility?
Read on to get the lowdown on the latest evidence, recommended dosage, and other important considerations!
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What Is Maca?
Maca root, also known as Peruvian ginseng or scientifically as Lepidium meyenii, comes from a plant that grows in Bolivia and Peru.
While the root itself can be cooked and eaten, it’s more often enjoyed by global consumers in a powdered form.
Nutritional Profile
Rich in polyphenols, maca root is rich in powerful antioxidants (1). Antioxidants play a vital role in your health, including in reproductive well-being.
One little tablespoon of Maca root powder packs:
- 30 calories
- 1 g protein
- 0 g fat
- 6 g carbohydrates
- 2 g fiber
What Forms Does Maca Come In?
You can purchase maca root powder as is or in convenient capsule form.
The taste of maca powder isn’t to everyone’s liking since it can be bitter. With capsules, it’s possible to get the benefits of maca root while bypassing the flavor altogether.
For those who want a gentler digestive experience, gelatinized maca root capsules can be a good option. Unline in raw maca root capsules, the gelatinized version involves first heating the maca.
The heating process leaves the starches more digestible, so those with sensitive stomachs can avoid unpleasant gastric symptoms like bloating (2).
Maca Root and Fertility: Unraveling the Mystery
There are a lot of different claims about how maca root can boost someone’s chances of getting pregnant. From increasing arousal in women to balancing reproductive hormones in both sexes, the potential benefits are worth looking at in greater depth.
Let’s go through them individually and see what the research can tell us.
Revitalizing Sexual Function
Recent studies on the relationship between maca root and sexual function are limited in scope. The small human studies that do exist offer a few glimpses into the potential benefits of maca root for fertility and sexual function:
- One small study from 2015 found a decline in sexual dysfunction scores among women who took 3 grams of maca root each day versus women taking a placebo (3).
- A very small study of only 14 postmenopausal women found changes in hormone levels after maca root supplementation. However, the women reported lower scores on self-reported sexual dysfunction scales (4).
- Another small trial on 50 young men with mild erectile dysfunction found a small but significant increase in self-reported sexual function among men taking 2.4 grams of maca daily for 12 weeks. Note that the placebo group also reported improvement, although less pronounced (5).
Given the limited study sizes, more research should be done to clarify the precise impact, if any, that maca root plays in sexual function for either sex.
Hormonal Regulation
Conflicting results cloud the research on maca root and hormonal regulation. For example, two small studies completed by the same researchers found opposite impacts of maca root on FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) (6, 7).
A systematic review of 57 studies revealed varying outcomes on the effects of maca root on a variety of conditions, including but not limited to semen quality, menopause, and sexual dysfunction (8).
However, most of these studies were done on animals. The significant disparities in methodologies, quality, and results make it impossible to say definitively if and how maca root affects reproductive hormones.
Sperm Count and Quality
Some research has suggested that maca root impacts fertility in males by positively affecting their sperm count and quality.
For instance, a small double-blind 2020 study showed a significant increase in sperm concentration among men who took 2 grams of maca daily for 12 weeks as compared to the placebo group (9). Keep in mind there was no difference in sperm morphology or mobility according to this study’s results.
Other trials on maca’s effect on sperm have primarily been conducted on animals (10, 11, 12). While some have interesting results, it’s essential to perform more high-quality research using human subjects to get a clear answer as to whether men who want to boost fertility should take maca root.
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Maca Root Dosage
Despite the lack of clear evidence on maca root for fertility, you may still have interest in giving it a try. If so, remember to talk to your healthcare provider to get personal advice before starting it, just as you would with any new supplement.
In general, dosages of up to 3 grams of maca root daily appear to be safe, for up to 4 months at a time (13).
What Do You Mix Maca Powder With?
Mix a teaspoon of maca powder into smoothies, yogurt, and oatmeal. You can also add it to beverages like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
Drinking maca powder mixed with only water is less recommended simply due to the flavor, but if you don’t mind it then that’s also an option.
Bottom Line: Can Maca Root Help You Get Pregnant?
Anecdotal stories about maca root’s reproductive benefits abound and it’s tempting to want to jump on the maca wagon to hopefully get the same results.
At this time, research studies on maca root for fertility are limited by their small sizes and the frequent reliance on animal subjects.
Maca’s safety during pregnancy and lactation is not fully known at this time.
If you nevertheless want to try using maca root for fertility, up to 3 grams per day for up to 4 months is generally considered safe. You should talk to your healthcare provider before starting to get personalized advice.
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Sources
- Wang, S., & Zhu, F. (2019). Chemical composition and health effects of maca (Lepidium meyenii). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30902313/
- Wang, S., & Copeland, L. (2013). Molecular disassembly of starch granules during gelatinization and its effect on starch digestibility: a review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24096569/
- Dording, C. M., Schettler, P. J., Dalton, E. D., Parkin, S. R., Walker, R. S., Fehling, K. B., Fava, M., & Mischoulon, D. (2015). A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of maca root as treatment for antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in women. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24096569/
- Nicole A Brooks 1, Gisela Wilcox, Karen Z Walker, John F Ashton, Marc B Cox, Lily Stojanovska. (2008). Beneficial effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) on psychological symptoms and measures of sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women are not related to estrogen or androgen content. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18784609/
- T Zenico 1, A F G Cicero, L Valmorri, M Mercuriali, E Bercovich. (2009). Subjective effects of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) extract on well-being and sexual performances in patients with mild erectile dysfunction: a randomised, double-blind clinical trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19260845/
- Meissner, H. O., Kapczynski, W., Mscisz, A., & Lutomski, J. (2005). Use of gelatinized maca (lepidium peruvianum) in early postmenopausal women. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23674952/
- Meissner, H. O., Reich-Bilinska, H., Mscisz, A., & Kedzia, B. (2006). Therapeutic Effects of Pre-Gelatinized Maca (Lepidium Peruvianum Chacon) used as a Non-Hormonal Alternative to HRT in Perimenopausal Women – Clinical Pilot Study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23674976/
- Cherie Bower-Cargill, Niousha Yarandi, Andrea Petróczi. (2022). A systematic review of the versatile effects of the Peruvian Maca Root (Lepidium meyenii ) on sexual dysfunction, menopausal symptoms and related conditions. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031322001075#sec0001
- Alcalde, A. M., & Rabasa, J. (2020). Does Lepidium meyenii (Maca) improve seminal quality?. Andrologia, 52(10), e13755. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32654242/
- Rubio, J., Riqueros, M. I., Gasco, M., Yucra, S., Miranda, S., & Gonzales, G. F. (2006). Lepidium meyenii (Maca) reversed the lead acetate induced — damage on reproductive function in male rats. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association, 44(7), 1114–1122. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16510228/
- Tafuri, S., Cocchia, N., Carotenuto, D., Vassetti, A., Staropoli, A., Mastellone, V., Peretti, V., Ciotola, F., Albarella, S., Del Prete, C., Palumbo, V., Esposito, L., Vinale, F., & Ciani, F. (2019). Chemical Analysis of Lepidium meyenii (Maca) and Its Effects on Redox Status and on Reproductive Biology in Stallions †. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 24(10), 1981. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31126050/
- Valdivia Cuya, M., Yarasca De La Vega, K., Lévano Sánchez, G., Vásquez Cavero, J., Temoche García, H., Torres Torres, L., & Cruz Ornetta, V. (2016). Effect of Lepidium meyenii (maca) on testicular function of mice with chemically and physically induced subfertility. Andrologia, 48(8), 927–934. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27681650/
- MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); . Maca; [ reviewed 2023 Nov 11; cited 2023 Dec 23]; Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/555.html
Meredith Mishan is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with over 12 years of experience working with nutrition clients from around the world. She has a Master of Science degree in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University and is credentialed as a dietitian in both the United States and Israel.