CBD Gummies for Erectile Dysfunction: A Bad Idea

CBD Gummies for Erectile Dysfunction: A Bad Idea


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Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to erectile dysfunction.

Many CBD gummy brands promote their products for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). The idea of a naturally-derived cure for ED can be appealing to many Americans dealing with this condition.

But is there any research showing that CBD gummies actually improve ED, or are they a waste of money? And does CBD cause side effects?

In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze medical studies on CBD and ED to give our take on whether this type of supplement is likely to be effective for ED, or if it’s a waste of money.

We’ll share our concerns about efficacy, feature unsponsored user reviews and discuss potential side effects?

Does CBD Cure ED?

While there is a significant amount of research on CBD for stress, pain and sleep, we can only identify a select few trials on CBD for sexual function in men and ED.

While researching this article, we noted that the majority of articles and products recommending CBD for ED failed to cite a single study suggesting the supplement was effective.

A 2020 medical review found that chronic CBD use can impair sexual function in mice.

A meta-study published in the American Journal of Men’s Health found that cannabis users had nearly double the rate of ED compared with non-users, but this could be caused by cannabinoids other than CBD like THC or by the way cannabis is typically used (inhalation).

A 2020 medical review reported that fewer than 2% of CBD users claim to be taking the supplement to treat ED.

We can’t find any medical evidence that CBD treats or improves symptoms of ED, nor can we even locate one single clinical trial testing the effects of CBD on ED in humans.

There is no theoretical mechanism of action that we can identify that would suggest CBD is effective for ED.

It may be a waste of money to use CBD products to support erection health.

ED is associated with glucose and insulin dysregulation according to a 2017 medical review, so it may be illogical to take a product category like gummies with added, refined sugar to treat ED.

But does CBD cause side effects? We’ll answer that question in the next section.

Does CBD Cause Side Effects?

One of the benefits of CBD is its relatively favorable safety profile. 

While we don’t consider CBD gummies likely to be effective for ED, they shouldn’t cause serious side effects in otherwise healthy individuals.

A 2017 medical review reported the most common side effects of CBD to be tiredness, diarrhea and weight changes.

A medical review on the safety of CBD published in the Current Neuropharmacology journal concluded with the following statement:

“Clinical data suggest that CBD is well tolerated and associated with few serious AEs at therapeutic doses both in children and adults.”

Our Clean Men's Health Picks

Panax ginseng was shown in a clinical trial published in The Journal of Urology to increase erectile function scores were "significantly" compared to participants taking placebo pills.

Illuminate Labs sells a Panax Ginseng Extract supplement which is third-party tested, and costs only $15 on a subscription basis.

Bulletproof Magnesium is our top overall testosterone support pick, because magnesium is a mineral that is clinically shown to increase free and total testosterone in athletes and in sedentary individuals.

Bulletproof Magnesium costs under $17 at the time of updating this article.

Momentous Tongkat Ali is our top herbal testosterone support pick, and costs under $20 at the time of updating this article.

Tongkat ali's effects on testosterone were reviewed in a 2022 meta-study, and the researchers concluded that "A significant improvement in total testosterone levels after [tongkat ali] treatment was mostly reported in both healthy volunteers and hypogonadal men."

Pros and Cons of CBD Gummies for ED

Here are the pros and cons of CBD gummies for ED in our opinion:

Pros:

  • Favorable side effect profile

Cons:

  • We can’t find any research backing
  • CBD had negative effect on erections in one animal study
  • Added sugar may worsen men’s health and ED
  • Many brands making questionable and unsupported health claims
Stay up-to-date on our research reviews

Conclusion

CBD is an overwhelmingly popular supplement category today, but that doesn’t mean it’s effective for everything it’s marketed for.

We can’t find any medical evidence that CBD can treat ED or support healthy erections. Using CBD for erection quality may be a total waste of money.

One animal study even found that CBD had a negative impact on male sexual function.

CBD gummies often contain added sugar, and added sugar is clinically shown to be associated with insulin and glucose dysregulation when consumed in excess, both of which can further negate any potential benefit.

CBD has a favorable safety profile, and based on the available research, we consider it unlikely to cause serious side effects in otherwise healthy individuals.




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