Pot de Tribulus terrestris, gelules, verre d'eau et brin de plante seche pres d'une fenetre

Tribulus for women: benefits, myths and precautions

Testosterone & Vitality Cyril Certain
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Tribulus terrestris carries a very masculine image, tied to the gym and to testosterone. That is reductive, and even paradoxical: it may be in women that some of the data are most interesting. This article takes stock, without overstating the promises, of what tribulus can bring to women and the precautions to know.

Why tribulus concerns women too

Bright living room with two mugs, a throw and a jar of Tribulus terrestris

Libido and vitality are not a men’s affair. Yet the most credible interest of tribulus lies precisely in libido and sexual function, a field that concerns women just as much. In them too, tribulus does not behave like a hormone: it is not meant to “masculinise” anything, a common but unfounded fear at usual doses, since the plant does not raise testosterone.

What the research suggests in women

Open notebook, glasses, Tribulus capsules and dried fruit on a light desk

Several studies have looked at female libido, particularly in periods when desire can drop, such as the menopause or after certain phases of fatigue. A systematic review of tribulus for female sexual dysfunction found some studies reporting improved desire and satisfaction, but rated the certainty of the evidence as very low. The signal is encouraging while remaining to be confirmed: we are talking about a serious lead, not a certainty. Caution therefore stays in the wording, even if the signal is rather favourable.

What can and cannot be said

The research suggests a possible support for desire in women, particularly during dips linked to fatigue or the menopause. It is neither a hormone treatment nor an answer to a medical disorder. In case of persistent discomfort, medical advice remains the right step.

Will tribulus “masculinise” me or cause hair growth?

This is the most widespread fear, and the easiest to lift. Such effects would be linked to a rise in androgens. But, as in men, tribulus does not raise testosterone in any demonstrated way. The dreaded mechanism therefore has no solid basis at recommended doses. That does not remove the need for common sense: respect the doses and take the contraindications below into account.

"Masculinisation" from tribulus in women: fear versus reality

The fear of masculinisation is the first reason women give it up. But it rests on a mechanism that tribulus does not trigger. The rundown, without playing down the real precautions.

The fear
The reality
✕"My voice will get deeper"
✓No direct androgenic effect demonstrated. The voice only changes after strong, prolonged hormonal exposure.
✕"I will grow more facial or body hair"
✓Excess hair growth means a rise in androgens. But tribulus does not raise testosterone in any demonstrated way.
✕"It masculinises me"
✓Protodioscin and saponins are not hormones: they do not act like a steroid.
✕"It disrupts my cycle"
✓No established hormonal mechanism at usual doses. The real precaution lies elsewhere (see below).
✕"It is a men's product, not for me"
✓The most credible use of tribulus, libido, concerns women just as much.

The real precaution is not masculinisation, but pregnancy, breastfeeding and hormone-dependent tumours.

Specific precautions

  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding: for lack of data and because of possible hormonal activity, it is avoided.
  • Hormone-dependent cancers (breast in particular): medical advice is essential before any use.
  • Ongoing treatments: with hormonal treatment or a chronic condition, seek advice.

These precautions are detailed in our article on the real dangers and side effects of tribulus.

Choosing well and taking it well

Jar of Tribulus terrestris, capsules and a glass of water on a breakfast table

The quality criteria are the same as for men: what counts is protodioscin, not the total-saponin figure on show. Our DIX Tribulus terrestris is a fruit extract titrated to 95% saponins of which 60% protodioscin, 100:1 ratio, free of mycotoxins, made in France. As for use, 1 to 2 capsules a day in the morning with a meal, over several weeks to judge a background effect.

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For the male angle of the subject, see tribulus and libido in men, and for the overall picture, the complete tribulus terrestris guide.

Tribulus for women: your questions


Can you take tribulus during the menopause?

It is one of the periods studied for libido. In the absence of a contraindication and outside hormone-dependent cancer, it can be considered, ideally with medical advice.


Can tribulus be combined with the contraceptive pill or a hormone treatment?

No interaction is clearly established, but tribulus has not been studied in this precise context. As a precaution, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before combining the two, all the more so as the aim here is precisely hormonal balance.


Is tribulus of interest to a sporty woman, beyond libido?

There is no proof of a gain in strength or muscle mass attributable to tribulus, in women as in men. For a sportswoman, its possible interest stays on the side of perceived vitality and libido, not performance as such.


How long before a woman can judge an effect, and should she take courses?

Think in weeks, not days: several weeks of regular intake are needed to judge a background effect. Taking it as a course, with breaks, is a reasonable approach; strict, complicated cycling has no solid justification.