Ashwagandha may raise testosterone modestly in some men. A 2026 meta-analysis of 23 randomized placebo-controlled trials involving 1,706 patients found a pooled mean difference of 57.43 ng/dL in men. The review found no increase in women. Heterogeneity and limited data on some outcomes mean the pooled result cannot predict your individual response.1
The Pooled Result for Ashwagandha and Testosterone
The 57.43 ng/dL finding is an average across pooled trials, rather than an expected increase for every man. The review found a statistically significant difference between men and women. It also found no effect on estradiol in either sex.1
The same analysis reported a reduction in cortisol with a standardized mean difference of −1.18 and a p value below 0.04.1 A separate 2019 trial found no statistically significant between-group difference in cortisol.2 The pooled result and the individual trial therefore do not give the same answer for that outcome.
You can read more about ashwagandha and resting cortisol and how physicians interpret cortisol levels. The broader testosterone supplement roundup covers the general evidence for ashwagandha. The practical decision begins with whether your supplement resembles the preparations that researchers studied.
Standardized Preparations in Testosterone Trials
The preparation determines what an ashwagandha dose describes. The published trials used defined extracts, and their dose figures apply only to those preparations.
The 2026 review found possible dose-response effects based on withanolide content.1 Withanolide content was the standardization measure used in that analysis. A label that gives only the total amount of ashwagandha does not establish the withanolide amount used in a trial.
Two individual trials show why the distinction matters.
| Trial | Studied Preparation | Trial Population | Reported Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lopresti et al. | Standardized extract delivering 21 mg of withanolide glycosides per day for eight weeks | Overweight men aged 40 to 70 with mild fatigue | Testosterone increased 14.7% more than placebo, while fatigue, vigor, and sexual and psychological well-being showed no statistically significant between-group differences.2 |
| Wankhede et al. | 300 mg of root extract twice daily for eight weeks | Men aged 18 to 50 with little resistance-training experience | Bench-press strength increased by 46.0 kg in the ashwagandha group and 26.4 kg in the placebo group.3 |
These numbers describe the preparations used in the trials. They are not general dosing instructions. The studies do not establish that another extract, powder, or differently standardized product will produce the same hormone or strength findings.
Ashwagandha Dosage for Testosterone in Trials
An ashwagandha dosage for testosterone cannot be separated from its form and standardization. One trial specified daily withanolide glycosides, while another specified the amount of root extract taken twice daily.2,3
The two quantities cannot be converted into a universal dose from the available evidence. A product label needs to identify the extract amount and stated withanolide content before you can compare it with either trial.
Timing in the Published Trials
None of the three sources studied time of day, use with food, or a best time to take ashwagandha for testosterone. Your physician can review timing within the rest of your treatment and supplement plan.
Trial Populations and Measured Outcomes
The individual trials apply most directly to the men who resembled their participants. They do not establish the same findings for every age, training level, symptom pattern, or testosterone baseline.
The 2019 crossover study enrolled 57 overweight men aged 40 to 70 who reported mild fatigue. Participants received the standardized extract or placebo for eight weeks before crossing over. Fifty men completed the first eight-week period, and 43 completed the full 16 weeks.2
Ashwagandha was associated with an 18% greater increase in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and a 14.7% greater increase in testosterone compared with placebo. The hormone changes were statistically significant. Fatigue, vigor, sexual well-being, and psychological well-being showed no statistically significant between-group differences. Cortisol and estradiol also showed no statistically significant between-group differences.2
The second trial enrolled 57 men aged 18 to 50 who had little experience with resistance training. Muscle strength was the primary outcome. Muscle size, body composition, testosterone, and recovery were secondary measures.3
The reported bench-press increase was greater with ashwagandha than with placebo. The available evidence does not turn that strength result into a general promise about muscle size or appearance. Match your expectations to the outcomes the trial reported.
The Clinical Place of Ashwagandha and Testosterone
A pooled mean difference of 57.43 ng/dL does not establish ashwagandha as a treatment for hypogonadism. None of the cited studies enrolled men with diagnosed hypogonadism or compared ashwagandha with testosterone treatment.1-3
If you have fatigue, reduced libido, loss of strength, or another symptom associated with low testosterone, supplementation alone will not tell you the cause. A testosterone blood test gives you a baseline that can be interpreted alongside your symptoms and related biomarkers.
Ashwagandha may be relevant to a physician discussion when your goals resemble the outcomes studied. The evidence is a poor fit if you are seeking treatment for confirmed low testosterone or trying to decide whether you need testosterone replacement therapy. The same distinction applies to products marketed as testosterone boosters.
One hormone result is only one part of the picture. Your physician can review testosterone alongside related hormones, current medications, symptoms, training, sleep, and metabolic markers before building a plan.
A 57.43 ng/dL pooled difference is a different order of change from replacement therapy. the measured timeline for testosterone therapy sets out what that looks like by measure.
The Opt Take on Ashwagandha and Testosterone
A physician should interpret your labs against your symptoms and daily life, then adjust your plan as your numbers change. Testing alone gives you data. Ongoing medical interpretation turns those results into a treatment plan.
At Opt Health, the initial blood panel includes more than 55 biomarkers across hormones, inflammation, cardiovascular risk, and other areas. An Opt Health physician reviews every panel before treatment is offered. Existing conditions and current medications are also reviewed during the initial consultation.
Labs and a physician consultation repeat every three to four months. Your plan is adjusted based on the follow-up results. That process can show whether a change in testosterone sits within a broader pattern and whether the plan is moving your health in the intended direction.
Get started: Begin with Opt Health, where a physician reads your labs, builds your plan, and adjusts it over the loop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ashwagandha raised testosterone in men by a pooled mean difference of 57.43 ng/dL across a 2026 meta-analysis of 23 randomized placebo-controlled trials involving 1,706 patients. The review reported heterogeneity and limited data for some outcomes, so the average does not predict your personal response.1 A blood test can show whether your testosterone changed.
The cited sources do not report on ashwagandha use alongside testosterone therapy. They do not establish whether the combination is appropriate or safe for you. Your prescribing physician should review the specific extract, your testosterone prescription, and your other medications before the two are used together.
The cited trials measured hormone levels, strength, body composition, recovery, and self-reported well-being. One trial found higher testosterone and DHEA-S without statistically significant between-group improvements in fatigue, vigor, or sexual and psychological well-being.2 Another found a greater increase in bench-press strength among men new to resistance training.3 Your results cannot be predicted from those group averages.
The cited sources do not provide findings on adverse events, contraindications, liver effects, or other safety concerns. Their results cannot establish that ashwagandha is safe for a particular person. A physician who knows your medical history and medications can assess whether the specific supplement belongs in your plan.
One resistance-training trial listed muscle size as a secondary measure, but the reported result available from that trial supports a greater increase in bench-press strength.3 It does not support a broad promise that ashwagandha will increase body size. Use the measured strength outcome when judging what the trial established.
The cited sources do not report medication or supplement interactions. That evidence gap prevents a reliable list of combinations to avoid. Bring the exact ashwagandha label and a complete list of your prescriptions and supplements to a physician or pharmacist for review.
References
- Fornalik M, Malkiewicz A, Adamczak D, Nawrocki F, et al. Hormonal modulation with Withania somnifera: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials. Planta Med. 2026;92(8):790-805. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41740946/
- Lopresti AL, Drummond PD, Smith SJ. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study examining the hormonal and vitality effects of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) in aging, overweight males. Am J Mens Health. 2019;13(2):1557988319835985. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30854916/
- Wankhede S, Langade D, Joshi K, Sinha SR, et al. Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:43. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26609282/
This content is for informational purposes and does not replace evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment by a qualified medical professional.
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