Anyone experience ED after using Saw Palmetto?

Posted by kleinbottle @kleinbottle, Jan 27, 2023

I only used it (1x/day) for a few weeks but I have a sudden onset of ED. Stopped using it a few days ago. Any thoughts?

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Hello @kleinbottle and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. If you google Saw Palmetto, there does seem to be side effects of Saw Palmetto that include erectile dysfunction. How long have you been taking it and how long into taking it did your symptoms appear?

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@amandajro

Hello @kleinbottle and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. If you google Saw Palmetto, there does seem to be side effects of Saw Palmetto that include erectile dysfunction. How long have you been taking it and how long into taking it did your symptoms appear?

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Thank you for your reply. Taken it only a few weeks and noticed the symptom. Have stopped a few days ago but symptoms have not abated.

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I have been taking saw palmetto along with some other supplements for over 25 years and never had a problem taking it. I know several others that have taken it and said that it was very effective for them. I have never heard of saw palmetto causing an ED problem. You may want to try beta sitosterol to see if it is helpful. I would recommend Life Extension Ultra Prostate supplement as it is the best I have found and has many ingredients that are prostate friendly, however, it does include saw palmetto.

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Same here, never a problem and long time user, although not 100% sure of its effectiveness being more than moderate relief. I do get beta sitosterol from daily avocado. I use other supplements like Pygeum bark extract and nettle root but believe all these supplements just help you manage the condition, that’s about it.

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For what it is worth, the same thing happened to me. Took saw palmetto for BPH a few weeks, started having ED. Could be other things of course. I'll see what happens when I stop.

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I have been taking saw palmetto in addition to lycopene and a few other supplements that are purported to provide prostate health for 25+ years and have never experienced ED problems thus far (age 78). I have run my supplements as well as saw palmetto by my urologist who has some alternative leanings and is "on board" with what I take. My father died at age 78 from aggressive form of prostate cancer so I have tried to do all I can to stay abreast of good, sound prostate care.

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Even I’m experiencing ED after using hair serum containing saw palmetto and follihair A tablet ( containing saw palmetto) . I just used them for 3days. Erections have not been the same since then. Want to know if your situation is back to normal after stopping the use?

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tool saw palmetto for a month and noticed erections are not same as before . what can i do to make erections normal or ward off ill effect of saw palmetto from my system altogether

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I also to Havasu's Saw Plametto for a week and noticed ED. Stoped a month ago and it has not returned to normal. Has anyone found anything different with other brands. Is Natures blend any better?

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Saw palmetto is a naturally occurring and fairly potent 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, so it blocks the conversion of Testosterone into DHT, a stronger androgen that plays a large role in the male reproductive system during puberty and development and in adulthood it has metabolic functions, binds with androgen receptors to regulate gene transcription, and generally maintains sexual organ/tissue health and function. Finasteride and Dutasteride are common examples of drugs that are 5-AR inhibitors and yes, all of these including saw palmetto are notorious for causing ED due to the fact DHT is drastically lowered with continued use. DHT is the active androgen involved in the Nitric oxide production which is directly responsible for your ability to get an erection.

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