Ashwagandha has shown mixed effects on hormone health measures such as cortisol, testosterone, estrogen, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and thyroid hormones in human studies.
In chronically stressed adults who take ashwagandha (300–500 mg for 60–90 days), cortisol was reduced by 20% to 50% from baseline values, and the effect was higher for those with higher levels of stress.[1][2]
Ashwagandha’s effects on hormones are not limited to cortisol. Preliminary evidence suggests that 500 to 600 mg of ashwagandha root extract per day may increase testosterone levels in men when taken for 3 to 6 months. Improvements in testosterone levels, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, sperm quality parameters, quality of life, and sexual functioning have been seen with ashwagandha use.[3][4][5][6][7][8] Effects on testosterone are more pronounced in men with infertility and low testosterone levels, though ashwagandha may also boost testosterone levels in men without infertility or low testosterone as well.[9][10][5][11][6][2] Ashwagandha enhanced seminal parameters in infertile men (e.g., sperm count, motility, quality, and vitality), suggesting that it may help to improve fertility. It’s possible that increases in seminal antioxidant capacity may be partially responsible for these effects.[2][6][8][7]
Ashwagandha may also have beneficial effects on hormone health in women. Though current evidence suggests these beneficial effects are less pronounced than those seen in men, there still isn’t enough evidence to say this conclusively. Ashwagandha apparently also improves sexual function in women, but it’s not clear yet whether subjective well-being is similarly enhanced.[12] One study did find that ashwagandha use in menopausal women increased estrogen levels while simultaneously lowering follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels to produce an overall improvement in menopausal symptom-related quality of life.[13]