Semenax is a sexual enhancement supplement for men used to increase sem*n volume. The brand describes the supplement as "clinically proven" and suggests it not only affects sem*n volume but also org*sm intensity and org*sm control.
But is sem*nax actually proven in research studies to be effective, or are these just marketing claims? Does the supplement contain research-backed ingredients for sem*n improvements and improved sexual function? Does it contain any questionable ingredients that may cause side effects? And why do we recommend avoiding its manufacturer?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in sem*nax based on medical studies to give our take onwhether the supplement is likely to be effective, or if it's a waste of money.
We'll share our concerns about the brand's claims of clinical efficacy, explain our concerns about the product's manufacturer and share some research-backed natural alternatives that may be a better choice.
IngredientAnalysis
At the time of updating this article, sem*nax fails to clearly publish all of the ingredients (both active and inactive) along with their associated doses on the product page of the brand's website.
This is a major red flag of a low-quality brand, and we strongly recommend that consumers avoid supplements without a clearly-published Supplement Facts label.
As shown above, sem*nax lists certain active ingredients on their website.
L-arginine HCL isan amino acid with a hydrogen chloride molecule attached.The brand claims that this ingredient can double sperm volume, but this claim is not cited and we can't find any evidence of it.
Epimedium sagittatum, more commonly known as horny goat weed, is also included in sem*nax. The brand claims that this ingredient can increase testosterone levels.
We published a horny goat weed reviews article recently reviewing all available medical studies on this plant, and we didn't locate any studies showingthat horny goat weed increases testosterone in humans.
Maca is another active ingredient in sem*nax, and the fact that raw maca is usedis another red flag of a low-quality brand in our opinion.
Maca is essentially indigestible; composed of complex starches that need to be cooked, which is why high-quality supplement brandsuse gelatinized maca rather than raw maca. Consuming raw maca is like consuming a raw potato, and can cause indigestion.
Swedish flower pollenis an active ingredient that sem*naxclaims provides “extra vim, vigor, and volume.”
We cannot locate one single clinical trial on "Swedish flower pollen" in humans, and thus will consider this ingredient likely ineffective.
Vitamin E is also included, and we cannot identify any medical research suggesting that vitamin E supplementation increases seminal volume or org*sm intensity, so we will consider this another ineffective ingredient.
Overall, we do not consider sem*nax likely to improve sem*n volume or org*sm intensity, because we're unable to identify any active ingredients in this formulation shown to do so in medical studies.
The brand fails to cite any clinical trials proving their many questionable health claims, so we don't understand why anyone would use this supplement.
But what about the brand's claim that the supplement is "clinically proven" to work? We'll share our concerns in the next section.
QuestionableClinical Trial Claims
As shown above, sem*nax claims that their products are “clinically proven” toincrease sem*n volume and org*sm intensity.
On a page on the sem*nax website titled "Clinical Studies,"the brand links to aclinical trial conducted by a for-profit research firm called Vedic Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd.
Leading Edge Health, the manufacturer of sem*nax, is listed as the study sponsor.
This clinical trial does not appear to be published in any peer-reviewed medical journals, and we recommend that consumers entirely disregard claims of clinical efficacy made by brands based on self-funded trials that are not published in reputable journals.
There is too much potential bias in the process for the results to have any value in our opinion.
Clinical trials published in peer-reviewed medical journals are the gold standard of product research, because there is a high bar for the quality of study design.
sem*nax's own study reports no change to sem*n parameters: "Mean change from Baseline to [end of trial], in sem*n parameters was not statistically significant within or across 2 treatment arms."
We find it strange that sem*nax's website titles the page "Clinical Studies," when there only appears to be one single company-funded study that's the basis for all of the health claims.
Can You Naturally Improve Sperm Count?
A YouTube video published by the "Infertility TV" channel (which is run by a doctor) discusses how to potentially increase sperm count with lifestyle changes:
Our Concerns About sem*nax Manufacturer
As referenced previously, sem*nax is manufactured by a company called Leading Edge Health.
This company manufactures a range of sexual enhancement and erectile dysfunction (ED) supplements, two of which (Erectin and ExtenZe) we've previously reviewed on Illuminate Health.
As we documented in our Erectin reviews article, Leading Edge Health continues to make unproven health claims and fails to clearly publish ingredient doses (which is a consumer safety issue) across all of their products.
We strongly advise consumers to avoid all supplements sold by Leading Edge Health, and we urge the FTC and the FDA to investigate this company's specific treatment claims.
Our Clean Men's Health Picks
Bulletproof Magnesiumis our top overall testosterone support pick, becausemagnesium is a mineral that isclinically shownto increase free and total testosterone in athletes and in sedentary individuals.
Bulletproof Magnesium costsunder $17at the time of updating this article.
Momentous Tongkat Aliis our top herbal testosterone support pick, and costsunder $20at the time of updating this article.
Tongkat ali's effects on testosterone were reviewed in a 2022meta-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."
Panax ginsengwas shown in aclinical trialpublished inThe Journal of Urologyto increaseerectile function scores were "significantly" compared to participants taking placebo pills.
Illuminate Labs sells aPanax Ginseng Extract supplementwhich is third-party tested, and costsonly$15on a subscription basis.
Pros and Cons of sem*nax
Here are the pros and cons of sem*nax in our opinion:
Pros:
- Contains some research-backed active ingredients
Cons:
- Brand makes unproven health claims
- Clinical trial funded by brand showed no change to sem*n parameters
- Brand makes highly questionable claims of clinical efficacy
- Brand fails to clearly publish active ingredient doses
- Brand fails to clearly publish Supplement Facts label
- Low-quality manufacturer
- Challenging to find unsponsored customer reviews
- Unavailable on Amazon
Conclusion
We do not recommend sem*nax for a multitude of reasons.
First, we're unable to identify any convincing medical studies suggesting that the active ingredients in sem*nax increase sem*n volume.
Second, the brand fails to clearly publish ingredient doses. Without ingredient doses for active ingredients it's impossible to determine potential efficacy.
Third, we consider the manufacturer of sem*nax, a brand called Leading Edge Health, to be one of the lowest-quality manufacturers that we've reviewed on Illuminate Health. We've reviewed three supplements sold by this brand and recommend avoiding all of them.
Fourth, the brand makes claims of clinical efficacy based on a clinical trial conducted by a for-profit research firm that doesn't appear to have been published in any peer-reviewed medical journals.
We recommend that consumers entirely disregard claims of clinical efficacy based on this type of research due to the potential bias involved.
A YouTube video from a doctor specializing in fertility claims that dietary supplements cannot improve sperm count, but that lifestyle changes (such as weight loss in obese and overweight men and improved diet) can.
