More than 140 million couples in the world today are experiencing infertility. Ongoing research studies on Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) are showing promising results.
Is Tongkat Ali the answer to men’s fertility, virility or both?
In this article, we shall investigate the facts and effects of Tongkat Ali on spermatogenesis, sperm quality and overall men’s fertility. This helps you to decide whether you should take Tongkat Ali if you have a low sperm count, or issues with infertility.
The root of Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) is believed to have androgenic properties that regulate spermatogenesis through androgen hormonal pathways, improving overall sperm quality by increasing sperm count (i.e sperm concentration), sperm motility and sperm morphology.
Clinical andrologists such as Dr. Ismail Tambi and scientist Professor Henkel have long conducted a series of studies on Tongkat Ali, investigating its effects on men’s fertility since the early 2000. Studies conducted in 2000, 2011, 2012, and 2016 by Henkel and Tambi showed that Tongkat Ali may be a possible treatment for men’s infertility, especially on ageing male.
According to studies conducted by Dr. Ismail Tambi, he found that Tongkat Ali has a profound impact on men’s fertility. To date, he has helped more than 40,000 men to improve sperm quality and overall fertility through various health protocols including Tongkat Ali supplementation.
Meanwhile, award-winning Italian andrologist Dr. Andrea Militello is amongst many doctors in Europe who commented on the positive impact of Tongkat Ali on men’s fertility. His TikTok video recorded thousands of views while many Europeans are now taking Tongkat Ali as a natural remedy to improve men’s fertility and prevent any premature sperm loss due to declining testosterone.
As men are suffering from infertility in the US from “testosterone clinics” that sell virility solutions, many are now choosing Tongkat Ali as a fail-safe natural remedy to prevent premature infertility issues – rather than falling on quick-fix TRT solutions / injections.
The effects of Tongkat Ali on men’s fertility are driven by its androgenic properties that stimulate spermatogenesis, an activity of producing more androgen under the influence of the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and the Luteinizing Hormone (LH), that increases sperm production.
More often than not, Tongkat Ali increases total testosterone, which helps men with androgen deficiencies to produce higher a sperm count.
In other words, Tongkat Ali may be a possible treatment for men diagnosed with infertility due to hormone imbalance. However, Tongkat Ali may not be an effective solution for men’s infertility caused by varicocele (i.e an enlarged vein in the testicle).
Despite limited sample size, several human studies on Tongkat Ali showed promising results on men’s fertility with notable improvements in sperm quality; indicated by higher sperm count by 65% (i.e concentration), sperm motility by 11% and sperm morphology by 94% based on a daily dose of 200mg daily.
The same study found that a higher dose of Tongkat Ali standardized hot water extract (300mg or more daily) recorded a higher percentage of sperm motility (44%), compared to taking 200mg daily.
For optimal results, it is recommended to take between 200mg to 400mg daily of standardized Tongkat Ali hot water extract for at least four to 8 weeks. This allows optimal time for the hormonal changes to regulate spermatogenesis in your body.
Young adults below 40 may likely benefit from Tongkat Ali too as low testosterone in younger adults is prevalent in those born in the 90s, which causes infertility in young men below 30 due to endocrine disruptor chemicals, poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle.
Results on Men’s Fertility After Tongkat Ali’s supplementation
| Sperm Quality Indicator | Result with 300 mg daily dosage (n=109 men) | Result with 200 mg daily dosage (n=350 men) |
| Sperm Count (Concentration) | 18.2% increase | 65.5% increase |
| Sperm Motility | 44% increase | 11% increase |
| Sperm Morphology | n/a | 94.9% increase |
Our analysis:
On going research studies on Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) showed significant effect on spermatogenic activities, with significant increase in sperm count in oligospermic males (i.e males with low sperm count) and males diagnosed with hypogonadism (i.e patients with low sex hormones). This suggests potential use of Tongkat Ali as a natural supplement to manage symptoms related to men’s infertility.
Animal studies and human clinical trials on Tongkat Ali showed increases in sperm count between 99% to 256% in healthy adults. However, taking higher dose of more than 200mg may not increase sperm count further.
An animal study on sperm quality conducted in 2009 showed that 200 mg of Tongkat Ali showed the highest sperm count increase of 99.2%, while another human study showed a 256% increase in sperm count. This variability showed that sperm count improvements largely depend on individual diet, health status and age.
| Dosage | Effects on Sperm Count | Sperm Count Increase |
| 50 mg | Substantial | 78.9% |
| 100 mg | Substantial | 94.3% |
| 200 mg | Substantial | 99.2% |
We found the addition of Tongkat Ali as one of the key bioactive ingredients in a polyherbal formulation (PHF) resulted in the highest increase of sperm count, as showed in the randomized human clinical trial study conducted by a group of scientists from the University of Queensland Australia, Kansas State University USA, Deakin University Australia and Shandong University of Technology China in 2018.
The randomized clinical trial on 36 male patients showed that mixing Tongkat Ali root with Acacia and Mucuna seeds resulted in an increase of 256% in sperm concentration, 215% increase in sperm motility and 154% increase in semen volume.
| Parameters | Before | After | Change (%) |
| Sperm Concentration |
9.59 ± 4.37 × 106/mL |
25.61 ± 8.6 × 106/mL |
256% |
| Semen Volume |
1.7 ± 0.14 mL |
4.32 ± 0.38 mL |
154% |
| Sperm Motility |
15.43 ± 2.40% |
48.65 ± 5.10% |
215% |
Our Analysis
Tongkat Ali studies on animals and humans suggest statistically significant increase of sperm count between 100% to 256% based on daily dosage between 50 – 200 mg daily for a duration of approximately 4 weeks.
However, the percentage improvement on sperm count and sperm quality from Tongkat Ali varies greatly depending on the underlying medical conditions, potency of the extract, age and dosage. Despite promising results, more studies is required to establish a robust performance evaluation on the effectiveness of Tongkat Ali in boosting overall sperm quality.
While generally pure-root Tongkat Ali extracts may help improve men’s fertility, the efficacy of Tongkat Ali is not well tested. You may get a higher sperm count using standardized hot water extract from mature Tongkat Ali roots that are considered to be more potent.
According to men’s health experts, Tongkat Ali supplement that uses standardized hot water extract has a higher concentration of eurycomanone, eurypeptides and glycosaponin that helps to improve spermatogenetic activities, resulting in higher sperm count.
Our analysis below shows the bioactive ingredients between two various Tongkat Ali extracts that are suitable for men’s fertility and support a healthy sperm count, even if you are healthy.
Standardized Hot Water Extract
| Highly recommended |
Used in pre-clinical trials and research studies on men’s fertility, standardized hot-water extract is considered the best Tongkat Ali for men’s fertility due to its high concentration of key bioactive ingredients that matter to the production of spermatogenesis.
Non-Standardized Extract
| Not recommended |
Mainly sourced using ethanol-based extract found in most Tongkat Ali supplements, non-standardized extracts are not clinically tested on men’s fertility, and less effective in producing optimal sperm count overall. Avoid buying Tongkat Ali which are not clinically tesed for men.
You may take Tongkat Ali as a daily supplement if you have less than 15 million sperm per 1 milliliter of semen, or to improve your average sperm count. Tongkat Ali can be taken to prevent premature decline in sperm count due to hormonal imbalance, low testosterone or androgen deficiencies.
Please consult your health professional or clinical andrologists for further advice.
Several animal and human clinical trials suggest that Tongkat Ali extract is a proven supplement to support men’s fertility by addressing hormonal issues that cause low sperm count, motility or semen volume. However, the efficacy of Tongkat Ali on men’s fertility is currently tested based on standardized hot water extract, and not fully tested on a larger sample size. Therefore, users are advised to take pure root Tongkat Ali extract to increase the likelihood of optimal sperm count after 4 week of supplementation.
Whilst results on sperm count may vary from modest to substantial increases (of more than 200%), Tongkat Ali is the most effective for men’s fertility when consumed in its pure root extract form using standardized hot water extract with a set of healthy diet, particular no-sugar diet or keto-diet.
AKARALI Physta Tongkat Ali is regarded as one the best Tongkat Ali supplements for men’s fertility that works to increase sperm count, sperm quality and motility. This is the only clinically tested Tongkat Ali extract with high eurycomanone, eurypeptides and saponin that works effectively on aging men with fertility issues or those with low testosterone levels.
Yellow Tongkat Ali produced from standardized hot water extract is reported as the most effective (potent) as it is clinically tested on humans. Using clinically tested Tongkat Ali supplements may result in higher sperm count, sperm motility and sperm morphology whilst ensuring your hormones are kept at optimal levels.
Related article: Tongkat Ali Potency & Efficacy
Tongkat Ali contains eurypeptides (i.e a chain of amino acids protein, or known polypeptides), eurycomanone and saponin that stimulate your sex hormones (including testosterone) to produce spermatogenesis from your androgen glands. Higher levels of eurypeptides found in Tongkat Ali root extract are believed to be effective to produce higher sperm count, and contribute to a better sperm health.
Tongkat Ali can be taken as a daily supplement for at least four weeks to boost your sperm count or if you are diagnosed with oligospermia due to hypogonadism (a condition where your sex glands are not producing sufficient sex hormones, or low testosterone levels).
You may take Tongkat Ali long term more than 6 weeks or a year for optimal results, or to keep your hormonal balance due to constant work stress, overtraining or aging. There are no reported infertility issues for men taking Tongkat Ali long- term (i.e more than a year), or in high doses.
If you are taking Tongkat Ali with the objective to improve sperm count, an optimized dosage will range between 200 mg to 400 mg daily for a duration of 4 to 12 weeks. Aging adults with hypogonadism may take 400 mg daily for a minimum of six weeks with resistance and cardio exercises of 3 days per week.
Related article: Tongkat Ali dosage guide for men
Some of the effective ways to boost sperm quality or to achieve higher sperm count is by reducing or stopping your alcohol intake, stop smoking and change to protein-based diet. It is highly advisable to reduce processed food as well.
Related article: When to use Tongkat Ali for Best Results
Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma Longifolia) may help oligospermic males optimize sperm production by restoring sex hormones in the body. Oligospermia is a medical condition when you have a low sperm count, i.e fewer than 15 million sperm in 1 milliliter of semen. A healthy adult sperm count averages more than 15 million sperm per 1 milliliter of semen.
Tongkat Ali and Ashwagandha combo may improve men’s fertility and health in general as both herbs contain a family of alkaloids, peptides and crude protein. However, there are no studies to investigate the compounded effects on sperm count, sperm motility by combining both Tongkat Ali and Ashwagandha. Taking Tongkat Ali and Ashwagandha together may not yield to higher sperm count, or better sperm quality and it may induce negative side effects when consumed in high doses.
Tongkat Ali may improve sperm count, however Fadogia has no effects on sperm motility or sperm count. Using Fadogia-Tongkat Ali supplements may not have any significant improvement compared to taking Tongkat Ali as a single ingredient supplement.
The aid of natural supplementation apart from changes in lifestyle and diet may improve men’s fertility substantially.
Taking Tongkat Ali supplementation as part of your daily dietary supplement may improve your sperm quality by restoring your sex hormones to ensure that your sex glands are working optimally as you age.
Tongkat Ali works well to improve men’s fertility if you are diagnosed with low testosterone or if you have hypogonadism.
Combining Tongkat Ali with other herbal supplements may increase sperm count, motility, and sperm concentration substantially but do exercise caution for any severe side effects.
We always recommend you to consult your nearest healthcare professional before consuming Tongkat Ali and please observe the right dosage if you are taking one.
Naressa Khan contributes regularly on AKARALI. As a researcher and investigative journalist, Naressa is all about creating, deconstructing, and reassembling meaningful content through words and facts. With this approach always in mind, she eagerly explores the nuances in life via the aspects of lifestyle, culture, travel, health, and wellness in Malaysia .
Our articles are third party reviewed by our panel of experts and medical advisors to ensure the facts are accurate and credible. These are validated against multiple source references which include but not limited to research studies, peer-reviewed journals, pre-clinical studies, clinical tests and other credible publications.
Our panel of medical advisors and experts are highly experienced in their individual fields. However, they do not provide any medical advice or recommendations arising from content published in this article.
Disclaimer:
The content published on this website is for educational purposes and should not be viewed, read, or seen as a prescription or constitute any form of medical advice. We recommend you consult your nearest GP or doctors before consuming Tongkat Ali or any products which contain Tongkat Ali. For further information, kindly refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information.
