Do penis enlargement pills work?

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That’s certainly the case with penis enlargement pills. Meaning, the answer to the question, “Do penis enlargement pills work?” is a firm no. Unfortunately, what’s marketed as penis enlargement pills are essentially snake oil, and there’s no pill that can actually increase the size of your penis.  

Keep reading to learn the potential risks and side effects of penis enlargement pills, plus alternatives to consider.

Unfortunately, "there are no supplements out there that are going to grow the size of your penis,”  according to Seth Cohen, MD, MPH, urologist at NYU Langone Health. 

Here's why penis enlargement pills won’t work. The penis contains three cylinders of erectile tissue: two corpora cavernosa, which are primarily responsible for rigidity during erection, and the corpus spongiosum, which surrounds the urethra. 

During an erection, the corpora cavernosa fill with blood and stiffen. After an erection (whether or not orgasm is achieved), this tissue reverts to its previous size and appearance. The amount and density of erectile tissue in your penis are largely established post-puberty. That's what determines the size of your penis — flaccid or erect — and there's nothing a pill can do to change that.

Some alleged penis enlargement pills contain ingredients that may help you get an erection faster or achieve a firmer erection. This can be dangerous, especially because some pills may contain active ingredients in unknown amounts that should only be available as prescription medications. 

Furthermore, there is no clinical evidence that any supplement, herb, or vitamin can permanently enlarge the corpus cavernosum. Therefore, they aren’t going to actually make your penis bigger and may potentially be dangerous.

As of now, surgery is the most reliable way to permanently enlarge your penis. Though penile traction devices have shown some promise in increasing penile length, the results aren’t as good as surgery.  That being said, tools like penis pumps, cock rings, and more can help you achieve a firmer, longer-lasting erection (more on this later).

Find your starter ED treatment

Get started

Penis enlargement pill manufacturers make a number of claims as to how their products increase penis size. For example, they may claim their product:

• Improves sexual function. Some penis enlargement pills contain Ginkgo biloba, prepared with leaves from the Ginkgo tree. However, research shows the supplement is unlikely to significantly improve sexual function.

• Increases testosterone. There’s some evidence from animal models that supplements like horny goat weed may increase testosterone production by stimulating testosterone-producing cells. However, there haven’t been any sizable studies on how horny goat weed or icariin (the active ingredient in horny goat weed) may impact erectile function in humans.

• Increases the amount of semen released during ejaculation. ”There is no FDA-approved pill that can increase your ejaculate volume," Dr. Cohen previously explained to Ro. "If a patient came to me and said they wanted to take a supplement to try it, I would say, ‘go ahead.’ But if they said, 'Show me a robust, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that shows ashwagandha increases semen volume,' I would say it doesn't exist." 

No matter how male enhancement pill manufacturers claim to work, they are not required to prove those claims, or that they’re effective or even safe. 

Unlike FDA-approved erectile dysfunction (ED) medications like Viagra, vardenafil, Cialis, and Stendra, so-called penis enhancement pills do not undergo rigorous study and clinical trials. 

In 2026, the FDA released a warning to consumers that many male enhancement pills may be contaminated with harmful ingredients and potentially pose serious health risks. On this page, you can search through more than 400 products listed that may be tainted. 

For example, in May 2026, the FDA reported that the “Hard AF!” supplement was tainted with sildenafil and tadalafil (the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis, respectively). These can cause serious side effects if not properly prescribed by a healthcare provider.   

Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, supplements aren't regulated by the FDA. So you can't be absolutely sure what's in them or that the ingredients are pure. For example, some "male enhancement" pills may contain traces of PDE5 inhibitors (medications like Viagra and Cialis). 

While that may sound like a good thing for your sexual prowess, it can be extremely dangerous. If these pills contain too much of these substances or if you have a health condition that precludes you from taking PDE5 inhibitors, the consequences can be serious.

 Some of the side effects of taking PDE5 inhibitors include: 

• Body aches

• Upset stomach

• Headaches

• Low blood pressure (which is especially problematic if you already take medications to lower your blood pressure)

• Chest pain

• Visual problems that can be permanent in some rare cases

A case study published in 2017 found that one patient who reported using over-the-counter ED pills for 10 years ended up developing serious neurological symptoms.  

Research updated in 2025 reports that yohimbe, an herb that is often included in supplements marketed to treat ED, has been associated with heart attacks, seizures, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, and high blood pressure. 

Another ingredient commonly found in penis enlargement pills is ginseng. While this herb is on the list above of supplements with at least some scientific backing for ED, caution is warranted. 

Research and individualized reports have found that ginseng can cause sleep disturbances, mania or psychiatric symptoms, and changes in blood pressure or blood sugar. Researchers also found that it can interact with medications, including antidepressants, diabetes medications, and HIV medications, potentially strengthening or weakening their effects. 

Ginkgo, another herb frequently found in over-the-counter penis enlargement pills, can increase the risk of bleeding in people who are taking anticoagulant drugs. It can also cause dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, and headaches, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. 

You might think, “I’m fine, my pills don’t have any of these ingredients on the label.” However, given that these products are unregulated, there’s actually no way to know if the supplements you’re taking contain any ingredients that may be harmful. Furthermore, what we’ve listed here is an incomplete list of potentially harmful ingredients. 

While penis enlargement pills won’t do the trick, there are some options that could make your penis temporarily larger and firmer, though they are not without risks and may not be appropriate for everyone. Remember, if you are concerned with the size of your penis and want to explore your options, speaking to a healthcare provider can help. 

Traction devices

Penile extenders are traction devices that you strap to your flaccid penis and wear for an extended period (usually several hours a day). This may result in an increase in the length of the penis, although it could take months to see results. 

Any increase in the size of your penis with a traction device will likely be in length only, not in girth. Be careful with how you use these devices, as they require training to ensure you are using them safely.

One device in particular was developed to treat a condition called Peyronie’s disease, which causes scarring and sometimes bending and pain in the penis. The device, known as RestoreX, is a medical device registered with the FDA that has been shown in clinical trials to straighten bent penises.  

(If you don’t have a bend in your penis that a healthcare provider believes is consistent with Peyronie’s disease, a RestoreX traction device probably won’t be of much use.

Vacuum pumps

Penis pumps (vacuum devices that encourage blood flow into the penis) may help you get an erection — they're sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction — but they are unlikely to permanently make your penis bigger. 

In one small study, 37 men used penis pumps for 20 minutes, three times a week, over the course of six months. Researchers found that the participants' average penis length increased by only 0.3 cm, but they couldn’t say for sure that the increase was the result of the device they were testing. 

The treatment was only 10% effective, and only 30% of the patients said they were satisfied. Side effects included temporary numbness and bruising.

Cock rings

Cock rings sit at the base of the penis and hold blood in during an erection. This can make an erection firmer and longer-lasting. Cock rings may work well in tandem with penis pumps to maintain an erection; however, they will not permanently increase the size of your penis.

Be careful not to use them for too long (more than 30 minutes), as prolonged use can lead to tissue damage in the penis. 

Penis enlargement surgery

Surgeons offer a variety of surgical procedures to enlarge the penis, from injecting the penis with fat or fillers to cutting the suspensory ligament, which runs from your lower abdomen to your penis, causing the penis to hang lower and seem longer. Surgeons can even insert a flexible or inflatable implant. 

These procedures are expensive and potentially dangerous. One 2020 study found surgery or penile augmentation to carry a high risk of complications. Furthermore, the quality of evidence supporting these procedures remains low. 

Interestingly, many participants who underwent counseling regarding their penile size ultimately did not want to pursue further intervention because the counseling helped address their concerns. 

Lifestyle changes 

There’s no food, exercise, or therapy that will make your penis bigger. But eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, and getting enough sleep are all associated with better erectile function. 

Medications

There is no medication that can permanently make your penis bigger. That said, if your primary concern is your erectile function rather than a specific size, talk to a healthcare provider about medication options. 

Some ED medication options available on Ro, if deemed medically appropriate for you, include: 

• Viagra, which is the branded version of sildenafil (also available as a generic prescription)

• Cialis, which is the branded version of tadalafil (also available as a generic prescription) 

• Ro Sparks*, a fast-acting dissolvable tablet that contains sildenafil and tadalafil, the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis

• Ro’s Daily Rise Gummies*, fruit-flavored gummies made with daily tadalafil and designed to be taken consistently so you can be ready for sex whenever 

*Though these particular formulations are not FDA-approved, their active ingredients have been individually approved for the treatment of ED.

Personalized ED treatment for you.

Get started

Penis enlargement pills will not make your penis bigger, despite what the marketing says. There is no medication — prescription or over-the-counter — that can permanently increase the size of your penis.  

• Manufacturers might claim to make your penis bigger, improve erectile function, and more, but these claims aren’t substantiated. Since they aren’t FDA-approved, the pills lack research, and the manufacturers aren’t required to back up the claims.

• Penis enlargement pills are unregulated, meaning they can contain potentially harmful ingredients. These ingredients aren’t always disclosed by the manufacturer. Certain herbs or medications can interact with other medications in a dangerous way or have concerning side effects. The health complications can be serious, so it’s best to avoid these supplements.

• There are other ways to address concerns about penis size or  improve erectile function. Surgery, penile extenders, vacuum pumps, and ED medications are just a few of the options available for people who want to change their erections. These methods have varying risks and benefits, so discuss with your healthcare provider if you would like to know more.