Research
Maca for Menopause: Evidence, Interactions and Cautions
Maca is an ingredient used in menopause supplements marketed to women. Below is what it has actually been studied for, how strong that evidence is, the drug interactions and cautions on record, and the primary source our grade rests on — all drawn from the HerWellReport ingredient dataset.
Also sold as: Lepidium meyenii; Peruvian ginseng; maca root
What the evidence says about Maca
A systematic review found four randomised trials, all of which reported favourable effects on the Kupperman Index or Greene Climacteric Scale. The reviewers judged the number of trials, sample sizes and methodological quality too limited to draw firm conclusions and stated that maca's safety has not been proved. The Menopause Society's 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement names maca on its not-recommended list (Level II), citing exactly those quality and sample-size problems rather than a clear negative result — so this is an unanswered question, not a settled failure.
The grade "limited for hot flushes; none for stress incontinence" means: limited — One or two small human trials, or trials for a closely related outcome. none — No human trial evidence we could find for this use. Grades are explained in full on our methodology page.
Read the primary source this grade rests on (opens in a new tab).
Maca drug interactions
No documented drug interactions in the sources we checked. That is not the same as proof of safety alongside your medication — it usually means the question has not been studied. Ask a pharmacist before combining it with prescription drugs.
Who should be careful with Maca
- Can interfere with testosterone blood tests, so tell your doctor before testing
- reported effects include altered menstrual cycles, intermenstrual bleeding, moodiness, cramps, gastritis and insomnia
- discuss with your doctor if you have a hormone-sensitive cancer such as breast or uterine cancer
Read more on HerWellReport
- Best Menopause Supplements: What Is Actually In Them
- Happy Mammoth Hormone Harmony Review: The Claims a Regulator Told Them to Drop
- Does Ashwagandha Help Menopause Symptoms?
- Hot Flushes: What Actually Works, Ranked by Evidence
This entry is generated from row "Maca" of the HerWellReport ingredient dataset (v2.1, updated 2026-09-23). The dataset is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 — how to cite it. Ingredient evidence is not evidence for any finished product, and nothing here is medical advice.