What fish oil is
Fish oil is a supplement made from fatty fish like salmon, sardines and anchovies. The useful parts are two omega-3 fats called EPA and DHA. Your body cannot make much of these on its own, so you get them from food or a capsule.
Omega-3s are best known for lowering triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood. A prescription form, icosapent ethyl, is FDA-approved for very high triglycerides. Over-the-counter fish oil is a supplement, not a drug, and is not held to the same standard.
Why people connect fish oil to sex
Good erections depend on good blood flow. Anything that helps blood vessels relax and stay healthy could, in theory, help. Omega-3s have mild anti-inflammatory effects and may slightly improve how blood vessels function.
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is often an early sign of heart and blood vessel trouble. So people reason that a heart-healthy supplement should help ED. That logic is reasonable. The direct evidence is weaker.
Omega-3s are also linked in some studies to a small improvement in mood and lower inflammation. Low mood and chronic inflammation both affect sex drive. Again, the link is indirect, and the effects on mood in trials have been modest.
What the studies say about erections
There are no large randomized trials showing that fish oil treats ED in men. Most of what exists is animal research or small human studies looking at blood vessel function, not sexual performance.
Large heart trials give a mixed picture. One big trial of prescription omega-3 showed fewer heart events in people with high triglycerides. Others with regular fish oil showed little benefit. None of them measured sexual function. So the honest answer is: fish oil may support the blood vessels that erections rely on, but it is not an ED treatment.
A note on dosing: the heart trials that showed benefit used prescription doses of about 4 grams a day of purified EPA. Typical drugstore capsules contain a fraction of that, so results from those trials do not translate directly to a one-a-day supplement.
What the studies say about fertility and hormones
A 2020 study in JAMA Network Open looked at about 1,700 young Danish men. Those who reported taking fish oil had slightly larger testicles, higher semen volume and a more favorable hormone profile than those who did not. This was an observational study, meaning it found a link, not proof of cause. Men who take supplements may also eat better and exercise more.
Small trials have tested omega-3s for sperm quality with mixed results. There is no strong evidence that fish oil raises testosterone in a meaningful way.
Sensible ways to use it
Eating fatty fish twice a week is the approach most health groups recommend, and it comes with protein and other nutrients. If you prefer a capsule, 1,000 milligrams of combined EPA and DHA per day is a common dose.
Fish oil thins the blood slightly. If you take a blood thinner or have surgery coming up, check with a clinician. Very high doses have been linked to a small rise in atrial fibrillation risk in some heart trials.
Quality matters with supplements. Fish oil can go rancid, and some products contain less EPA and DHA than the label says. Look for a brand that lists the exact EPA and DHA amounts, has a third-party quality seal, and store it somewhere cool. If the capsules smell strongly fishy, they are likely oxidized.
What actually treats ED, and how Zen IV Spa can help
If erections are the problem, the treatments with real evidence are the prescription drugs sildenafil and tadalafil. Sildenafil is the generic for Viagra, and tadalafil is the generic for Cialis. Both relax blood vessels in the penis and have been tested in dozens of randomized trials. Zen IV Spa prescribes the generic versions through a free video visit with our medical director. The ED program is $129 and the premature ejaculation program is $79, shipped discreetly to your home in New York and New Jersey. Learn more at /sexual-wellness/.
Common Questions
Can fish oil cure erectile dysfunction?+
No. It may support blood vessel health, but there are no good trials showing it treats ED. Sildenafil and tadalafil are the proven options.
Does fish oil increase testosterone?+
Not in any meaningful way based on current evidence. One observational study found a slightly better hormone profile in fish oil users, but it could not prove cause.
How much fish oil should I take?+
About 1,000 milligrams of EPA plus DHA per day is a common amount. Eating fatty fish twice a week is an equally good approach.
Does fish oil help with libido?+
There is no reliable evidence that it increases sex drive.
Can fish oil help sperm count?+
An observational study found higher semen volume in fish oil users, and some small trials suggest a modest effect on sperm quality. The evidence is not strong.
Sources: National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements omega-3 fatty acids fact sheet; Jensen et al., JAMA Network Open, 2020 observational study of fish oil and testicular function; FDA prescribing information for Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) and sildenafil.
All treatments are medical services. Every guest is screened, and every treatment is prescribed by a licensed provider. Nothing on this page is medical advice for you personally, and the opinions summarized here belong to the doctors named, not to Zen IV Spa. Talk to a provider before starting or stopping anything.
