Like pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements rarely cause only one effect on your physiology. Sometimes, supplements offer numerous health benefits and few, if any, side effects.



On the other hand, some supplements provide benefits for certain people while also causing undesirable side effects. Such is the case with many anti-androgen supplements.



You might have only read of the benefits of the supplements below. For example, you might think of saw palmetto and imagine a healthy prostate. But you don’t consider the fact that saw palmetto supports a healthy prostate, at least in part, by suppressing testosterone.



In this blog post, I cover some of the most well-known and research-supported anti-androgen supplements.



For certain people, these supplements provide significant health benefits. For others, they can cause unwanted side effects.





What is an anti-androgen?



An anti-androgen suppresses the production of testosterone or blocks its effects on its target cells.



Androgens are testosterone-related hormones. Though their levels are much higher in men than in women, women also need testosterone.



Excess testosterone contributes to:




Prostate cancer



Excessive sexual desire



Acne



Male pattern baldness



Excessive female hairiness



Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)




To treat these conditions, doctors often prescribe anti-androgen pharmaceuticals or supplements.



Your hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and gonads all play roles in testosterone production. An anti-androgen may target any of the production steps, or it may block the effects of the androgen on target cells.



Though anti-androgenic drugs and supplements are useful in treating high testosterone, their testosterone-lowering effects can lead to problems in those who don't have pre-existing, elevated testosterone.



If you have optimal, normal, or already-low testosterone, anti-androgen drugs and supplements may cause or exacerbate low testosterone symptoms.



Effects of anti-androgens



Long-term use of anti-androgens can lead to:



SystemSigns & SymptomsCirculationHot flashesSweatsCentral nervous systemInsomniaNervousnessMood & cognitionIrritability & fatigueReduced sense of wellbeingReduced motivationImpaired short-term memoryDepression / low self-esteemMasculinityReduced vigor and physical strengthSexualityReduced libidoErectile dysfunctionImpaired orgasmImpaired ejaculation and reduced ejaculation volumePhysical featuresDecreased muscle massAbdominal obesityLoss of body hairIncreased total body fatBiochemistryDecreased HDL, Increased LDLOsteoporosisReduced red cell volumeTable adapted from An Update on Anti-Androgens, Grant P, et al.



As you can see, if someone accidentally suppresses testosterone, it can lead to some extremely negative issues.



Read also: Irritable Male Syndrome, Andropause, and Reclaiming Your Manhood.



Anti-Androgenic Supplements



Because supplements can have numerous, unrelated effects on the body, you could take something for one benefit while also dealing with an undesirable side effect.



The following supplements have anti-androgenic effects.



Reishi (Ganodema lucidum)



Reishi has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. As a medicinal mushroom, it is often recommended to support immune function and help combat viral and bacterial infections. It acts as an antioxidant and promotes normal blood sugar levels, as well as a healthy liver.



Reishi reduces levels of 5-alpha reductase, which then reduces the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Though excessive levels of DHT contribute to an enlarged prostate, acne, and male-pattern baldness, you need this potent form of testosterone.



Reducing DHT too much leads to the symptoms of low testosterone listed above.



Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)



Licorice root also has a long history of use in Chinese medicine and has been used since before the Greek and Roman empires.



It has traditionally been used for digestive issues,