Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus terrestris is an herbal supplement commonly marketed for libido, “testosterone support,” and workout performance. Most formulas are standardized to steroidal saponins (often discussed as protodioscin, though products vary a lot). In humans, the evidence that tribulus reliably raises total testosterone is mixed and often unimpressive, but many people still report changes in libido/arousal, energy, and erections—which suggests its real-world effects (when they occur) may not be purely “more testosterone,” but could involve nitric oxide / endothelial signaling, CNS arousal pathways, or indirect HPG-axis signaling in some individuals.

In a PFS/PSSD/PAS context, tribulus tends to land in the “variable response” bucket because it’s not biologically neutral: it’s a hormone-adjacent botanical that can shift arousal, sleep, stress tone, and libido. For someone whose system is already sensitized, even a modest nudge in any of those directions can feel like a benefit, a flare, or a destabilizing push depending on dose, product quality, and current baseline.

Anecdotes (Community Reports):

https://forum.propeciahelp.com/t/my-experience-with-tribulus-effects-and-side-effects/35571/5

https://www.reddit.com/r/PSSD/comments/13gunto/severe_adverse_reactions_to_tribulus_terrestris/

https://www.reddit.com/r/FinasterideSyndrome/comments/1gr0e1a/tribulus_causes_a_100_recovery/

https://forum.propeciahelp.com/t/weekly-update-tribulus/44524/41

https://forum.propeciahelp.com/t/i-believe-tribulus-has-cured-me/7681/485

https://www.reddit.com/r/PSSD/comments/16lb39d/tribulus/

Community Reports: Mixed Outcomes & Variable Risk Signal

Community reports on tribulus are mixed. Some people describe mild-to-moderate improvements (higher libido, better erection quality, slightly more drive/energy), while others report no effect. A subset describe flares/crashes—often framed as increased anxiety, sleep disruption, emotional volatility, feeling “wired,” or sexual function becoming more unstable rather than improving. The overall pattern reads as inconsistent benefit with non-trivial downside risk for some, rather than a reliable “helper.”

Reported Risks / Reasons for Caution

Tribulus isn’t typically viewed as a “top-tier crash trigger” like strong serotonergic drugs, but it can still be a problem in PFS/PSSD/PAS because:

• Product variability is huge (different extracts, saponin content, adulteration risk in “test booster” blends).

• It can push arousal/stress systems (sleep and anxiety changes are a common way supplements backfire in these syndromes).

• If someone’s symptoms are sensitive to hormone signaling changes, tribulus may act like a small but unpredictable lever.

• Stacked formulas (tribulus + tongkat + DHEA + yohimbine, etc.) make it hard to know what caused what, and often increase destabilization risk.

A cautious framing is: tribulus may be “lower stakes” than prescription hormones, but it still isn’t a free test—especially if you already flare from libido/testosterone-boost style supplements.

Evidence Basis

Established supplement marketing claims + limited/variable human data on testosterone outcomes; plausible mechanisms discussed around saponins, libido/arousal pathways, and nitric oxide–related effects; anecdotal community reports. No controlled studies demonstrate tribulus as a treatment for PFS/PSSD/PAS.