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Enclomiphene Citrate and Relationships: How This SERM Affects Intimacy, Libido, and Daily Life

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Key numbers

  • 26 menMen in a clomiphene trial (not enclomiphene) randomized for 12 weeks; neither group showed a significant sexual function changeSource: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, as cited 2026-11-08
  • 7 of 112 menMen on enclomiphene 12.5 mg in ZA-302 who had headache, a common side effect; placebo had 1 of 47Source: clinicaltrials.gov, as cited 2026-11-08
  • 14.2%Share of men on enclomiphene in ZA-301 whose sperm concentration fell by 50% or more; placebo was 2.6%Source: clinicaltrials.gov, as cited 2026-11-08

At a glance

  • Approval status / Not FDA-approved; EMA recommended refusal of EnCyzix in 2018 [3][1]
  • Drug class / Oral SERM that raises LH and FSH [3]
  • Libido / Not assessed in the enclomiphene phase 3 trials [1][3]
  • Clomiphene sexual function / No significant change at 12 weeks in a 26-man trial of clomiphene vs anastrozole [2]
  • Sperm / Stayed in the normal range, unlike testosterone gel [4]

Does enclomiphene improve libido or sexual function?

Europe's regulator adopted a negative opinion on EnCyzix in January 2018 for two reasons: the studies showed higher testosterone but did not look at whether symptoms improved — bone strength, weight gain, impotence and libido were named — and there was a risk of venous thromboembolism [1].

The closest randomized evidence comes from clomiphene citrate, the two-isomer mixture: 26 men with low testosterone and infertility were randomized to clomiphene 25 mg daily or anastrozole 1 mg daily for 12 weeks. Neither group showed a significant change on the International Index of Erectile Function, the Erection Hardness Scale or the Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male questionnaire [2]. There was no placebo arm.

What people on Reddit report

Men on enclomiphene alone or alongside TRT describing libido, mood, brain fog and energy. Accounts are mixed: some report gains and others report declines.

Theghostofyogurtpast · Testosterone

I had a couple weeks of increased strength and libido but it level off fairly quickly.

Reports a brief boost in strength and libido that faded within a few weeks on enclomiphene.

Read the source discussion

Sozzeled · Testosterone

Since starting enclomiphene, I've had heavy brain fog, very low libido, fatigue, and I've been weirdly emotional, almost to the point of tears.

Reports low libido, brain fog and emotional swings after adding enclomiphene to TRT.

Read the source discussion

Recent-King3583 · Testosterone

I also felt like it messed with me cognitively, especially in the mornings after taking it the night before.

Reports feeling mentally off in the mornings after taking enclomiphene the night before.

Read the source discussion

Questions worth asking

Choose the questions you want to keep

What the trials measured

The enclomiphene trials measured testosterone, LH, FSH and sperm. ZA-301 randomized 151 overweight men with morning testosterone under 300 ng/dL to enclomiphene or placebo for 12 weeks; 78.8% of those on enclomiphene (12.5 and 25 mg arms pooled) reached an average 24-hour testosterone of 300 to 1040 ng/dL [5].

Two parallel phase 3 studies compared enclomiphene with AndroGel 1.62% for 16 weeks: sperm concentration stayed in the normal range on enclomiphene while spermatogenesis dropped markedly on the gel [4]. Sperm is not untouched: in ZA-301 concentration fell by 50% or more in 14.2% of men on enclomiphene versus 2.6% on placebo [5].

Side effects and label warnings

Headache, hot flushes, nausea and muscle spasm were the most frequent side effects, and the reasons men stopped included blurred vision, muscle spasm, headache and aggression [6]. In the 12-week ZA-302 study, headache occurred in 7 of 112 men on 12.5 mg versus 1 of 47 on placebo [6].

The visual warning and the mood reports below come from the clomiphene citrate label, which covers the two-isomer mixture, not enclomiphene alone: it describes blurring, spots or flashes that are usually reversible but may rarely persist, and lists anxiety and mood changes among postmarketing events [7]. FDA's 2022 review of enclomiphene listed thromboembolic and cardiac events, raised estradiol, PSA and hematocrit, and no long-term safety data [3].

Status

Enclomiphene is not FDA-approved [3]. FDA's May 2026 list places it in Category 1, bulk substances under evaluation [8]; in June 2022 its advisory committee voted 4 yes and 8 no on adding it to the allowed list [9]. The British Society of Sexual Medicine's 2026 statement notes the manufacturer discontinued development in 2021 and advises use only by experienced clinicians in specialist or research settings [10].

Studies used once-daily oral doses of 6.25, 12.5 or 25 mg [11]; peak levels came 2 to 3 hours after a dose, with a half-life of about 10 hours [3].

Frequently asked questions

Does enclomiphene increase libido?
Its phase 3 trials did not measure libido or sexual function [1][3]. The randomized data on sexual function come from clomiphene citrate, where 26 men showed no significant change over 12 weeks [2].
Does it affect fertility?
Sperm concentration stayed in the normal range over 16 weeks on enclomiphene while it fell markedly on testosterone gel [4]. In ZA-301 concentration dropped by 50% or more in 14.2% of men on enclomiphene versus 2.6% on placebo [5].
Is enclomiphene approved?
No. It is not FDA-approved, and EMA's committee recommended refusal of EnCyzix in 2018 [3][1]. FDA lists it as a bulk substance under evaluation, not an approved product [8].

What people actually ask

Can enclomiphene cause mood swings?

Mood changes are not described for enclomiphene itself. The clomiphene citrate label, which covers a two-isomer mixture rather than enclomiphene alone, lists anxiety and mood changes among postmarketing events. Headache, hot flushes, nausea and muscle spasm were the most frequent side effects in the enclomiphene studies.

How do men feel on enclomiphene?

Men in the trials most often reported headache, hot flushes, nausea and muscle spasm. Reasons men stopped included blurred vision, muscle spasm, headache and aggression. In the 12-week ZA-302 study, headache occurred in 7 of 112 men on 12.5 mg versus 1 of 47 on placebo.

Is 25mg of enclomiphene too much?

No safe upper limit for 25 mg is given, and no dose-related safety thresholds are described. Studies used once-daily oral doses of 6.25, 12.5 or 25 mg, so 25 mg was the highest dose tested in those studies.

References

  1. Official web page. Official web page
  2. Helo S, Ellen J, Mechlin C, Feustel P, Grossman M, Ditkoff E, et al. A Randomized Prospective Double-Blind Comparison Trial of Clomiphene Citrate and Anastrozole in Raising Testosterone in Hypogonadal Infertile Men. J Sex Med. 2015;12(8):1761-9. A Randomized Prospective Double-Blind Comparison Trial of Clomiphene Citrate and Anastrozole in Raising Testosterone in Hypogonadal Infertile Men
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  4. Kim ED, McCullough A, Kaminetsky J. Oral enclomiphene citrate raises testosterone and preserves sperm counts in obese hypogonadal men, unlike topical testosterone: restoration instead of replacement. BJU Int. 2016;117(4):677-85. Oral enclomiphene citrate raises testosterone and preserves sperm counts in obese hypogonadal men, unlike topical testosterone: restoration instead of replacement
  5. Official web page. Official web page
  6. Official web page. Official web page
  7. U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. Clomid (clomiphene citrate) tablets, Cosette prescribing information. Clomid (clomiphene citrate) tablets, Cosette label
  8. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  9. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  10. Foster J, Choo L, Patel A, Kirby M, Hackett G. British Society of Sexual Medicine: Position Statement for the Potential Use of Enclomiphene in the Treatment of Male Hypogonadism. World J Mens Health. 2026;44(3):480-483. British Society of Sexual Medicine: Position Statement for the Potential Use of Enclomiphene in the Treatment of Male Hypogonadism
  11. Wiehle R, Cunningham GR, Pitteloud N, Wike J, Hsu K, Fontenot GK, et al. Testosterone Restoration by Enclomiphene Citrate in Men with Secondary Hypogonadism: Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics. BJU Int. 2013;112(8):1188-200. Testosterone Restoration by Enclomiphene Citrate in Men with Secondary Hypogonadism: Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics
  12. Reddit participants. Results of taking enclomiphene daily (r/Testosterone). Accessed 2026-11-11.
  13. Reddit participants. Started enclomiphene alongside TRT, now brain fog, low libido, and moody. Anyone else? (r/Testosterone). Accessed 2026-11-11.
Evidence overview for Enclomiphene Citrate and Relationships: How This SERM Affects Intimacy, Libido, and Daily Life