Marketing Says X. Evidence Says Y.
"Enhance your performance in under five minutes." "The secret weapon of the supermodel." "Clinically proven results." Sound familiar? They should. These are the kind of claims you see on sexual enhancement products.
The honest answer is this: the marketing can run ahead of the evidence. This isn't a rant against enhancement products. It's a reality check. Let's look at both sides honestly.
Claims to Look At
Claims in this category can involve libido, arousal, stamina, size or sensation. The evidence for each varies by specific product and ingredient. Some products list their ingredients and have TGA listing or registration. Others don't. What's actually in each product matters, ingredient, dose, formulation, and intended use determine the evidence level.
The TGA Angle
In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates therapeutic goods. Some sexual enhancement products are listed or registered with the TGA. Some aren't. The TGA has issued safety alerts, for example, on 29 June 2026 the TGA reported that tested sexual enhancement supplements contained undeclared prescription medicines including sildenafil, tadalafil, and dapoxetine. Black Bull Extreme cream specifically tested positive for sildenafil and tadalafil. None of the tested products were included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). Do not generalise that finding to all enhancement products, but do be aware that undeclared medicines in unregistered products are a real risk.
What to Do Instead
If you're considering a sexual-enhancement product, a doctor or pharmacist can help you check ingredients, possible interactions, contraindications and whether the product is appropriate for your situation. An AUST L number does not mean the TGA individually assessed the product's effectiveness before it went on sale. Products that have gone through the assessed-listed pathway (AUST L(A)) or the registered pathway (AUST R) receive a higher level of evaluation, but an ordinary listed medicine is not individually assessed for efficacy.
If the marketing sounds outrageous, that's a red flag. If the product claims "miracle results" or "instant transformation," that's a red flag. If it makes modest claims supported by evidence, that's worth exploring, but even then, talk to a professional first.
The Bottom Line
Marketing makes the claim. Evidence determines how much confidence that claim deserves. Be aware of the gap between marketing and evidence. Be skeptical of the hype. And talk to a professional before putting anything in your body that claims to change how your body works. If you're thinking about product safety more broadly, our condom materials explained guide covers how to evaluate material claims. If you decide to explore enhancers, the enhancers collection lists what's available.