The term “Spanish fly” has referred to various aphrodisiacs purported to get people in a sexual mood or give them longer-lasting erections. However, the real Spanish fly contains a substance that can blister your skin.

Spanish fly refers to a number of love potions and aphrodisiacs available on the market for decades.

Just a few drops of Spanish fly are supposed to increase sex drive or help people sustain an erection for longer.

In reality, most products sold as Spanish fly contain little more than water and sugar. The ingredient Spanish fly is named after is quite potent and can have negative health effects.

You’ll notice that the language used to share stats and other data points is pretty binary, fluctuating between the use of “male” and “female” or “men” and “women.”

Although we typically avoid language like this, specificity is key when reporting on research participants and clinical findings.

The studies and surveys referenced in this article didn’t report data on or include participants who were transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, agender, or genderless.

True Spanish fly is made from blister beetles, specifically the substance produced by the beetles called cantharidin. The insect’s name is not for nothing; contact with cantharidin can blister skin.

Its use dates way back, and some of its many fans included:

  • a Roman empress who used cantharidin to encourage sexual behavior, worthy of blackmailing her family with
  • Roman gladiators who used it for orgies
  • queens who used it on their kings and those kings on their mistresses to spice things up

Dried beetles would be crushed and mixed with drinks or sweets — not always to the receiver’s knowledge — and consumed to promote feelings of warmth throughout the body and swelling of the genitals. But these warm fuzzies are due to inflammation, not attraction.

Along with long-lasting erections, Spanish fly was found to cause a number of serious side effects, including death. Yes, even death, as Marquis de Sade tragically discovered in 1772 after giving sweet aniseed balls laced with Spanish fly to sex workers who ended up dying horrible deaths from it.

Since then, the potential dangers of using Spanish fly have been well documented and include:

You can still find products called Spanish fly online and in sex shops today, though they don’t contain cantharidin or the insect. Even those that claim to be “original” Spanish fly are made of ingredients found in most other products marketed as natural or herbal aphrodisiacs, such as maca, ginseng, and ginkgo biloba.

Researchers have studied the effects of cathardin on some conditions, including certain cancers, molluscum contagiosum, and warts. In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a cathardin as a topical treatment for molluscum contagiosum. Ycanth (canthardin) is available for people 2 years of age and older.

Despite flashy ads and bold claims, there’s not much evidence to support the use of aphrodisiac products.

If you’re looking for ways to boost your libido or improve your sexual performance, there are things that you can do.

Get more exercise

Unlike Spanish fly, exercise has actually been proven to increase sexual arousal. A 2018 study linked chronic exercise to improved arousal and sexual satisfaction in women.

Some studies have also linked exercise to a lower risk of impotence, better erections, and improved sexual function in young and older men.

How can exercise accomplish all of this? It all comes down to its association with:

  • increased blood flow
  • higher stamina and energy levels
  • increased confidence
  • better mood and lower stress levels
  • the release of endorphins
  • increased genital response

Get some sunshine

There’s evidence that vitamin D increases testosterone in men with low sexual desire and causes a threefold improvement in sexual satisfaction.

Sunshine also makes us happier because it boosts vitamin D levels, which help regulate hormones related to mood that also happen to play a role in arousal, including serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.

Try massage

Massage increases serotonin and dopamine. It also reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Indulging in a sensual massage with your partner will help you both de-stress and can work as foreplay. Some massage oil and your hands are all you need.

Consent is a must before you engage in any type of sexual contact.

Herbal aphrodisiacs may seem harmless enough, but dosing someone without their knowledge is dangerous and illegal.

if you suspect you’ve been given some

If you suspect that someone has given you some sort of aphrodisiac without consent, get help right away. Find someone who can help you, call the police if you feel comfortable doing so, and request to see a healthcare professional, even if the substance was supposedly “natural.”

True Spanish fly is very dangerous and nearly impossible to find these days. Products bearing the name still exist, though they’re probably ineffective.

If you or your partner are concerned about your low libido or sexual health, speak with a healthcare professional who can rule out an underlying medical condition and suggest proven treatments to boost your sex drive.