What Olympus Male is
Olympus Male is a custom compounded medicine that combines three ingredients, each aimed at a different part of sexual function:
| Ingredient | What it is | What it targets |
|---|---|---|
| Tadalafil (Cialis) | An FDA-approved PDE5 inhibitor for erectile dysfunction | Blood flow into the penis, so arousal turns into a firm erection |
| PT-141 (bremelanotide) | A melanocortin receptor agonist that acts in the brain | Desire and arousal |
| Oxytocin | A naturally occurring hormone linked to bonding and orgasm | Connection and intimacy |
Most ED medicines only help the plumbing: they make an erection easier once you are aroused. Olympus Male was designed for men who also notice that the desire is flatter than it used to be.
Arousal and erection are linked but separate. A PDE5 medicine such as tadalafil cannot create desire; it amplifies the blood-flow response once arousal has started. PT-141 is thought to work further upstream, on melanocortin receptors in the brain involved in sexual motivation, although its label notes that the exact mechanism is not known. That is why it was developed for low desire rather than for weak erections. Our Olympus Male versus tadalafil comparison shows where the extra ingredients come in, and our pages on PT-141 for men and the research on oxytocin and sex in men go deeper into each.
Be clear on its status. The blend is prepared by a licensed U.S. compounding pharmacy and is not an FDA-approved product. Bremelanotide is FDA-approved, as Vyleesi, only for premenopausal women with acquired low sexual desire, so its use in men is off-label. Ultimate Male recommends compounded medicines only from licensed pharmacies, never from online “research peptide” sellers; the FDA keeps a running list of sexual enhancement products found to contain hidden drugs.
Who it suits, and who cannot use it
Olympus Male tends to suit men who:
- Have erections that work with a pill but desire that lags behind
- Feel disconnected or flat during intimacy despite normal testosterone
- Have tried tadalafil alone and want more than an erection aid
If the issue is that pills no longer produce a firm erection at all, a different path fits better, outlined in ED treatment when pills don’t work.
It is not for everyone, and two groups are ruled out completely:
- Men who use nitrates. Nitroglycerin, isosorbide and street “poppers” combined with tadalafil can drop blood pressure to a dangerous level. MedlinePlus also flags riociguat (Adempas) with tadalafil. See ED pills and nitrates and our page for men who take nitrates.
- Men with uncontrolled high blood pressure or known cardiovascular disease. The bremelanotide label lists both as contraindications, because each dose briefly raises systolic blood pressure by up to 6 mmHg and lowers heart rate, peaking two to four hours after the dose and usually back to baseline within 12 hours.
Men on alpha blockers for the prostate or blood pressure need a careful review, covered on our page for men on blood pressure medicines.
How the clinic decides
Low desire has many causes, so the first question is why it is low. Your provider reviews your history, relationship and stress factors, sleep, alcohol and current medicines, and checks labs including testosterone, because low testosterone is a common, treatable reason for flat libido. The blood tests for low libido page lists the usual panel. Your blood pressure is measured at the visit, and your heart history is reviewed before PT-141 is considered.
If labs show low testosterone, treating that may be the better first step. If your blood pressure is not controlled, Olympus Male waits until it is.
How and when it is taken
According to Ultimate Male’s description of the blend, it is given either as a dose that dissolves under the tongue or as an injection, depending on what your provider recommends. Your provider sets the form and the dose; do not split, double or combine doses on your own.
Timing follows the slowest-acting part. For reference, bremelanotide’s label calls for a dose at least 45 minutes before sexual activity, and MedlinePlus says tadalafil is taken at least 30 minutes before. Your provider will tell you how far ahead to take your own dose. Both sources limit use to one dose in 24 hours, and the bremelanotide label advises no more than eight doses a month.
| Step | What to know |
|---|---|
| Before the first dose | Labs, blood pressure check and medicine review |
| Timing | Planned ahead of intimacy as your provider directs |
| Frequency | No more than once in 24 hours |
| Follow-up | A check-in after the first few uses to review effect and side effects |
Side effects and safety
The most common side effect of bremelanotide is nausea, reported by 40% of women in its clinical trials and most likely after the first dose. Flushing and headache can come from either PT-141 or tadalafil. The bremelanotide label also reports darkened patches of skin, more often with frequent use and in darker skin. Tadalafil can cause headache, indigestion and back pain.
Get emergency help for chest pain, fainting, sudden vision or hearing loss, or an erection lasting more than four hours. Call 911 or head to the nearest emergency department.
Paying for Olympus Male and booking at Ultimate Male
Olympus Male is priced by the compounded supply and the consultation and follow-up visits, and the Olympus Male cost page explains each part. Ultimate Male is direct-pay, issues itemized receipts that many men use with FSA or HSA accounts for ED treatment, and offers financing through CareCredit, Prosper Healthcare Lending and Afterpay. There is no membership.
At our San Gabriel and Downey clinics, a provider checks your blood pressure, medicines and labs before Olympus Male is discussed, and will say plainly if a simpler ED medication or treating low testosterone fits you better. Book a private consultation or start with a free 10-minute call.
