Everything You Need to Know About Testosterone Therapy

Testosterone therapy has exploded in recent years. Celebrities, influencers and politicians now openly admit to using it.

Conservative estimates suggest that prescriptions for testosterone grew from 7.3 million to more than 11 million between 2019 and 2024, according to the health care research company IQVIA (though spotty reporting could mean that number is much higher).

This emergence into the mainstream has been driven by two factors. First, there is a growing understanding among doctors that synthetic testosterone is a safe, effective way to ease symptoms of testosterone deficiency (or “hypogonadism”), which include chronic fatigue, low libido, erectile dysfunction, irritability, weight gain, muscle loss and depression.

But the boom has also been fueled by the rise of questionable clinics often selling the hormone as a cure-all to those who don’t need it. According to the American Urological Association, up to a third of men taking testosterone have never been diagnosed with a deficiency — and therefore may not benefit from the therapy.

“Ironically, most men who need testosterone don’t receive treatment, while those who don’t need it, do,” said Dr. Abraham Morgentaler, a urologist and testosterone therapy specialist. Low testosterone becomes increasingly common as men age. Specific estimates for testosterone deficiency vary, depending how the condition is defined and diagnosed — some as low as 6 percent of men over 30 and others as high as a third of those over 45.

The condition is relatively easy to treat, but experts encourage men to work with legitimate health professionals who follow proper guidelines, as the therapy does come with risks. Here is what you should know before exploring treatment.

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