The phenomenon of younger men turning to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to boost their "T levels" has been in the spotlight recently thanks to media reports and social media influencers . Testosterone is a hormone critical to male health, influencing muscle mass, mood, cognition, libido and energy levels . Artificially raising testosterone levels through supplementation when levels dip seems logical.
But is it? Clearly, a large amount of research points towards beneficial effects of TRT for men with deficiency, including increased muscle mass and reduced fat mass , improved sexual desire and performance and better overall quality of life . But these findings come mostly from research in older men, leaving important questions unanswered about the effects of TRT in younger men. (It should be noted that TRT is not the same as anabolic steroids, which are drugs used purely to increase muscle mass.
) As men age—typically from age 30—testosterone levels decline. Some estimate levels to drop by 1%–2% per year , although the specifics have not been resolved. This decline happens much faster if the person has certain diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and inflammatory diseases—the kinds of diseases that tend to accumulate as we age.
In healthy men, the age-related decline probably doesn't have a negative effect until men are in their 70s and 80s. So low testosterone is not a natural consequence of aging that all men will face. And it really is the occurrence of certain.