Overall, the evidence supports TRT as a valuable intervention for enhancing mood, preserving cognitive performance, and improving quality of life in hypogonadal men aged 50 and above, with effects that extend beyond purely physical health outcomes. Additionally, neuroimaging studies have reported increased functional connectivity in prefrontal cortical networks and improved cerebral perfusion following TRT, suggesting potential neuroprotective effects 29,33. Some studies even suggest a protective effect through improved endothelial function, increased arterial compliance, and a reduction in pro-inflammatory markers 24,28. Meta-analyses confirm that TRT improves BMD and bone strength, with a more robust effect at the spine than at the hip, and the potential to reduce fracture risk when therapy is maintained for more than two years 10,23. RCTs have demonstrated that TRT significantly increases BMD, especially at the lumbar spine and femoral neck, in men with low baseline testosterone 4,10,21. Table 1 summarizes the main physiological domains impacted by TRT in men aged 50 years and above, integrating evidence from RCTs, long-term observational studies, and meta-analyses. Furthermore, trials assessing combined interventions, such as TRT with resistance exercise, nutritional optimization, or pharmacological agents targeting bone and muscle, may reveal synergistic effects in promoting healthy aging 12,18,19.Ultimately, a more individualized approach to TRT, guided by precision medicine tools and patient-specific risk-benefit profiles, is likely to optimize outcomes while maintaining safety. The explosion in the use of testosterone in the past decade is multifactorial in its etiology, including the increased use of direct-to-consumer advertising, which has resulted in greater patient knowledge and demand; relaxation of the indications for testosterone prescribing by clinicians; and the establishment of clinical care centers devoted to men's health, testosterone treatment, and anti-aging strategies. Patients should be informed that there is no definitive evidence linking testosterone therapy to a higher incidence of venothrombolic events. Patients should be informed that the evidence is inconclusive whether testosterone therapy improves cognitive function, measures of diabetes, energy, fatigue, lipid profiles, and quality of life measures. Clinicians should inform testosterone deficient patients that low testosterone is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. PSA should be measured in men over 40 years of age prior to commencement of testosterone therapy to exclude a prostate cancer diagnosis. The exact mechanism isn’t clear, but there is definitely a correlation between progesterone/estrogen and testosterone. So when one hormone is imbalanced it will ultimately drag down (or up) other hormones in the body. Some women can get away with some mild hair growth on the face, while others face serious symptoms like darkening of the skin, abdominal/visceral fat deposits, and extreme mood swings. But, what is the best way to determine how it’s affecting your testosterone? In men insulin resistance typically causes low testosterone, but in women, it can cause both. As I mentioned previously in this article the link between insulin resistance (1) (high blood sugar) and testosterone is VERY strong. In this section, I’m going to go over the most common causes of high testosterone. Can spinal cord injury reduce testosterone levels? If biochemical testosterone deficiency is confirmed and symptoms are consistent, testosterone replacement therapy may be considered according to recognised clinical guidance. Hormonal evaluation typically includes morning testosterone levels alongside related markers such as luteinising hormone and sex hormone-binding globulin. Many men maintain normal testosterone levels following injury. A systematic review published in BMJ Open examined testosterone levels in men with spinal cord injury and highlighted the prevalence of hypogonadism within this group. It’s important to understand that testosterone levels fluctuate throughout the day and year, so proper testing protocols are essential for accurate diagnosis. Studies demonstrate that clomiphene can restore testosterone levels to % of baseline within 30 days when properly timed. First, many RCTs have relatively small sample sizes, short durations of follow-up (often ≤12 months), and may not fully capture long-term outcomes such as fracture prevention, cardiovascular events, and cancer incidence 4,21,23,37. Given the role of muscle preservation in preventing disability and frailty, TRT represents a valuable therapeutic tool to support healthy aging in appropriately selected men.Testosterone plays a crucial role in skeletal health by stimulating osteoblast activity, inhibiting osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, and enhancing calcium retention through direct androgen receptor signaling and aromatization to estradiol 3,19. A meta-analysis confirmed that TRT improves muscle mass and maximal strength, especially in men with baseline testosterone 16. Similar outcomes have been observed in other long-term studies, which also documented improvements in orgasmic function, sexual confidence, and partner satisfaction 9-11. A literature search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from January 2000 to July 2025 to identify relevant studies on the clinical benefits, safety, and recommendations for TRT in men aged 50 years and above. Furthermore, accumulating data suggest benefits beyond sexual function, including improvements in bone mineral density, muscle mass, insulin sensitivity, and vitality, although results remain inconsistent across studies 1,4. All 3 common varieties of ginseng (Panax ginseng, American ginseng, and Korean red ginseng) benefit male health.|Complex statistical analysis using a methodology known a stabilized inverse propensity treatment weighting was utilized to adjust for 50 potentially confounding variables. The end-points included all-cause mortality as well as cardiovascular events. SQ testosterone pellets were initially developed and FDA approved in 1972 and were reformulated in the USA in 2008. Long-acting IM testosterone injection may also result in higher rates of polycythemia when compared to topical therapies, which is consistent with other short-acting IM testosterone therapies. Mild level adverse events specific to SQ pellet insertion includes polycythemia (48-50%), ecchymosis (32-36%), tenderness (20-32%), pain (28-29%), and swelling (16-18%), all of which resolve by 4 months post-insertion.446 Moderate level adverse events were less common (e.g., pain 3%, erythema 3%, ecchymoses 7%) and improved within 1 week. These recommendations, however, are not based on current testosterone pellet formulations and contrast with pharmacokinetic data available.|An analysis of several studies found that magnesium supplementation may improve T levels and overall well-being in aging men. Low magnesium levels are linked to low levels of testosterone, especially in older men. Sun exposure for minutes daily around midday is the fastest way to increase your vitamin D levels. Testosterone supplements offer a way to boost testosterone production without the need for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).|Emerging evidence also suggests that Vitamin K2 plays a role in mitochondrial health. A healthy hormonal system relies on a healthy cardiovascular system. By helping to facilitate this conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone (the precursor to testosterone), K2 may help the body maintain its natural hormonal output. However, we now know that Vitamin K2, in particular, is a powerhouse for cardiovascular and hormonal health.|Commercially manufactured testosterone products should be prescribed rather than compounded testosterone, when possible. Clinicians should not prescribe alkylated oral testosterone. In the absence of sufficient evidence, additional information is provided as Clinical Principles and Expert Opinions. In second pass, an additional 419 studies were excluded. The original guideline search strategy was updated and used to systematically search PubMed for new evidence published between the previous search end date and February 2022. An updated evidence search was subsequently performed in 2022. Controlled vocabulary supplemented with keywords was used to search for studies according to each defined question.|While Leydig cells are less radiosensitive than germ cells, radiation exposure to the testis can impair testosterone production. Gynecomastia is a benign enlargement of the male breast tissue that can occur at times of male androgen/estrogen change (alteration in testosterone/estradiol E2 ratio), infancy, adolescence, or old age, and may be a sign of low serum testosterone. This assessment should include evaluation of general body habitus; virilization status (examination of body hair patterns and amounts in androgen dependent areas); BMI or waist circumference; evaluation for gynecomastia; testicular evaluation including size, consistency and masses; and presence of varicoceles. The scientific literature examining the relationship between ED and low testosterone is further limited by the variability in, or absence of, the definition of ED, incomplete vascular comorbidity information, as well as variability in the thresholds used to define low testosterone.|Despite the methodological limitations, individual studies have shown a link between low testosterone levels and ED. Total testosterone absence of signs and/or symptoms increases the likelihood of making a false diagnosis and reduces the potential benefit of testosterone therapy. Likewise, while some literature suggests that food ingestion might affect testosterone levels, the evidence is particularly weak, and the Panel does not recommend that clinicians insist on fasting prior to testing. Among men with traditional (10p.m. to 6a.m.) sleep patterns, peak testosterone values occur around 3-8a.m., with 32-39% of the diurnal total decline occurring within the first 30 minutes of waking.18-23 Older men experience diurnal blunting and more stability in testosterone levels throughout the day, while younger men undergo greater variation. Likewise, while some literature suggests that food ingestion might affect testosterone levels, the evidence is particularly weak, and the Panel does not recommend that clinicians insist on fasting prior to testing.Circadian Rhythm. Evidence strength refers to the body of evidence available for a particular question and includes not only individual study quality but consideration of study design, consistency of findings across studies, adequacy of sample sizes, and generalizability of samples, settings, and treatments for the purposes of the guideline.|In her case, it was caused by insulin resistance, and by treating that problem her testosterone levels (and therefore symptoms) went away. However, many men with normal testosterone levels have similar symptoms, so a direct connection between testosterone levels and symptoms is not always clear. Serum testosterone, hematocrit, and prostate-specific antigen levels should be measured at baseline and at least annually in men 40 years or older receiving testosterone replacement therapy. Declining testosterone levels (1,8,30]. The prevalence of mild depressive symptoms in hypogonadal men over 50 can reach 20-30%, often coexisting with fatigue and decreased quality of life 29,30. Low testosterone levels (1,8,24]. Restoration of physiological testosterone concentrations through TRT has shown favorable effects on multiple metabolic parameters, contributing to improved cardiometabolic health.|If baseline DEXA demonstrate bone density loss, imaging should be repeated one to two years after testosterone initiation. Whether the changes in both these studies represent a clinically meaningful improvement is unclear. 1-89, 10These results are consistent with other meta-analyses,296 yet methodological flaws in the study design may underestimate the true rate and magnitude of improvement in erectile function. As such, low testosterone is likely better considered as a covariate with these comorbid conditions rather than as an independent observation.} The aim is not simply hormone replacement, but a thoughtful and personalised approach to long-term health following neurological injury. Where clinically indicated, targeted blood tests can assess testosterone and related hormones. For many individuals, hormonal optimisation forms part of a broader strategy to support long-term health after spinal cord injury. Rehabilitation programmes that incorporate resistance training and metabolic conditioning may support muscle preservation and endocrine health. Men interested in broader hormonal health may also benefit from reviewing our overview of men’s health servicesand the role of preventive health screening in long-term wellbeing. When symptoms suggest possible hormonal imbalance, the first step is careful medical assessment. Treatment decisions must always be guided by symptoms, clinical evaluation and laboratory results. There are times when low testosterone is not such a bad thing. For example, problem with function of pituitary gland or adrenal glands may lead to reduced testosterone production. Also, as men get older, their livers make more sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), which binds to testosterone circulating in the bloodstream. The testes produces less testosterone, there are fewer signals from the pituitary telling the testes to make testosterone. One treatment available for many of these problems is spironolactone, a special type of diuretic (water pill) that blocks the action of male sex hormones. In addition, what may seem like a symptom of testosterone excess (see below) may actually be unrelated to this hormone. Having too much naturally-occurring testosterone is not a common problem among men. When you think of testosterone, what comes to mind? Treatment method should take into consideration patient preference, pharmacokinetics, potential for medication interactions, formulation-specific adverse effects, treatment burden, and cost. Evidence is conflicting regarding its effect on cardiovascular events and mortality. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, AM, upon reasonable request. Our primary objective was to systematically review all data published in the last two decades on testosterone boosters and determine their efficacy.