Who really needs testosterone?
Medical experts are cautioning against the rising trend of men seeking testosterone therapy without proper clinical diagnosis. While hormone health is important, doctors warn that online clinics often bypass necessary testing and follow-up care.
Why it matters
The growing popularity of 'low T' treatments driven by social media and online clinics poses potential health risks if not managed by qualified medical professionals.
A few times, Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt suspected he might have low testosterone.
But when he checked his numbers, he discovered they were entirely within a normal range.
"Turns out it was more so my sleep and stress and everything else," says Brahmbhatt , a urologist at Orlando Health in Florida.
Brahmbhatt treats men with low testosterone every day — meaning he's on the front lines of the current cultural fixation with testosterone.
For stories on the science of healthy living, subscribe to NPR's Health newsletter.
Social media is overflowing with testosterone content, from fears of "low T" to " 't-maxxing "' tutorials. Influential voices, including the podcaster Joe Rogan and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are openly discussing their own use of testosterone therapy. And there's a huge industry of online clinics that make it easy for anyone to get a prescription.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in