Demand for testosterone is surging, driven by social media trends like "T-maxxing," online direct-to-consumer clinics and high-profile figures like podcaster Joe Rogan. The U.S. military is even planning to test service members for low levels of the hormone. The Food and Drug Administration has signaled that it wants to revise its criteria to make testosterone therapy accessible for men with low levels regardless of underlying cause, if low libido is a symptom. Here's a breakdown of the debate around testosterone and its safety:
➡️ In the early 2000s, testosterone was a rapidly growing prescription drug in the United States. After studies suggested it increased heart attack and stroke risks, the FDA issued warnings and mandated a safety study.
➡️ The trial published in 2023 found no increased risk of heart attack, stroke or major cardiovascular events compared to placebo, though it did raise other concerns, like higher risk of fractures. These findings led the FDA to remove the cardiovascular risk warning language from the products.
➡️ Dr. Steven Woloshin, who has testified against a drug company that makes testosterone, argues that removing the language was premature due to major limitations in the study. These include an insufficient follow-up period to assess potential harms, and that testosterone levels in the blood were not raised to typical clinical practice levels. | 
