Testosterone Is a Contraceptive and Should Not Be Used in Men Who Desire Fertility
January 2019
in “
The World Journal of Men's Health
”
TLDR Testosterone replacement therapy can prevent men from fathering children and should not be used by those wanting to stay fertile.
The 2019 review article indicated that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has contraceptive effects and is detrimental to male fertility. TRT, used to treat hypogonadism symptoms, suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, reducing FSH and LH levels, which are essential for sperm and intra-testicular testosterone production. The review reported that testosterone could cause azoospermia in 65% of normospermic men within 4 months, with variable recovery times that could extend up to 2 years. Consequently, the review advised against prescribing TRT to men wishing to maintain fertility and suggested alternative treatments like clomiphene citrate and hCG. It also called for more research on the safety of testosterone as a contraceptive.
