Increased free testosterone can lead to stronger bones and less body fat but also higher risks of prostate cancer, hair loss, spine issues, and high blood pressure.
22 citations,
October 2019 in “Cerebral cortex” Sex neurosteroids cause different effects on hippocampal synaptic plasticity in males and females.
6 citations,
November 1997 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Women with acne and irregular periods had higher active testosterone levels, which could suggest the usefulness of antiandrogen treatment.
45 citations,
February 2001 in “Joint bone spine” Gonadal dysgenesis, like Turner's and Klinefelter's syndromes, negatively affects bone health, but hormone treatments can help.
417 citations,
February 2004 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Testosterone therapy increases bone density in older men with low testosterone levels.
506 citations,
March 2005 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Testosterone therapy improves physical function, strength, and body composition in older men with low testosterone levels.
162 citations,
April 2016 in “The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology” Testosterone therapy in transgender men has both desired effects like increased muscle mass and potential health risks such as higher cardiovascular risk.
81 citations,
May 2007 in “Fertility and Sterility” Testosterone therapy seems safe for postmenopausal women for a few years, but more research is needed for long-term effects.
77 citations,
November 2007 in “International Journal of Andrology” Testosterone with or without finasteride doesn't improve thinking skills in older men with low testosterone.
72 citations,
October 1998 in “Baillière's clinical endocrinology and metabolism” Long-term testosterone therapy can cause hormone suppression, affect prostate and heart health, and alter physical characteristics, but does not increase prostate cancer risk and needs more research for full risk assessment.
71 citations,
August 2019 in “The journal of sexual medicine” Testosterone treatment effectively causes male physical development in transgender male adolescents but may lead to side effects like acne, higher BMI and blood pressure, lower good cholesterol, and decreased bone density.
47 citations,
January 2001 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” High testosterone to epitestosterone ratio in hair could predict male-pattern baldness.
46 citations,
January 2008 in “Climacteric” Testosterone therapy can help improve sexual desire and function in postmenopausal women but may cause side effects and is not FDA-approved for this use.
31 citations,
January 2017 in “Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology” Low testosterone and 5α-reductase inhibitors can harm men's metabolic and sexual health; testosterone therapy may help, but discussing 5α-RIs' side effects is important.
28 citations,
October 1998 in “Baillière's clinical endocrinology and metabolism” Testosterone replacement may help post-menopausal women with androgen insufficiency, but more research is needed on its benefits and risks.
25 citations,
August 2006 in “Human Reproduction” Oral contraceptives lower testosterone levels in women, especially those with certain genetic traits, and may be linked to increased breast cancer risk.
18 citations,
March 2020 in “Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology” The enzymes 5α-reductase and 3α/β-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase help create brain-active substances from progesterone and testosterone, which could be used for treatment, but more research is needed to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
17 citations,
March 2016 in “Liver international” Men with advanced liver disease and high oestrone and low testosterone levels have worse health outcomes.
11 citations,
September 2012 in “Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada” Testosterone therapy seems safe for short-term use in postmenopausal women with low sexual desire, but more research on long-term effects is needed.
6 citations,
May 2022 in “Research and reports in urology” Caesalpinia bonduc seed extracts may help treat enlarged prostate in rats.
5 citations,
June 2004 in “The Journal of The British Menopause Society” Testosterone therapy can improve sexual satisfaction and mood in surgically menopausal women when used with estrogen, but its long-term safety and effects on naturally menopausal and premenopausal women are unclear.
July 2022 in “Research Square (Research Square)” Hair analysis can somewhat track past testosterone levels but is influenced by factors like hair washing, growth rate, sex, and hair color.
29 citations,
October 2020 in “eLife” Higher testosterone levels can increase the risk of certain diseases like type 2 diabetes in women and prostate cancer in men, but can also protect against autoimmune diseases and hair loss. It also affects body fat and bone density.
2 citations,
September 2020 Long-term high testosterone levels can improve bone density and reduce body fat but may increase the risk of prostate cancer and high blood pressure.
282 citations,
October 2006 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” The Endocrine Society advised against routine testosterone therapy for women, citing a need for more research on long-term safety and a clear definition of androgen deficiency.
251 citations,
October 2014 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” The guidelines advise against using testosterone and DHEA in women for most conditions due to safety and effectiveness concerns, but suggest considering testosterone for postmenopausal women with low sexual desire.
99 citations,
June 1999 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Testosterone replacement may help some postmenopausal women with symptoms like fatigue and low libido, but more research is needed to fully understand its effects.
56 citations,
July 2008 in “European journal of endocrinology” Metformin and rosiglitazone improve blood vessel function in women with PCOS, with metformin also reducing insulin resistance and testosterone levels.
51 citations,
April 1999 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Testosterone replacement may improve sexual desire and bone health in women with low androgen levels, but more research is needed on its long-term safety.
45 citations,
March 2015 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Testosterone therapy is generally safe for transmen, improves sexual function, and has manageable health risks with proper monitoring.