What Testosterone Treatment Does and Does Not Do
For men without low levels confirmed by early-morning tests, the trials do not support it.
Picture a man named Ray, 63. He has seen ads for low-testosterone treatment and wonders what it would do for him. Here is what trials have shown.
Heart and blood clots
TRAVERSE enrolled more than 5,000 men with low testosterone and heart risk. Major heart events were about the same in the treated and untreated groups: 7.0 percent against 7.3 percent. Other results were less even.
| Outcome in TRAVERSE | Treated | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Major heart events | 7.0% | 7.3% |
| Atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat) | 3.5% | 2.4% |
| Pulmonary embolism (a clot in the lung) | 0.9% | 0.5% |
| Fractures | 3.50% | 2.46% |
Atrial fibrillation and pulmonary embolism come from the product label. The fracture figures come from a separate analysis of the same trial.
Other hormones sold for "anti-aging"
Two well-known trials tested other hormones in older adults. One gave DHEA to older men and women, and low-dose testosterone to men, for two years. It found no meaningful benefit in body makeup, physical performance, insulin response or quality of life. The other tested growth hormone in healthy older people. It added about 2 kg of lean mass and removed about 2 kg of fat, with more swelling and joint pain and somewhat more diabetes. The authors concluded it cannot be recommended for anti-aging.
What this might mean for Ray
Treatment may give a small lift in mood and energy. It carries risks that are worth knowing before starting, and Ray could ask his doctor how often he would be monitored. For men without low levels confirmed by early-morning tests, the trials do not support it.
You could…
-
Ask what your heart risk is before treatment begins.
-
Ask how often you would be monitored, and what would make you stop.
-
Ask whether other causes of your symptoms have been checked.
What did your doctor tell you about risks? Share it here. Another reader may be making the same decision.
Sources: Lincoff et al. 2023 (TRAVERSE, NEJM); AndroGel label 2025; Nair et al. 2006 (NEJM); Liu et al. 2007 (Annals of Internal Medicine). Figures are estimates for planning, based on public data.
Tell us in the comments