The Rise of Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Men

• Mastering the Andropause: Middle-aged men are increasingly using TRT to address andropause (often described as ‘male menopause’) symptoms, which can appear in their late 40s. Symptoms include depression, low libido, erectile dysfunction, insomnia and muscle loss.
  
  Men’s health clinics offering middle-aged men TRT are proliferating in response. Peak demand comes from men aged 50 to 60, says Channa Jayasena, a reproductive endocrinology consultant at Imperial College London. British clinic Optimale provides hormone blood tests and TRT, while US clinic South Florida Men’s Health similarly offers TRT injections, implants and creams. And American brand The Vitamin Shoppe is selling oral TRT, which is prescribed after recipients complete a questionnaire, lab work and virtual consultancy.

• Young Testosterone Hackers: Meanwhile, some young men are taking TRT or testosterone boosters to biohack their bodies. Its popularity is being bolstered by celebrities like American actor Alan Ritchson, who confirmed he takes TRT to bulk up for roles. And on TikTok, videos outline the positive side effects of TRT (175k views) like gaining muscle mass, improved mood and focus, as well as how to get a prescription (706.9k views) and the process of testing testosterone levels (16.5k views).
  
  However, taking TRT when not needed can come with severe negative side effects, such as an increased risk of blood clots and infertility.
  
  

See Refining Modern Masculinity and Medtech’s Next Era for more.