Testosterone Is Declining Among Young Men. But One of the Proposed Solutions Simply Won’t Help Anyone.

Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

As Pete Hegseth calls for a “ high-T ” military (and walks back “premature” plans for mandatory testosterone testing for male troops over 30) while looksmaxxer Clavicular admits he secretly ordered the hormone as a teen , testosterone therapy is center-stage in the male wellness space . Advocates claim that testosterone therapy for young men will transform their faces and help them attract women, revamp already healthy bodies into superhuman physiques, and generally make them be more “manly ,” regardless of the risks or the actual medical necessity. Yet, while testosterone therapy is a well-documented medical treatment for people who have a deficiency, and a key element of gender-affirming care, it’s not really something that the average young man needs.

“Part of the problem with testosterone is everything thinks they know what it is,” says Abraham Morgentaler, a urologist who’s been at the forefront of testosterone research for over 25 years. “There’s this concept out there that if your testosterone number is higher, then all these magical benefits will accrue to you, and it’s simply not true.”

One of the most central myths in online testosterone research is that the more is always better, without qualification. But for the vast majority of men in their 20s, testosterone therapy is unnecessary. A normal testosterone level is anywhere from 300 to 1,000 or so nanograms per deciliter (for Morgentaler, a floor of 400 ng/dL is ideal). Not only are the vast majority of young men within this range, the difference between being at the lower end or the higher end of this limit is largely meaningless. “If you looked at 10 guys with normal testosterone, you would have an impossible time trying to pick out the guy with the most testosterone,” says Morgentaler. “The truth is that within the normal range, no matter your age, if you’re not symptomatic, it’s not going to do anything for you until you go way above the upper limit.”

Using testosterone supplements to drive hormone levels beyond the upper limit of normal will result in greater muscle mass—it’s why testosterone is sometimes seen as the “poster child” for anabolic steroid misuse . That muscle mass comes at a cost: Misuse is associated with infertility and various heart conditions.

The promotion of black market testosterone from looksmaxxing and fitness influencers who often gloss over the risks sets off alarm bells for experts. Influencer Clavicular has openly spoken about buying testosterone illegally from the age of 14 , motivated by bodybuilders and looksmaxxing forums filled with tips for teenagers looking to bypass medical safeguards and purchase testosterone online. Buying drugs (any drug!) from unnamed and unregulated online dealers or fitness trainers presents the real danger of simply not knowing what you’re getting. Outright dangerous ingredients like heavy metals could be present, or “unexpected” ingredients, like Viagra, says Morgentaler.