Science Articles
Research-backed insights into testosterone and men's health
47 articles
When to See a Doctor About Low Testosterone: Symptoms, Tests, and Red Flags
Which symptoms justify a testosterone test, which blood tests to ask for (morning total T, free T, SHBG, LH), what the Endocrine Society and AUA guidelines say, and what lifestyle can and cannot do.
Dad Bod and Testosterone: Waist, Visceral Fat, and What the Research Shows
How waist size and visceral fat relate to testosterone in men 35 to 49, why the link runs both ways, what weight-loss studies found, and a practical plan that fits a father's schedule.
Free Testosterone vs Total Testosterone: The Difference
Free vs total testosterone: total counts all testosterone in your blood, free is the small unbound 1 to 4%. See how SHBG and the lab method change results.
Does Weed Lower Testosterone? The Evidence Is More Complicated Than You Think
Studies on cannabis and testosterone point in different directions, while the evidence on sperm quality is more consistent. What research says about THC, CBD and male hormones, and its limits.
Testosterone and Hair Loss: Does Higher T Mean Going Bald?
Male pattern baldness depends largely on genetics and how follicles respond to DHT, not on testosterone levels alone. What the research says about T, DHT, finasteride, and hair.
Red Light Therapy and Testosterone: Biohacker Hype or Real Science?
Red light therapy for testosterone is supported mainly by lab and animal data, with no good human trials. Learn what photobiomodulation does, what the studies show, and the safety concerns around heat and fertility.
TRT vs Natural Testosterone Optimization: A Complete Decision Framework
An evidence-based comparison of testosterone replacement therapy and natural optimization, including what the TRAVERSE trial found, how clinical guidelines define low testosterone, and questions to bring to your doctor.
Low Testosterone and Weight Gain: The Belly Fat Link
Low testosterone and weight gain appear linked both ways. See what waist, SHBG and weight-loss studies show, plus the weak aromatase story.
The Andrew Huberman Testosterone Protocol: A 2026 Evidence-Based Analysis
A component-by-component evidence review of Andrew Huberman's testosterone protocol. We grade each recommendation from A to F based on 2026 research and suggest what to keep, modify, or skip.
Fadogia Agrestis: The Testosterone Supplement Huberman Made Famous (And Why Momentous Dropped It)
Fadogia agrestis became a popular testosterone supplement, but the evidence is limited to a handful of rat studies, some of which reported adverse testicular, liver and kidney effects. Here is what the research shows and why Momentous discontinued it in 2024.
NoFap and Testosterone: What the Science Actually Says (Including the Retracted Study)
Examining the real science behind NoFap and testosterone: the retracted Chinese study, what abstinence actually does to T levels, the dopamine mechanism, and a balanced evidence-based perspective.
Does Soy Lower Testosterone? What 41 Studies Actually Show
A meta-analysis of 41 clinical studies found no significant effect of soy protein or isoflavones on testosterone or estradiol in men. What the research says, and where the limits are.
New Dad Testosterone Crash: Why It Happens and How to Recover
In a 624-man study, new fathers had median testosterone declines of 26 to 34 percent. Here is what the research says about why, what is still unknown about recovery, and practical steps for sleep, weight and training.
Estrogen in Men: Why You Need It and How to Keep It Balanced
Men need estrogen for bone health, body composition and sexual function. Learn how aromatase makes estradiol from testosterone, what research says about high and low levels, and why aromatase inhibitors should only be used under medical supervision.
LH and FSH: The Hormones That Actually Control Your Testosterone
Your pituitary gland produces LH and FSH, the hormones that signal the testes to make testosterone and sperm. Learn how the HPG axis works, how doctors use LH to interpret low testosterone, and what can disrupt it.
Testosterone and Libido: The Complete Connection Between T Levels and Sex Drive
How testosterone relates to male libido, what else shapes sex drive, and when low desire is worth discussing with a doctor. A research-based guide for men.
What Is Shilajit? Testosterone Benefits, Safety, and the Evidence
Shilajit is a mineral pitch used in Ayurveda. Learn what the two small human trials on testosterone found, how purified and raw shilajit differ, heavy metal concerns, and the doses studied.
What Is Tongkat Ali? Testosterone Benefits, Dosing, and the Science
What is tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia)? A review of the small trials on testosterone, the doses used in studies, product quality problems, safety cautions, and why to talk to a doctor first.
Endocrine Disruptors and Testosterone: The Hidden Threats in Your Everyday Life
What research says about BPA, phthalates, PFAS and microplastics and male hormones: the human evidence is mixed, and some exposures can be cut quickly. Includes simple, low-cost ways to reduce exposure.
How to Get Your Testosterone Tested: Types of Tests, Preparation, and Where to Go
A step-by-step guide to getting your testosterone tested. Which tests doctors use (total T, free T, SHBG), why a fasting morning draw matters, how to prepare, where to get tested, and why one result is not a diagnosis.
What Is Ashwagandha? Testosterone Benefits, Dosing, and What the Science Says
What small human trials show about ashwagandha and testosterone, which extracts and doses were studied, and the safety issues (thyroid, liver, medications) to discuss with a doctor before trying it.
Testosterone and Heart Health: What the TRAVERSE Trial Revealed
What the TRAVERSE trial found about testosterone therapy and major cardiac events, what observational research says about low testosterone and heart health, and what to discuss with your doctor.
Testosterone and Mental Health: The Link to Anxiety, Depression, and Focus
What does the research say about testosterone, depression, anxiety and focus? A look at the studies, where the evidence is strong, and where it is not.
Body Fat and Testosterone: The Connection Every Man Should Understand
Learn how body fat percentage affects testosterone levels, the role of aromatase, optimal body fat ranges, why being too lean hurts hormones, and visceral vs subcutaneous fat.
Boron and Testosterone: The Hidden Gem Mineral Most Men Overlook
What does the research say about boron and testosterone? One small study of 8 men saw higher free testosterone after 10 mg a day for a week. Here is the evidence, its limits, food sources and safety cautions.
Alcohol and Testosterone: What the Research Actually Shows
What studies say about alcohol and testosterone: a single large dose, low doses, habitual drinking, alcohol use disorder, beer vs spirits, and why sleep matters most.
Testosterone and Smoking: The Contradictory Evidence Explained
Smokers tend to show slightly higher total testosterone in studies, but that does not mean smoking helps. What research shows about SHBG, free testosterone, sperm quality, erectile dysfunction, vaping and quitting.
Testosterone and Prostate Health: What the Research Actually Shows
Does testosterone cause prostate cancer? What a pooled analysis of 18 studies, the TRAVERSE trial and newer free-testosterone research show, plus BPH, PSA screening and when to see a urologist.
Testosterone Levels by Age: The Complete Reference Guide for Men
What research shows about testosterone levels by age, free vs total testosterone, what lab results mean, when to get tested, and how to talk to a doctor about your numbers.
Does Sex Increase Testosterone? What the Research Actually Shows
What the science says about sex, abstinence and testosterone: lab studies mostly find no change from arousal or orgasm, the famous day-7 abstinence spike comes from a retracted paper, and the evidence on frequency is thin.
How Screens and Blue Light Affect Your Testosterone (The Indirect Pathway)
How evening screens and blue light affect melatonin and sleep, and why that may matter for testosterone. What the research shows, what it does not, and a practical digital sunset routine.
Cold Showers and Testosterone: What the Science Actually Says
What research says about cold showers, ice baths and testosterone: large norepinephrine responses, a 3,018-person cold shower trial, and why a direct testosterone boost is not established.
Testosterone and Immune Function: Why Men Get Sicker (and What To Do About It)
What research says about testosterone and the immune system: weaker vaccine responses in men with high testosterone, sex differences in autoimmune disease and COVID-19 outcomes, and how illness affects testosterone.
10 Testosterone Myths Debunked: What Science Actually Says
We check 10 common testosterone myths against published research and rate each TRUE, PARTIAL, FALSE or UNPROVEN. Soy, cold showers, abstinence, baldness, eggs, supplements, sugar, aging, TRT and aggression.
At-Home Testosterone Test: How Accurate vs. Lab Work?
An at-home testosterone test can be a useful first look, not a diagnosis. See how finger-prick kits compare with lab work and when to see a doctor.
Sauna and Testosterone: Heat Shock Proteins, Finnish Studies, and Fertility
Does sauna use raise testosterone? A look at what small studies found, what the large Finnish cohort data actually measured, and why heat matters for sperm.
How Stress and Cortisol Tank Your Testosterone (And What to Do About It)
What human research shows about cortisol and testosterone, what is still unproven (including the 'pregnenolone steal'), and 8 practical ways to manage stress.
Vitamin D and Testosterone: The Sunshine Hormone Connection Explained
What the research says about vitamin D and testosterone: one small 2011 trial in overweight, vitamin D-deficient men found a rise, but a 2026 meta-analysis of randomized trials found no clear effect overall.
Does Creatine Increase Testosterone? What the Research Shows
A 2021 review of 12 creatine studies found no testosterone change in 10 of them. What the research says about creatine, DHT, hair loss, and hormones.
Signs of Low Testosterone in Your 20s and 30s: What Every Man Should Know
Possible signs of low testosterone in young men, what the research says about declining levels, how doctors confirm a diagnosis, and what to do first. Educational, not medical advice.
Testosterone and HRV: What Your Heart Rate Variability Can Tell You About Your Hormones
What heart rate variability (HRV) does and does not tell you about testosterone, what research says about HRV, sleep, alcohol and training, and how to use wearable HRV trends sensibly.
Testosterone After 60: Safe and Effective Optimization Strategies
What the research says about testosterone in men over 60: typical levels, the TRAVERSE trial, cardiovascular, prostate and bone considerations, exercise, and how to talk to a doctor about TRT.
Testosterone in Your 20s: What Is Normal and What Affects It
What is a normal testosterone level for a man in his 20s? Reference ranges, what the research says about declining averages in young men, what influences testosterone, and when to see a doctor.
Testosterone and Type 2 Diabetes: The Two-Way Connection
Low testosterone and type 2 diabetes are linked in both directions. Learn what meta-analyses and the T4DM trial show, what testosterone therapy can and cannot do for blood sugar, and which lifestyle steps help both.
Enclomiphene vs Clomid: What Research Says About Raising Testosterone
Enclomiphene and clomiphene (Clomid) are prescription drugs that raise testosterone by blocking estrogen feedback in the brain. Here is what the research shows, what is not proven, and why neither is a DIY option.
Peptides for Men's Health (2026): What the Evidence and the FDA Say
BPC-157, kisspeptin, CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are popular online. Here is what human research shows, their regulatory status, the safety risks of unapproved injectables, and why a doctor should be involved.
Ozempic and Testosterone: Does GLP-1 Raise or Lower Your T?
GLP-1 medicines like semaglutide and tirzepatide are prescription drugs for diabetes and obesity. Here is what studies show about testosterone in men with obesity, the lean mass trade-off, and why they are not a testosterone treatment.