Medical experts are raising the alarm over a dangerous new wellness trend targeting men. Private clinics are aggressively marketing "testosterone optimisation" as a lifestyle solution for general complaints like tiredness and weight gain, moving far beyond its intended medical use.
The Problem with Unreliable Testing
These services often rely on potentially unreliable diagnostic methods. Finger-prick tests or single, non-fasting blood samples are frequently used, which can produce highly inaccurate results. This is because testosterone levels naturally fluctuate throughout the day, and a single snapshot does not provide a complete picture.
This approach can lead to healthy men being misdiagnosed with a deficiency and prescribed powerful medication they do not medically require.
Significant Health Risks of Unnecessary Treatment
While testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a safe and effective treatment for men with a medically confirmed condition called hypogonadism, it offers little benefit for those with normal hormone levels. Instead, it exposes them to serious and unnecessary side effects.
Inappropriate or unsupervised testosterone therapy can lead to infertility, an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, and blood clots. Starting treatment without a genuine medical need puts men's long-term health in jeopardy.
A Call for Medical Rigour
Experts, including Daniel Kelly, whose original report was published on Thursday, 20 November 2025, emphasise that testosterone is a prescription-only medication for a reason. It requires a careful diagnosis, regular monitoring, and supervision by a specialist.
The message from the medical community is clear: testosterone is not a lifestyle supplement and should not be treated as one. Men experiencing symptoms like fatigue should seek advice from their GP to identify the true cause, rather than turning to potentially risky quick fixes.
