Endocrinologists have warned that social media misinformation is driving men to seek testosterone therapy they do not need, putting pressure on NHS waiting lists. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a prescription-only treatment for men with a clinically proven deficiency, but viral videos on TikTok and Instagram are marketing blood tests as a route to accessing the hormone as a lifestyle supplement.
Prof Channa Jayasena, chair of the Society for Endocrinology Andrology Network at Imperial College London, said hospital specialists across the UK are seeing growing numbers of men who have had private blood tests promoted on social media and been incorrectly told they need testosterone. “At the national meeting, we asked 300 endocrinologists across the UK; everyone is seeing patients from these clinics every week,” he said. “They are filling our clinics.”
Doctors warn that taking testosterone unnecessarily can suppress natural hormone production, cause infertility, and increase the risk of blood clots, heart problems and mood disorders. Private clinics charge around £1,800 to £2,200 for the first year of TRT, including medication, monitoring and consultations.
The Guardian found that TikTok influencers are collaborating with private clinics to advertise blood tests, which are legal to promote, as a route to testosterone therapy. In one post, a man doing bicep curls offers a £20 discount for a testosterone test. The Advertising Standards Authority is investigating these posts for potential breaches of regulations against advertising prescription drugs.
Prof Jayasena added: “The most worrying thing is these clinics are starting testosterone for men with normal testosterone levels. There is no evidence that it benefits them, and it could cause harm.” He noted that specific symptoms like erectile dysfunction are linked to low testosterone, but others like lack of muscle or depression are not.
