Editing Testosterone (section)

==== Medical use ====
{{Main|Testosterone (medication)}}

Testosterone is used as a medication for the treatment of [[male hypogonadism]], [[gender dysphoria]], and certain types of [[breast cancer]].<ref name="AHFS2016" /><ref>{{cite web |title=List of Gender Dysphoria Medications (6 Compared) |url=https://www.drugs.com/condition/gender-dysphoria.html |access-date=6 May 2020 |website=Drugs.com |language=en |archive-date=April 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426180544/https://www.drugs.com/condition/gender-dysphoria.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This is known as [[hormone replacement therapy]] (HRT) or testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), which maintains serum testosterone levels in the normal range. [[andropause|Decline of testosterone production with age]] has led to interest in [[androgen replacement therapy]].<ref name="pmid16985841">{{cite journal |vauthors=Myers JB, Meacham RB |year=2003 |title=Androgen replacement therapy in the aging male |journal=Reviews in Urology |volume=5 |issue=4 |pages=216–226 |pmc=1508369 |pmid=16985841}}</ref> It is unclear if the use of testosterone for low levels due to aging is beneficial or harmful.<ref name="FDA2015">{{cite web |date=3 March 2015 |title=Testosterone Products: Drug Safety Communication – FDA Cautions About Using Testosterone Products for Low Testosterone Due to Aging; Requires Labeling Change to Inform of Possible Increased Risk of Heart Attack And Stroke |url=https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-fda-cautions-about-using-testosterone-products-low-testosterone-due |access-date=5 March 2015 |work=[[FDA]] |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422205532/https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-fda-cautions-about-using-testosterone-products-low-testosterone-due |url-status=live }}</ref>

Testosterone is included in the [[WHO Model List of Essential Medicines|World Health Organization's list of essential medicines]], which are the most important medications needed in a basic [[health system]].<ref name="WHO2015E">{{cite web |date=April 2015 |title=19th WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (April 2015) |url=https://www.who.int/medicines/publications/essentialmedicines/EML2015_8-May-15.pdf |access-date=May 10, 2015 |publisher=WHO |archive-date=May 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513043105/http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/essentialmedicines/EML2015_8-May-15.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> It is available as a [[generic medication]].<ref name="AHFS2016" /> It can be administered as a cream or [[transdermal patch]] that is applied to the skin, by [[intramuscular injection|injection into a muscle]], as a tablet that is [[Buccal administration|placed in the cheek]], or by ingestion.<ref name="AHFS2016" />

Common [[side effect]]s from testosterone medication include [[acne]], [[swelling (medical)|swelling]], and [[gynecomastia|breast enlargement in males]].<ref name="AHFS2016" /> Serious side effects may include [[liver toxicity]], [[Cardiovascular disease|heart disease]] (though a randomized trial found no evidence of major adverse cardiac events compared to placebo in men with low testosterone<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Lincoff AM, Bhasin S, Flevaris P, Mitchell LM, Basaria S, Boden WE, Cunningham GR, Granger CB, Khera M, Thompson IM, Wang Q, Wolski K, Davey D, Kalahasti V, Khan N, Miller MG, Snabes MC, Chan A, Dubcenco E, Li X, Yi T, Huang B, Pencina KM, Travison TG, Nissen SE | title = Cardiovascular Safety of Testosterone-Replacement Therapy | journal = The New England Journal of Medicine | volume = 389 | issue = 2 | pages = 107–117 | date = July 2023 | pmid = 37326322 | doi = 10.1056/NEJMoa2215025 | s2cid = 259176370 }}</ref>), and behavioral changes.<ref name="AHFS2016" /> Women and children who are exposed may develop [[virilization]].<ref name="AHFS2016" /> It is recommended that individuals with [[prostate cancer]] not use the medication.<ref name="AHFS2016" /> It can cause harm if used during [[pregnancy]] or [[breastfeeding]].<ref name="AHFS2016" />

2020 guidelines from the [[American College of Physicians]] support the discussion of [[testosterone (medication)|testosterone]] treatment in adult men with age-related [[Low T|low levels of testosterone]] who have [[sexual dysfunction]]. They recommend yearly evaluation regarding possible improvement and, if none, to discontinue testosterone; physicians should consider intramuscular treatments, rather than transdermal treatments, due to costs and since the effectiveness and harm of either method is similar. Testosterone treatment for reasons other than possible improvement of sexual dysfunction may not be recommended.<ref name="ANN-20200106">{{cite journal |vauthors=Qaseem A, Horwitch CA, Vijan S, Etxeandia-Ikobaltzeta I, Kansagara D |date=January 2020 |title=Testosterone Treatment in Adult Men With Age-Related Low Testosterone: A Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians |journal=Annals of Internal Medicine |volume=172 |issue=2 |pages=126–133 |doi=10.7326/M19-0882 |pmid=31905405 |doi-access=}}</ref><ref name="MSCP-20200107">{{cite news |date=7 January 2020 |title=New Guideline for Testosterone Treatment in Men With 'Low T' |work=Medscape.com |url=https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/923449 |access-date=7 January 2020 |vauthors=Parry NM |archive-date=January 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108011908/https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/923449 |url-status=live }}</ref>

No immediate short term effects on mood or behavior were found from the administration of [[wikt:supraphysiological|supraphysiologic]] doses of testosterone for 10 weeks on 43 healthy men.<ref name="pmid8637535">{{cite journal |vauthors=Bhasin S, Storer TW, Berman N, Callegari C, Clevenger B, Phillips J, Bunnell TJ, Tricker R, Shirazi A, Casaburi R |date=July 1996 |title=The effects of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone on muscle size and strength in normal men |journal=The New England Journal of Medicine |volume=335 |issue=1 |pages=1–7 |doi=10.1056/NEJM199607043350101 |pmid=8637535 |s2cid=73721690 |doi-access=free}}</ref>