Testosterone: Do We All Need a Boost?

We’re hearing a ton about the marvels of testosterone from influencers, celebrities, and even government officials. They say we should be thinking about our T levels, topping them off with extra if they’re too low. And we’re told that the benefits of testosterone are HUGE: that we’ll be stronger, sexier, and more energized. So is that true?? And if you do go for a testosterone bump, do you need to worry about possible side effects, like ’roid rage, infertility and other risks? We talk to endocrinologists Prof. Shalender Bhasin and Prof. Richard Auchus as well as social psychologist Dr. Justin Carré to find out. 

Find our transcript here: https://tinyurl.com/ScienceVsTestosterone 

Find Wendy's chat about Bigorexia here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsZEfTWuIqg

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) We’re obsessed with testosterone

(02:59) Will T make you bigger and stronger?

(09:25) ‘Roid rage

(18:04) Will T turn you into a horndog?

(25:48) Will T put pep in your step? 

(27:51) The risks of taking T

(31:49) Why are we like this?

This episode was produced by Rose Rimler, with help from Meryl Horn, Ekedi Fausther-Keeys, and Michelle Dang. We're edited by Blythe Terrell. Wendy Zukerman is the executive producer. Fact-checking by Marlowe Starling. Video editing and sound by Bobby Lord.

Music written by Bumi Hidaka, Peter Leonard, Emma Munger, and Bobby Lord. Thanks to the researchers we spoke to for this episode, including Dr. Kathleen Casto, Dr. Carol Hooven, Professor Ruth Wood, Dr. Stephanie Page, Professor Sari van Anders, Dr. Adam Stanaland, and Professor Anthony Hackney. Thanks to Humdinger Studios in Melbourne and Wolf Island Studios in New York City.

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