Doctors across the UK are sounding the alarm.
Men are flocking to NHS clinics for testosterone therapy they don’t actually need, and social media may be to blame.
Fueled by viral TikToks and Instagram reels, testosterone is being sold as a cure-all — for low energy, poor focus, even aging itself.
But experts say this “hormone hustle” is misleading and dangerous.
“They’re filling our clinics,” says Prof Channa Jayasena of Imperial College London.
“We used to see patients with adrenal problems or diabetes.
Now it’s men convinced they need testosterone because of something they saw online.”
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) is supposed to be prescribed only after clinical testing confirms a deficiency.
Misinformation Fuels Risky Treatments
Yet influencers are teaming up with private clinics, pushing discount codes for blood tests that often lead to pricey £2,000-a-year treatments.
Worse, unnecessary testosterone can shut down natural hormone production, cause infertility, and increase the risk of blood clots and heart problems.
Despite strict UK laws banning prescription drug advertising, posts promoting TRT are flooding feeds.
They are disguised as “wellness” advice. Regulators have launched investigations.
As Prof Jayasena warns, “This isn’t performance optimization — it’s misinformation.”
In the age of viral health hacks, it seems the biggest muscle men need to flex is critical thinking.
