Man up: Is testosterone an elixir of youth?

(Image: Renaud Vigourt)

Testosterone supplements promise men a butch boost of resurrected libido, energy and mood. But there's a better way to restore virility

"REDUCED sex drive? Decreased energy? Unwanted mood or body changes? Is it low testosterone?"

TV adverts asking these questions have been bombarding American men for the past five years, often accompanied by images of handsome ageing men shooting basketball hoops or sharing romantic moments with attractive women.

The remedy, they suggest, is testosterone supplements; often billed as a quick ticket back to youth, fitness and virility. Elsewhere, the marketing is less pervasive, but worries about the physical deterioration that accompanies male ageing are similar.

But what if we've got testosterone all wrong? Testosterone is widely perceived as the masculinity hormone; associated with virility, strength and competition, so it's understandable that men might reach for it to restore a flagging mojo. However, testosterone may not ...

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Man up: Is testosterone an elixir of youth?

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