What to Know About the New Obsession With Testosterone
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- Testosterone use has surged in popularity, reflected in cultural icons like tech billionaires, Joe Rogan, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who openly use testosterone replacement therapy (T.R.T.).
- Prescriptions for testosterone increased dramatically from under 1 million in 2000 to nearly 12 million in 2025, with actual usage likely higher due to telehealth platforms promoting T.R.T. as a lifestyle enhancement.
- The Trump administration announced plans to expand access to T.R.T., which doctors believe could help many untreated men but also raise concerns about younger men adopting unrealistic and potentially harmful expectations.
- Medical professionals caution that the growing hypermasculine culture online may pressure men into using T.R.T. without fully understanding the associated health risks.