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Insight Horizon Media

What are the side effects of taking testosterone boosters?

Author

Robert Miller

Published Feb 13, 2026

What are the side effects of taking testosterone boosters?

The potential side effects of testosterone supplements include:

  • Hair loss.
  • Male breast enlargement.
  • Acne.
  • Testicular atrophy.
  • Prostate enlargement.
  • Loss of libido.
  • Increased aggression.
  • Infertility.

Does 4 Andro convert to estrogen?

There is also some conversion into estrogen, since testosterone is the metabolic precursor of the estrogens. 4-Androstenediol is closer to testosterone structurally than 5-androstenediol, and has androgenic effects, acting as a weak partial agonist of the androgen receptor.

Why is DHEA banned?

As oral DHEA administration can lead to dose-dependent increases in circulating androgens, which may reach high supraphysiologic levels in women, it has been included in the list of prohibited substances by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Is DHEA a testosterone?

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a steroid hormone available in supplement form that is sometimes used to increase testosterone levels. Produced naturally by the adrenal glands, DHEA is converted by the body into testosterone and other sex hormones.

What is the downside of taking testosterone?

Testosterone therapy has various risks, including: Worsening sleep apnea — a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. Causing acne or other skin reactions. Stimulating noncancerous growth of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and growth of existing prostate cancer.

Can testosterone damage kidneys?

Genetically predicted testosterone was associated with CKD and worse kidney function in men, whilst not affected by kidney function. Identifying drivers of testosterone and the underlying pathways could provide new insights into CKD prevention and treatment.

What happens if you stop taking prohormones?

When an individual stops taking anabolic steroids or prohormones that get converted to anabolic steroids, the level of body’s testosterone production might be diminished or lowered. This is called anabolic steroid-induced hypogonadism (ASIH), which leads to, among other problems, testicular atrophy.