Testosterone’s Bad Rap: Why This Vital Hormone Has Been Wrongly Demonized for Decades
By Todd Thomas
Testosterone is demonized by some and proclaimed to bring back your youth by others. What is it that makes everyone associate the word “testosterone” with egotistical, aggressive, and anti-social behavior? Who has brainwashed us into believing that this single hormone will make us treat our children like the red-headed stepchild or slap our significant other around because she told us we looked nice today with our new haircut?
In reality, multiple peer-reviewed studies performed on both men and women have proven the exact opposite. Testosterone has actually increased fair bargaining behavior and sociability in both sexes when compared directly against a placebo. The truly fascinating part? The men and women who merely thought they were consuming testosterone were the ones who displayed anti-social, egotistical, and sometimes aggressive behavior — not the people who actually received the real hormone.
This proves something we’ve been saying for years: most of the “roid rage” stories you hear aren’t coming from the testosterone itself — they’re coming from the expectation and the personality of the person who believes they’re on something that will make them aggressive.
But who cares anyway, right? You don’t need testosterone. Isn’t it just something for building muscle and getting jacked bodybuilders? Absolutely not. Testosterone is responsible for far more of your body’s daily responsibilities than most people realize — including regulating blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, fat distribution, bone density, red blood cell production, mood stability, cognitive sharpness, and overall metabolism.
As our medical director Dr. Matt always says, “If you had diabetes you would take insulin right? Then if you had hypogonadism — clinically low testosterone — why wouldn’t you take testosterone?” The analogy is perfect. We don’t shame diabetics for needing insulin. We shouldn’t shame men (or women) for needing testosterone when their body no longer produces enough.
How One Flawed 1938 Study Gave Testosterone Its Bad Rap for Over 70 Years
For decades testosterone was painted as the #1 reason a man over 50 develops a swollen prostate and eventually dies of cancer. This entire fear originated from poor information collected in a single study in 1938 that left the entire medical community seemingly blind for seven full decades. The fallout has been devastating — with serious negative implications on men’s health all over the world.
Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer — the top three causes of death in both men and women aged 40–79 — are all strongly linked in one way or another to low testosterone levels.
For years, the standard treatment for end-stage prostate cancer was chemical castration — deliberately crushing a man’s testosterone to near-zero levels. Doctors genuinely believed they were helping.
We now know the complete opposite is true: healthy, physiological levels of testosterone not only help prevent prostate cancer, they actually reduce the risk of aggressive, life-threatening disease by up to 50%.
→ Read the 2016 landmark study here
This muscle-building, confidence-giving, life-enhancing hormone is vitally important to far more than just the bodybuilder trying to win his next competition or the athlete looking for an edge. Testosterone is essential to every single man and woman walking the planet.
Testosterone vs “Steroids”: The Real Reason for the Decades-Long Bad Rap
So what exactly is the difference between the tarnished reputation of “steroids” and testosterone?
There is none. Testosterone is an anabolic-androgenic steroid. Your testicles produce it by the hour during puberty, and pharmaceutical companies like Watson, Pfizer, and AbbVie bottle it as medication.
The difference is dosage.
When someone runs a “steroid cycle,” they are typically taking 5–10× (sometimes even 20×) the amount a doctor would ever prescribe. This creates supraphysiological levels — concentrations no human being can naturally achieve.
Decades of clinical data on these massive mega-doses gave testosterone its terrifying bad rap. We were told it caused heart attacks, strokes, prostate cancer, rage — you name it.
Yet when we look at doctor-prescribed, physiological doses — the results are nothing short of remarkable. Optimal levels improve virtually every health marker: better insulin sensitivity, lower inflammation, improved cholesterol ratios, increased muscle mass, reduced body fat, stronger bones, sharper mind, and dramatically better mood and motivation.
Once you strip away the myths, testosterone replacement is no different than supplementing vitamin D, B12, or thyroid hormone when you’re deficient. When you were 21 years old and felt invincible, your body was pumping out high-normal testosterone every single day. Restoring those levels isn’t “cheating” — it’s returning to your biological prime.
Why Most Men Are Too Embarrassed to Admit They Might Have Low Testosterone (And Why That Needs to Change)
Most men would rather suffer in silence than admit their testosterone might be low. It feels embarrassing, de-masculinizing — like you’re somehow “less of a man.”
Many have been told by their doctors, “It’s just aging — get used to it.” So they watch their energy, mental sharpness, libido, erections, stamina, and joy for life slowly disappear and accept it as normal.
But it’s not normal.
I’m not just talking about bedroom performance. I’m talking about actually wanting to be romantic with your wife or girlfriend — having the drive to come home after a long day, cook dinner, flirt, and close the deal without popping Viagra and dealing with the stuffy nose and headache.
I’m talking about waking up with energy and purpose instead of dragging yourself out of bed. I’m talking about having the confidence to ask for the raise, start the business, or simply enjoy your hobbies again.
Low testosterone is directly linked to higher all-cause mortality. Optimizing it dramatically improves quality of life — and that’s not hype, that’s data.
Testosterone’s New Image in 2025: The Hormone of Winners
The new, evidence-based image of testosterone includes:
- Earning more money (better focus, confidence, negotiation skills)
- Preventing diabetes (improved insulin sensitivity)
- Reducing heart disease risk
- Building muscle and burning fat naturally
- Sharpening memory and cognitive function
- Improving mood and reducing depression risk
- Increasing bone density
- And yes — bringing back morning wood, libido, and romantic drive
Take the Free 1-Minute Quiz Right Now — See Your Score Instantly
Before you read another word, find out how many low-T symptoms you actually have:
Take the Free Testosterone Deficiency Quiz → Click Here
For those of us already optimizing our testosterone, we know the real story: it makes you excited when that alarm clock goes off. It makes you look forward to the day. It improves every single aspect of your life.
