NYT: Why So Many Guys Are Obsessed With Testosterone

[Calm Logic]

Why So Many Guys Are Obsessed With Testosterone​

March/May 2026

...Adding to the confusion is the fact that common issues like obesity, diabetes, stress and poor sleep can themselves cause testosterone levels to go down, creating a self-perpetuating cycle. Many doctors urge men to try changing their diet and exercise first to see if that raises their T levels naturally before deciding whether to start on T.R.T. “T does not decline significantly with age alone,” said Dr. Mohit Khera, a urologist at Baylor College of Medicine. “A chunk of it is that we’re becoming a sicker population.”

...The fact that the online clinics prescribe testosterone so indiscriminately means that, for those men, the only benefit will most likely be an increase in muscle mass. For many, of course, that’s more than enough. But the marketing often goes much further, telling men that testosterone could fix their minds and bodies. “Online, everyone is saying testosterone is the solution to all of your problems,” Dubin says. “And we have to be very clear that it’s not.”

Without paywall: http://archive.today/2026.05.30-100...azine/testosterone-masculinity-trump-rfk.html

Related research/articles:

Muscle Dysmorphia, Obsessive–Compulsive Traits, and Anabolic Steroid Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - PMC

Muscle dysmorphia (MD) is a body image disorder characterized by an obsessive preoccupation with muscularity and compulsive behaviors such as excessive exercise, rigid dieting, and frequent body checking. MD has been linked to obsessive–compulsive ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"Muscle dysmorphia...exists at the intersection of obsessive–compulsive psychopathology and substance-related behavior"

https://gertitashkomd.com/high-dose-trt-and-tendon-ruptures-whats-the-risk/

 

[Vash]

What do we do with our feelings?

We hide them in our muscles.

How do we hide our feelings better?

We get bigger muscles.

 

[FartfulCodger]

A guy who carries a purse wanting to explain the pitfalls of "muscle dysmorphia" to me.

 

[Gr33dyOctopus]

A guy who carries a purse wanting to explain the pitfalls of "muscle dysmorphia" to me.

Its called a Murse. A MANS purse.
And sheeeeeeeeeeit, muscles alone is enough for me, plus as a bonus i might get a Sydney Sweeney gyno mega rack!!!

 

[Airborne Daddy]

I got 99 problems but a 3200 test level aint one....

 

[Vash]

Sydney Sweeney gyno mega rack!!!

Do not search this on the googles…

 

[HouseCat]

Do not search this on the googles…

Me right now

 

[skaylife]

Most significant reason why so many guys obsessed with testesteron level is because they drink tap water, I think🤔

 

[HouseCat]

Sydney Sweeney gyno mega rack!!!

Thanks Google! I understand now. The woman is blessed!

Most significant reason why so many guys obsessed with testesteron level is because they drink tap water, I think🤔

I don’t understand…is this a joke like “Men are obsessed with T because they’re breathing!” As in “it’s the nature of man,” or is it because you’ve heard tap water has an effect on obsession and/or testosterone? Not being snarky, just confused 🙂

 

[skaylife]

Thanks Google! I understand now. The woman is blessed!

I don’t understand…is this a joke like “Men are obsessed with T because they’re breathing!” As in “it’s the nature of man,” or is it because you’ve heard tap water has an effect on obsession and/or testosterone? Not being snarky, just confused 🙂

It is only a joke. It is known that there is too much ostrogeen in tap water because of use of conception pills which has a negative effect on testesteron levels. Ever a doctor has dared to made a statement that tap water was also a reason for raising homosexuality in the era 🤣

Another joke about breathing. Sometimes people ask which type of women I find most sexy? It doesn't make any difference to me. It is enough as long as they can breath 🤣 🤣 🤣

 

[FartfulCodger]

Seriously, according to Gemini, women account for 90% of cosmetic procedures. Breast augmentations, tummy tucks, facelifts, the list goes on.

But when I want to build muscle, it's apparently a form of body dysmorphia--a reflection of poor mental health, an emotional shortcoming I need to address.

Note that a gym membership and some testosterone is considerably cheaper than surgery, and doesn't involve use of a scalpel under general anesthesia.

I don't know this author, but I'd guess his/her position on cosmetic surgery for women would be a reflection of her courage--a proud assertion of women's ownership of their own bodies, freedom to be who they are, blah blah...

Spare me.

 

[alphaskunk65]

I started on test to help my 60 yr old pecker wich led to the gym wich led to a body I'm getting to be proud of. HGH is on the menu soon. We should all be concerned with our bodies and general health. If you told me eating dried white dog shit would give me longevity, I say pass the f####g hot sauce! !

 

[Meritocrat]

Seriously, according to Gemini, women account for 90% of cosmetic procedures. Breast augmentations, tummy tucks, facelifts, the list goes on.

But when I want to build muscle, it's apparently a form of body dysmorphia--a reflection of poor mental health, an emotional shortcoming I need to address.

Note that a gym membership and some testosterone is considerably cheaper than surgery, and doesn't involve use of a scalpel under general anesthesia.

I don't know this author, but I'd guess his/her position on cosmetic surgery for women would be a reflection of her courage--a proud assertion of women's ownership of their own bodies, freedom to be who they are, blah blah...

Spare me.

Oh yea. And worse, with cosmetic surgery and such, it's all about getting stuff for "free". All the testosterone in the world will give you nothing if you don't bust your arse in the gym. In other words, AAS gains are EARNED, and still you have #$%^ people crying foul over men using AAS's. The $!mp3d3m!c force is strong. Tap water could be one of a thousand reasons.

 

[5byfive]

Note that a gym membership and some testosterone is considerably cheaper than surgery

I think surgery would have been cheaper than my home gym. Going down that road can be just as addictive as peps.

 

[MikeyMike]

Fascinating that an article about "toxic" masculinity only said that actual phrase once! Glad this is out there though. I think most men who could benefit from TRT would still see the value in the article.

Really floors me how the concerns on the effect of TRT on fertility, yet obesity is just as big of an issue if not bigger in male fertility.

I've been on TRT since April, and HGH since late May. Been a game changer, absolutely crushing my gym goals, at 52 tried everything else to boost Test and gain back the muscle I lost from losing 35 pounds with no gains at all. Now I am gaining muscle, strength, my libido is back, which is greatly benefiting my marriage as well. I'm a big fan of TRT, it brought my levels to 1200 and changed my life.

 

[endlrls]

What do we do with our feelings?

We hide them in our muscles.

How do we hide our feelings better?

We get bigger muscles.

oh my...

 

[skaylife]

What do we do with our feelings?

We hide them in our muscles.

How do we hide our feelings better?

We get bigger muscles.

Size doesn't matter 🤣

 

[jordekorn]

Do not search this on the googles…

Well that’s just exactly what I’m going to do now…

 

[Skidude]

Why So Many Guys Are Obsessed With Testosterone​

March/May 2026

I really appreciate your feedback and respect the goal of "harm reduction".
I think the terms used in some of these studies, and the assumption that TRT is only for cosmetic or vanity reasons, may be an exaggerated conclusion.

My comments are on TRT only, I have not ventured into supraphysiological dosing.

I do agree that many, including myself, hope for all the benefits; which include the goal that I would like to look, as well as, feel better.

I also believe it is a slippery slope, as are many of the peps and compounds we buy without understanding all the potential physiological effects. This is, no doubt, a more dangerous area that can have long lasting issues.

But I agree with some of the statements I will paste here: People are different, high doses are hard to calculate if labs do not show high reactions, and there are many benefits aside from muscle.

What are your thoughts on this:

A dose of 150 mg per week is not considered a high dose if that is what your body requires to reach a normal, healthy physiological range. [1, 2]
The article you read likely referenced old clinical guidelines or strict academic protocols, which often consider 100 mg per week the standard upper limit for replacement. However, modern TRT clinics and specialists recognize that real-world biology varies greatly. [1, 4]

Why 150 mg is Standard (Not "High")

• Individual Metabolism: Everyone metabolizes exogenous hormones at different rates. A 100 mg dose might bring one man to a healthy 700 ng/dL, while leaving another man subtherapeutic at 350 ng/dL. [1, 2]
• The Role of SHBG: Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) acts like a sponge for testosterone. Men with high SHBG levels naturally require higher weekly doses (often 150 mg to 200 mg) just to free up enough active testosterone for their tissues to use. [1, 2, 4]
• Clinic vs. Academic Disconnect: Older academic literature often targets the lowest possible dose to resolve basic clinical symptoms. Modern specialized clinics focus on optimizing levels to the upper-normal physiological range (typically 700 to 1,000 ng/dL) where patients report the most robust symptom relief. [1, 2, 4]

The Real TRT Spectrum
The medical consensus for injectable testosterone (cypionate or enanthate) generally breaks down into these ranges: [, 2, 3, 4, 5]

• Low/Conservative Dose (75–100 mg/week): Ideal for men who are highly responsive, have low SHBG, or are older.
• Moderate/Common Dose (100–150 mg/week): The standard "sweet spot" for most men on TRT.
• Higher Therapeutic Dose (150–200 mg/week): Frequently required for larger men, fast metabolizers, or individuals with high SHBG.
• Abnormal / Performance Doses (200 mg+ / week): Rarely required for actual medical replacement; entering this territory increases the risk of side effects like thick blood (high hematocrit) or elevated estrogen. [1, 2, 3]

Ultimately, the number on the syringe matters far less than what the blood work reveals. If 150 mg puts your trough levels (your lowest point right before the next injection) into a standard, healthy male range, then it is legally, medically, and biologically a replacement dose—not a "high" or performance-enhancing dos

 

[miameow]

the only benefit will most likely be an increase in muscle mass.

the "only" benefit???

“Online, everyone is saying testosterone is the solution to all of your problems,”

I guess this guy's never been on looksmax.org - testosterone is definitely not touted as the solution to all looks-maxing problems.

“And we have to be very clear that it’s not.”

Yup it's crystal clear. Just check out looksmax.org.

Seriously, according to Gemini, women account for 90% of cosmetic procedures. Breast augmentations, tummy tucks, facelifts, the list goes on.

But when I want to build muscle, it's apparently a form of body dysmorphia--a reflection of poor mental health, an emotional shortcoming I need to address.

I'm pretty sure women are criticized just as much if not more for body dysmorphia whenever one does plastic surgery or even loses weight. Anyone not embracing the fuller look is not "inclusive" enough these days. People just love to hate, men or women.

Honestly this doctor is a clown and no one should take him seriously.