Social media misinformation is driving men to NHS clinics in search of testosterone therapy they don’t need, adding pressure to already stretched waiting lists, doctors have said.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a prescription-only treatment recommended under national guidelines for men with a clinically proven deficiency, confirmed by symptoms and repeated blood tests.
But a wave of viral videos on TikTok and Instagram have begun marketing blood tests as a means of accessing testosterone as lifestyle supplement, advertising the hormone as a solution to problems such as low energy levels, poor concentration and reduced sex drive.
So social media is driving men to go get an annual checkup where the doctor does a blood sample and tests for low-T?
Well fuck, I get that every six months and it doesn’t seem to stress my doctor out at all. They also check my cholesterol and a bunch of other shit I don’t pretend to understand. I’m a special case though and have to go twice a year.
edit: I guess I’m saying that the NHS is a bit underfunded if they can’t provide a blood test for everyone once a year.
If you read the article, social media influencers are pushing private 3rd-party blood tests that return with a recommendation to get testosterone supplementation. People are showing up to appointments asking for testosterone based on these tests rather than based on any conversation with their doctor