Side Effects of Testosterone Boosters

The side effects of testosterone boosters is often a controversial topic. There are plenty of products which claim to boost testosterone. However, have you ever wondered about their potential side effects? Let’s find out what happens to your body when you supplement with these testosterone boosters.

Effects of Testosterone Boosters

Physiological effects

Different testosterone boosters provide different types of boost when it comes to testosterone production. However, experts link their physiological effects to overproduction of testosterone and seldom because of their ingredients.

These are the common physical side effects of taking testosterone boosters:

• Increases muscle mass and strength – This is one of the most sought-after effects of testosterone boosters. Some athletes and bodybuilders take testosterone boosters for this sole purpose. In men, testosterone is one of the most important hormones for achieving optimum lean body mass and strength.
• Increases sperm quantity and improves sperm quality – The testes produce testosterone and sperm. Testosterone boosters support overall testicular health. As a result, sperms become healthier.
• Supports cardiovascular health – The heart is a muscle. Testosterone plays a key role in protecting the heart. Not only that, but testosterone also protects cardiovascular function by supporting the health of coronary arteries and warding off blockages.
• Improves and maintains bone density – Testosterone is an important hormone for bone density maintenance and prevention of degenerative bone issues. Men who play sports may also keep fractures and minor injuries at bay when they have sufficient testosterone levels.
• Improves fat loss and fat distribution – Lean muscle mass is often the goal of many testosterone booster users. Testosterone helps with fat loss, too. Contemporary studies prove it. However, the body distributes fats equally to its parts whenever they need it.
• Acne breakouts and hair loss – This is due to the high levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is also made of testosterone. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) mainly acts on the skin and hair follicles – a side effect of too much testosterone. The key takeaway: know your limits.
• Myalgia – While testosterone increases muscle mass, tendons and ligaments may not immediately cope with this change. Hence, their strength does not match that of the muscles. This may result in muscle pain due to abnormal growth of muscles (myalgia). To offset this, try a balanced workout regimen to maintain the health of the muscle, tendons, and ligaments.
• Some ingredients may cause allergic reaction – Plant extracts may cause allergic reactions in some people. Always check the ingredients of the supplements before purchasing them and make sure that you are not allergic to any of the listed ingredients.
• Mild headache – Testosterone boosters seem to increase the frequency of mild headaches among men who experience migraine. This is an indirect effect of testosterone boosters.
• Iron deficiency anemia – Either too high or too low levels of testosterone in the blood may cause iron deficiency anemia. It may also be due to other testosterone booster ingredients.
• Kidney damage with long-term use – Too much of anything foreign to the body is bad. The kidney filters out the excess testosterone boosters in the body and long-term use of these substances may overwork the kidneys (especially long-term high dosages). Some experts even suggest taking supplements in “stacks.” However, the body doesn’t absorb 100 percent of these testosterone boosters. Hence, the kidney must filter out a lot of excess waste in the process.

Psychological effects

Testosterone is a hormone that not only acts on the body, but also in the mind as well. With this in mind, changing levels of testosterone in the body may lead to different psychological side effects. They may be positive or negative depending on the situation.

These are the commons psychological side effects of taking testosterone boosters:

• Enhances competitiveness – The level of testosterone in men is directly proportional to their motivation level during competitions. This also enhances the performance of athletes and keeps them focused while competing.
• Boosts cognitive function – Testosterone helps with cognitive functions such as memory and decision-making.
• Increases sex drive – Testosterone is the hormone responsible for sex drive. It is greatly responsible for increasing libido and enhancing performance in bed.
• Promotes aggressive behavior, mood swings, depression, and anxiety – These side effects are common because of the changing levels of testosterone in the body. This, in turn, affects behavior. Sudden spikes in testosterone levels may cause aggressive behavior. On the other hand, sudden low levels of testosterone may cause depression and anxiety. During this transition in testosterone levels, one experiences mood swings.
• Increases pain tolerance – Testosterone lessens the unpleasant feeling associated with pain.

Conclusion

Testosterone boosters have positive and negative side effects. The good news: the former outweighs the latter. Testosterone boosters don’t produce side effects on their own but the body’s reaction to them may lead to overproduction of testosterone. This causes the side effects.

On that note, always choose testosterone boosters with high-quality ingredients to ward off unwanted side effects. You can also consume testosterone boosters with absorption boosters to enhance absorption and boost overall results. Absorption boosters may also keep certain physical side effects of testosterone boosters at bay.

Check out our other guides on testosterone boosters:

• Best Testosterone Supplements 2018 Edition
• Best Testosterone Boosters for Bodybuilders
• Best Testosterone Boosters for Men Over 70
• Best Testosterone Boosters for Men Over 40
• Best Testosterone Boosters for Men in Their 30s
• Best Testosterone Boosters for Men in Their 20s

References

1. Hyun Jin Jung et al. Effect of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Cognitive Performance and Depression in Men with Testosterone Deficiency Syndrome World J Mens Health. 2016 Dec; 34(3): 194–199
2. Carré JM et al. Motivational and situational factors and the relationship between testosterone dynamics and human aggression during competition. Biol Psychol. 2010 May;84(2):346-53. doi:
3. R. J. Young et al. Effect of prolonged exercise of serum testosterone levels in adult men. Br J Sports Med. 1976 Dec; 10(4): 230–235.
4. Choi JC et al. Testosterone effects on pain and brain activation patterns. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2017 Jul;61(6):668-675. doi: 10.1111/aas.12908.