> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://elonmuscular.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Raise Your Testosterone Naturally - URL: https://elonmuscular.com/protocol-testosterone-natural/ - Published: 2026-09-27T12:59:40.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-12T18:32:50.000Z - Description: Tracks total and free testosterone. 19 moves, every one with its trial. - Author: Elon Muscular - Tags: Drive, Protocol [The library](https://elonmuscular.com/library/) / Drive # Raise Your Testosterone Naturally Low testosterone Also called Raising it naturally, Low T, Boosting testosterone, Natural testosterone 3 min plan52 min with every studyUpdated Sep 27, 2026 Who it's forA man who thinks his testosterone is low, or wants it higher, and wants to try without a prescription first. [Plan](#pr2-plan)[Track](#pr2-track)[Studies](#pr2-studies) Your number Total and free testosterone The habits at twelve weeks; each supplement on its own draw. On this page [This week](#pr2-tonight)[The plan](#pr2-plan)[How you'll know](#pr2-know)[Why this happens](#pr2-why)[Week by week](#pr2-week)[What to track](#pr2-track)[Doses at a glance](#pr2-doses)[Deep dives](#pr2-deep)[The studies](#pr2-studies)[Words on this page](#pr2-words) ## This week 1. Book two fasting morning draws, a few days apart 2. Add SHBG, LH, FSH, HbA1c and ferritin to the first 3. Write down everything you take and have taken 4. Trying for a child? Tell the doctor first 5. After the second draw: sleep, drink, the belly ## The plan The pituitaryLHThe signalThe testicle's outputtestosteroneThe free fraction **Figure 1.** The loop the plan works on. The pituitary sends LH, LH tells the testicle to make testosterone, and most of what reaches the blood is held by a carrier protein. Fix what turns the signal down and the testicle does the rest. 19 moves, in order, after 3 checks. Tap any row to see how. ### Check first The morning blood drawTwo fasting morning draws before any changeCheck ### The morning blood draw For: Everyone A blood test tells you where you actually start. Without it you are guessing. #### How to check 1. Book a fasting blood test between 7 and 10 in the morning. 2. Ask for total testosterone and SHBG, so free testosterone can be calculated. 3. Repeat it on a second morning a few days later, before you change anything. 4. Not while you are ill. Wait until you are well. What it is Two blood tests When Fasting, 7 to 10am How often Week 0, again at week 12 Reading the number Measure first, twice Low means under 264 to 300 ng/dL on two fasting morning tests. Free testosterone is worked out from the total and the binding protein. ¹ The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2018\. The study is under The science, below. The science In detail Book a fasting blood draw between 7 and 10 in the morning: total testosterone and SHBG, the binding protein, so free testosterone can be calculated. Repeat it on a second morning a few days later, before you change anything. Not while you are ill. Found **Two morning draws.** The endocrine guideline: fasting morning total testosterone on a reliable assay first, confirmed on a second morning. Free testosterone by equilibrium dialysis or an accurate formula when the total sits near the line or the binding protein is off. A review: low is under 264 to 300 ng/dL on two fasting samples taken between 7 and 10 am. Severe illness is one of the reversible causes. Why Testosterone peaks in the morning and swings through the day, so an afternoon number reads low. A severe illness pulls it down, so a draw taken while ill misreads you. Two morning draws separate a real low from a bad day. How it is done Total testosterone and SHBG; Fasting, 7 to 10am; Week 0, twice; then week 12 #### The studies We recommend measuring fasting morning total T concentrations using an accurate and reliable assay as the initial diagnostic test. [PMID 29562364](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29562364/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2018 The sentence around it We recommend measuring fasting morning total T concentrations using an accurate and reliable assay as the initial diagnostic test. Hypogonadism is confirmed if an individual's serum testosterone concentration is less than 264 to 300 ng/dL in at least 2 fasting samples collected between 7 and 10 am [PMID 42207626](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42207626/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Adult Male Hypogonadism: A Review. · JAMA, 2026 The sentence around it Hypogonadism is confirmed if an individual's serum testosterone concentration is less than 264 to 300 ng/dL in at least 2 fasting samples collected between 7 and 10 am and measured with an accurate and external quality-controlled assay.… The cause tests, on the same drawLH, FSH, HbA1c, ferritin and zinc; prolactin if LH is lowCheck ### The cause tests, on the same draw For: Everyone The same blood draw can show why the number is low. That changes what fixes it. #### How to check 1. Add LH and FSH to the first blood test. 2. Add HbA1c for blood sugar, ferritin for iron and a zinc level. 3. If LH comes back low or low-normal, ask for prolactin. What it is A few extra markers When On the first draw How often Once Reading the number Find the cause LH and FSH show whether the testicles or the brain's signal is the cause. High prolactin and iron overload are classic causes a doctor treats directly. ¹ JAMA, 2026\. The study is under The science, below. The science In detail Add LH and FSH to the first draw, with HbA1c for blood sugar, ferritin for iron and a zinc level. If LH comes back low or low-normal, ask for prolactin. These point at the cause. Found **LH, FSH, HbA1c, ferritin, zinc.** A review: every man found low should have LH and FSH measured, to tell a testicle problem from a signal problem. Low testosterone with low or inappropriately normal LH is the signal side. Diabetes lowers the binding protein, so free testosterone has to be calculated. The classic causes include high prolactin and iron overload. Why A low number is a finding, not a diagnosis. LH says which end failed. High prolactin, blood sugar and iron overload are named causes, and each is treated at the source. How it is done LH, FSH, HbA1c, ferritin; prolactin if LH is low; On the first draw; Week 0 #### The studies Patients diagnosed with hypogonadism should have serum FSH and LH concentrations measured to distinguish primary from secondary hypogonadism. [PMID 42207626](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42207626/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Adult Male Hypogonadism: A Review. · JAMA, 2026 The sentence around it Patients diagnosed with hypogonadism should have serum FSH and LH concentrations measured to distinguish primary from secondary hypogonadism. The classic causes of male androgen deficiency-hyperprolactinemia, pituitary macroadenoma, endogenous Cushing syndrome, and iron overload syndrome-are rare [PMID 35216709](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35216709/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Epidemiology of Male Hypogonadism. · Endocrinology and metabolism clinics of North America, 2022 The sentence around it The classic causes of male androgen deficiency-hyperprolactinemia, pituitary macroadenoma, endogenous Cushing syndrome, and iron overload syndrome-are rare (prevalence < 10,000 men).… Two low draws: see a doctorLow twice with symptoms, or a warning sign: a doctorCheck ### Two low draws: see a doctor For: Two low results If both tests come back low and you feel it, a doctor finds out why. Some signs mean you go now, without waiting. #### How to check 1. Take both test results to a doctor. 2. Describe your symptoms: energy, sex drive, mood, sleep, morning erections. 3. Go now, without waiting, for a very low result, headaches, vision changes, milky nipple discharge, breast growth, small testes or trouble conceiving. 4. Trying for a child? Ask about the routes that protect sperm production. 5. Ask what is causing it. What it is One appointment When After two low tests, or a warning sign How often Until you know why Standard practice A pituitary scan is standard when testosterone is under 150 ng/dL with a low brain signal, prolactin stays high, or headaches or vision changes appear. Reading the number Find the cause, then treat The Endocrine Society guideline says low testosterone is diagnosed only with symptoms and two clearly low tests. The cause gets checked first. With extra weight, weight loss usually comes first. ¹ The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2018\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out Headaches, vision changes or milky nipple discharge with a low result: see a doctor now. The science In detail If both morning draws come back low and you have the symptoms, the next step is a doctor, not a stronger supplement. Take both numbers with you. Some signs skip the wait: a very low number, headaches or a change in vision, milky discharge from a nipple, small testes, breast growth, or trouble conceiving. Found **Symptoms plus two low draws.** The endocrine guideline: diagnose low testosterone only with symptoms and signs of deficiency and a testosterone that is unequivocally and consistently low, then look for the cause. High prolactin is among the most common causes of a low signal, and it often shows as headaches and vision loss from the pituitary. The endocrinologists' July 2026 statement: with a BMI over 27 and no other cause, weight loss is typically first. Since February 2025 the US testosterone label carries no heart-risk boxed warning and adds a blood pressure warning. For a man trying for a child, prescription routes such as hCG and clomiphene work through his own hormones and are used to protect sperm production. Why A low number with symptoms can be a pituitary problem, a medication, sleep apnea or weight. Tiredness and low drive are also signs of low mood and sleep apnea, so the doctor checks those too. Finding the cause comes before treating the number. How it is done Both draws, and your symptoms; After the second low draw; When it happens #### The studies We recommend making a diagnosis of hypogonadism only in men with symptoms and signs consistent with testosterone (T) deficiency and unequivocally and consistently low serum T concentrations. [PMID 29562364](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29562364/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2018 The sentence around it …Conclusions We recommend making a diagnosis of hypogonadism only in men with symptoms and signs consistent with testosterone (T) deficiency and unequivocally and consistently low serum T concentrations. preventive strategies, such as transitioning to short-acting testosterone formulations or incorporating low-dose hCG to preserve fertility during ET therapy [PMID 39820213](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39820213/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Clinician's guide to the management of azoospermia induced by exogenous testosterone or anabolic-androgenic steroids. · Asian journal of andrology, 2025 The sentence around it …Additionally, the manuscript discusses preventive strategies, such as transitioning to short-acting testosterone formulations or incorporating low-dose hCG to preserve fertility during ET therapy.… ### Free habits 1Check what you takeList past steroids, SARMs, opioids and steroid tablets firstModerate evidence ### Check what you take For: Everyone Some drugs switch off the signal that makes testosterone. If one of them is the cause, nothing else on this page will move the number. #### What to do 1. Write down every medicine and supplement you take, and anything you took in the past. 2. Include any past steroid or SARM use, opioid painkillers and steroid tablets. 3. Bring the list to the doctor with the blood test. How much One written list When Before the first test How long Once What happened in the studies Still low 2.5 years later Men who had used steroids were still lower on testosterone about 2.5 years after stopping. Long-term opioid painkillers lower it in 20% to 80% of users, and steroid tablets can lower it too. ¹ PloS one, 2016\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out Never stop a prescribed painkiller or steroid tablet suddenly. Taper it with the doctor who prescribed it. The science In detail Before any supplement: list what you take and what you have taken. Past steroid or SARM use, long-term opioid painkillers and steroid tablets such as prednisolone all switch the signal off. Tell the doctor, because it changes what the number means. Found Former steroid users were still lower on total and free testosterone than controls an average of 2.5 years after stopping, with more symptoms of low testosterone. A review names opioids, corticosteroids and drugs that raise prolactin among the common reversible causes. Long-term opioid painkillers lower it in between 20% and 80% of users, depending on the drug and how long. Why Each suppresses the signal from the brain that tells the testicles to make testosterone. Nothing else on this page can override that while it is switched off. Watch Never stop a prescribed opioid or steroid tablet abruptly; taper it with the prescriber. #### The studies Former AAS abusers exhibited significantly lower plasma testosterone levels and higher frequencies of symptoms suggestive of hypogonadism than healthy control participants years after AAS cessation. [PMID 27532478](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27532478/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Former Abusers of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids Exhibit Decreased Testosterone Levels and Hypogonadal Symptoms Years after Cessation: A Case-Control Study. · PloS one, 2016 The sentence around it …Conclusions Former AAS abusers exhibited significantly lower plasma testosterone levels and higher frequencies of symptoms suggestive of hypogonadism than healthy control participants years after AAS cessation. The most common potentially reversible causes of secondary hypogonadism are obesity, severe illness, and medication use (opioids, corticosteroids, checkpoint inhibitors, and medications that cause hyperprolactinemia). [PMID 42207626](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42207626/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Adult Male Hypogonadism: A Review. · JAMA, 2026 The sentence around it The most common potentially reversible causes of secondary hypogonadism are obesity, severe illness, and medication use (opioids, corticosteroids, checkpoint inhibitors, and medications that cause hyperprolactinemia). 2Trying for a child: tell the doctorTrying for a child: tell the doctor firstModerate evidence ### Trying for a child: tell the doctor For: Trying for a child Hormones from outside switch sperm production off. Some supplements have been found secretly spiked with them. #### What to do 1. Tell the doctor you are trying for a child. 2. Take nothing for testosterone without asking first. 3. Bring the list of what you take. How much One conversation When Before anything else How long While trying What happened in the studies Tell the doctor first In 50 studies, 875 of 3,132 supplements held hidden ingredients, most often steroids or a diet drug. Steroids shut sperm production down. ¹ Asian journal of andrology, 2025\. The study is under The science, below. The science In detail If you are trying for a child, tell the doctor before you take anything for testosterone. Testosterone and steroids from outside switch sperm production off, and some supplements have been found spiked with steroids. Found **875 of 3,132 held hidden drugs.** A review of 50 studies: 875 of 3,132 supplements tested held undeclared substances, most often sibutramine and anabolic steroids. A clinical review: outside testosterone and steroids suppress the brain's signal, lowering testosterone inside the testicle and impairing sperm production. Why Sperm are made on the testosterone inside the testicle, which runs on the brain's signal. Hormone from outside shuts that signal down, and the testicle's own supply falls with it. #### The studies These agents suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, leading to reduced intratesticular testosterone levels and impaired spermatogenesis. [PMID 39820213](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39820213/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Clinician's guide to the management of azoospermia induced by exogenous testosterone or anabolic-androgenic steroids. · Asian journal of andrology, 2025 The sentence around it These agents suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, leading to reduced intratesticular testosterone levels and impaired spermatogenesis. Most frequently found undeclared substances are sibutramine and anabolic-androgenic steroids. [PMID 35496041](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35496041/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Dietary Supplements as Source of Unintentional Doping. · BioMed research international, 2022 The sentence around it Most frequently found undeclared substances are sibutramine and anabolic-androgenic steroids. 3SleepSeven to eight hours, at the same timesStrong evidence ### Sleep For: Everyone Your body makes testosterone while you sleep. A whole lost night pulls the number down. #### What to do 1. Sleep 7 to 8 hours. 2. Keep the same times, seven days a week. How much 7 to 8 hours When Same times daily How long For good What happened in the studies A lost night drops testosterone In 18 studies, one whole night without sleep pulled testosterone down clearly. ¹ Sleep medicine, 2021\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out Snoring or stopping breathing at night? Get tested for sleep apnea first. The science In detail Seven to eight hours asleep, at the same times, seven days a week. Testosterone is made through the night and peaks in the morning, which is when the draw finds it. Found **A medium effect from a lost night.** Eighteen studies, 252 people: a whole night without sleep pulled testosterone down by two thirds of a standard deviation. Sleep duration is what holds the morning number up. Why Testosterone rises through the night with sleep and peaks after waking. Cut the night short and the rise never finishes. Regular timing keeps the morning peak where the draw finds it. Watch Snoring, breathing that stops, sleep that does not refresh: get tested for apnea before you blame the hormone. #### The study total sleep deprivation reduced the male testosterone levels (SMD = -0.64; 95% CI: -0.87, -0.42 [PMID 34801825](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34801825/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Effect of partial and total sleep deprivation on serum testosterone in healthy males: a systematic review and meta-analysis. · Sleep medicine, 2021 The sentence around it total sleep deprivation reduced the male testosterone levels (SMD = -0.64; 95% CI: -0.87, -0.42; P < 0.001).… Sleep duration plays a pivotal role in maintaining male serum testosterone levels. The sentence around it Sleep duration plays a pivotal role in maintaining male serum testosterone levels. [The deep dive on this](https://elonmuscular.com/sleep/) 4Body fat downGet the body fat down; the Lose fat page is the methodStrong evidence ### Body fat down For: Carrying extra fat Belly fat turns testosterone into estrogen. Losing it raises your testosterone. #### What to do 1. Lose fat slowly and steadily. 2. Keep the protein up and keep lifting, so what you lose is fat and not muscle. How much Slow and steady When Steadily How long 12 weeks, then test What happened in the studies Testosterone rises In 24 studies, losing weight, by diet or surgery, raised both total and free testosterone. Carrying extra weight, losing at least 5% typically raises it. ¹ European journal of endocrinology, 2013\. The study is under The science, below. The science In detail Get the belly off. Fat tissue carries the enzyme that turns testosterone into estrogen. Lose it slowly, with the fat kept on the plate. Found **24 studies.** Twenty-four studies: weight lost by diet or by surgery came with a rise in both bound and free testosterone. A review: with obesity, losing at least 5% of body weight typically raises total testosterone, and weight loss is the first-line treatment. Why Fat tissue carries aromatase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen, and the estrogen turns the pituitary's signal down. Less fat, less conversion, more signal. #### The studies weight loss is associated with an increase in both bound and unbound testosterone levels [PMID 23482592](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23482592/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Body weight loss reverts obesity-associated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: a systematic review and meta-analysis. · European journal of endocrinology, 2013 The sentence around it …Conclusions These data show that weight loss is associated with an increase in both bound and unbound testosterone levels.… In men with obesity, weight loss of at least 5% typically increases serum total testosterone concentration significantly [PMID 42207626](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42207626/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Adult Male Hypogonadism: A Review. · JAMA, 2026 The sentence around it In men with obesity, weight loss of at least 5% typically increases serum total testosterone concentration significantly, and weight loss is associated with improved physical function, libido, and erectile function.… 5Keep the fat in the dietLose the belly without going low-fatModerate evidence ### Keep the fat in the diet For: Everyone losing weight Cutting fat out of your diet can lower testosterone. Lose weight by eating less, not by going low-fat. #### What to do 1. Keep eggs, meat, fish, olive oil, nuts and dairy in the diet. 2. Cut the total amount you eat, not the fat. 3. Let the belly come down slowly. How much Normal fat intake When Every meal How long For good What happened in the studies Low-fat diets lowered it Across six studies, low-fat diets gave lower total and free testosterone than diets that kept the fat in. ¹ The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology, 2021\. The study is under The science, below. The science In detail Lose the belly without cutting fat out of the plate. The trials that went low-fat saw testosterone fall. Found **\-0.38 on low-fat diets.** Six studies, 206 people, low-fat against high-fat diets: total testosterone down (standardized difference -0.38), and free testosterone down (-0.37). Why Testosterone is built from cholesterol, and the fat in a meal feeds that line. Cut it hard and the testicles have less to work with. #### The study total testosterone \[-0.38 (95 % CI -0.75 to -0.01) P = 0.04\]; free testosterone \[-0.37 (95 % CI -0.63 to -0.11) P = 0.005\] [PMID 33741447](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33741447/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Low-fat diets and testosterone in men: Systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies. · The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology, 2021 The sentence around it …Standardised mean differences with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for outcomes were: total testosterone \[-0.38 (95 % CI -0.75 to -0.01) P = 0.04\]; free testosterone \[-0.37 (95 % CI -0.63 to -0.11) P = 0.005\]; urinary testosterone \[-0.38 (CI 95 % -0.66 to -0.09) P = 0.009\]; and dihydrotestosterone \[-0.3 (CI 95 % -0.56 to -0.03) P = 0.03\].… Low-fat diets appear to decrease testosterone levels in men The sentence around it …Conclusions Low-fat diets appear to decrease testosterone levels in men 6Aerobic training, if you carry extra weightModerate evidence ### Aerobic training, if you carry extra weight For: Extra weight, high blood sugar If you carry extra weight, regular cardio raises testosterone. Very heavy endurance training for years can lower it. #### What to do 1. Do cardio that gets you breathing hard, most weeks. 2. Build up slowly. 3. Retest at 12 weeks. How much Regular cardio When Most weeks How long 12 weeks, then test What happened in the studies A moderate rise Across seven studies, aerobic training moderately raised testosterone where weight or blood sugar ran high. ¹ Sports medicine - open, 2024\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out Years of very heavy endurance training can lower testosterone instead. The science In detail If you carry extra weight or your blood sugar runs high: regular aerobic work, the kind that gets you breathing hard, most weeks. Years of very heavy endurance training go the other way. Found **g 0.565.** Seven studies, 103 people, where weight or blood sugar ran high: aerobic training moderately raised testosterone (g = 0.565). A short review: years of endurance sports training go with persistently lower free and total testosterone. Why Aerobic work burns the fat that turns testosterone into estrogen, and it improves how the body handles sugar. At the extreme end, the chronic training load itself suppresses the signal. Watch Years of heavy endurance training can lower testosterone. #### The studies Aerobic exercise moderately increased testosterone concentrations in men (g = 0.565, 95% CI = 0.307 to 0.822 [PMID 39467940](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39467940/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · The Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training on Testosterone Concentration in Individuals Who are Obese or Have Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. · Sports medicine - open, 2024 The sentence around it Aerobic exercise moderately increased testosterone concentrations in men (g = 0.565, 95% CI = 0.307 to 0.822 Men chronically exposed to training for endurance sports exhibit persistently reduced basal free and total testosterone concentrations without concurrent luteinizing hormone elevations. [PMID 32724267](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32724267/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Reproductive Dysfunction from Exercise Training: The "Exercise-Hypogonadal Male Condition". · Archivos de medicina del deporte, 2019 The sentence around it Men chronically exposed to training for endurance sports exhibit persistently reduced basal free and total testosterone concentrations without concurrent luteinizing hormone elevations. 7Drinking less without quittingUnder four US standard drinks (seven UK units) a week; none most nightsModerate evidence ### Drinking less without quitting For: Everyone Heavy drinking lowers testosterone and raises estrogen. #### What to do 1. Keep it under 4 US standard drinks (7 UK units) a week. 2. None on most nights. How much Under 4 US standard drinks (7 UK units) a week When Every week How long For good What happened in the studies Drinking lowers it In 40 studies with 23,258 people, drinking lowered testosterone. Over 4 US standard drinks (7 UK units) a week, estrogen rose too. ¹ Heliyon, 2023\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out If you drink every day and shake without it, stopping suddenly is a medical danger. See a doctor first. The science In detail Keep it under four US standard drinks (seven UK units) a week, and none on most nights. Drinking lowered testosterone across the studies, and over four US standard drinks (seven UK units) a week estradiol rose. Found **Drinking: T down; over 4 US standard drinks (7 UK units): estradiol up.** Forty studies, 23,258 people: drinking lowered testosterone overall. Over four US standard drinks (seven UK units) a week, the sex hormones worsened and estradiol rose; under four, the semen numbers held. Why Alcohol hits the testicle directly and the pituitary above it, which sends less LH. Heavy drinking also pushes estrogen up. Watch Physical dependence, where cutting abruptly is a medical event and not a plan. #### The study the group of heavy alcoholics (more than 7 units/week) harmed the semen index and sex hormones, especially by increasing estradiol [PMID 37159717](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37159717/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Investigating the association between alcohol intake and male reproductive function: A current meta-analysis. · Heliyon, 2023 The sentence around it …Meanwhile, the group of heavy alcoholics (more than 7 units/week) harmed the semen index and sex hormones, especially by increasing estradiol.… the results showed a decrease in general testosterone levels (SMD = -1.60; 95% CI -2.05, -1.15) The sentence around it …Finally, the results showed a decrease in general testosterone levels (SMD = -1.60; 95% CI -2.05, -1.15) [The deep dive on this](https://elonmuscular.com/cutting-down-drinking/) ### Over the counter 8Tongkat Ali200 mg a day of the standardized extractModerate evidence ### Tongkat Ali For: Testosterone A root extract that raises testosterone. #### What to do 1. Take 200 mg of standardized extract a day. 2. Only a batch with a third-party test for heavy metals. 3. Take nothing else new, and judge it on a blood test after 12 weeks. How much 200 mg When Once a day How long 12 weeks alone, then test What happened in the studies Big rise in testosterone In 5 trials, testosterone rose a lot. In one, where most started low, 91% had a normal level after a month, up from 36%. ¹ Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 2022\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out Often faked or spiked with other drugs. In two market surveys of tongkat ali products, a quarter to a third carried mercury above the legal limit. Choose a product with a third-party test for heavy metals. It is not authorized as a food in the EU, where a safety review raised a DNA-damage concern. The science In detail 200 mg a day of the standardized water extract. Choose a batch with a lab certificate, because adulteration is the risk with this plant. Found **A large effect on total T.** Five trials pooled: total testosterone up by 1.35 standard deviations. Two trials, 139 people: the erection score rose 2.15 points where it started low. Seventy-six people, most of whom started low, on 200 mg for a month: 35.5% had a normal testosterone before, 90.8% after. Why The pooled trials measured total testosterone going up, where it started normal and where it started low. It raises what the testicle makes; judge it on your own draw. Watch Product contamination and adulteration: this is the plant most often found spiked or substituted. In two market surveys of tongkat ali products, a quarter to a third carried mercury above the legal limit. Choose a product with a third-party test for heavy metals. In the EU it is not authorized as a food; the food safety panel could not establish its safety and flagged possible DNA damage. The doses the studies used**200 mg** *one month: nine in ten ended with a normal testosterone* 200 mg400 mg were given 200 mg of a standardised water-soluble extract of Tongkat ali for 1 month [PMID 21671978](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21671978/?ref=elonmuscular.com) #### The studies The random model effect revealed a significant increase (SMD = 1.352, 95% CI 0.565 to 2.138, p = 0.001) in the total testosterone levels in men receiving E. longifolia supplementation [PMID 36013514](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36013514/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · *Eurycoma longifolia* (Jack) Improves Serum Total Testosterone in Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials. · Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 2022 The sentence around it The random model effect revealed a significant increase (SMD = 1.352, 95% CI 0.565 to 2.138, p = 0.001) in the total testosterone levels in men receiving E. longifolia supplementation, which was confirmed in the hypogonadism subgroup.… 2 studies involving a total of 139 participants were analyzed [PMID 26365449](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26365449/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Efficacy of Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) on erectile function improvement: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. · Complementary therapies in medicine, 2015 The sentence around it …Results Of the 342 articles identified, 2 studies involving a total of 139 participants were analyzed.… [The deep dive on this](https://elonmuscular.com/tongkat-ali-testosterone/) 9ZincAbout 30 mg a day, only if your level is lowModerate evidence ### Zinc For: Low zinc If your zinc is low, putting it back restores testosterone. #### What to do 1. Test your zinc first. 2. If it is low, ask the doctor about the trial's 30 mg a day with food. 3. Stop after 3 to 6 months. How much About 30 mg When With food How long 3 to 6 months Standard practice UK advice is no more than 25 mg of zinc supplements a day unless a doctor advises it. The trial's 30 mg is above that, so take it with the doctor who found the low level. What happened in the studies Doubled if you were low In a small study, 6 months of zinc took testosterone from 239 to 461 ng/dL (8.3 to 16.0 nmol/L) where zinc started low. ¹ Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology, 2023\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out Long daily use drains copper and can cause anemia. With ciprofloxacin, take the antibiotic 2 hours before or 6 hours after the zinc. With doxycycline, keep the two as far apart in the day as you can. The science In detail Only if your zinc is low. The trial dose was 459 µmol a day, about 30 mg, as zinc gluconate for three to six months. Not daily forever: the copper goes. Found **8.3 to 16.0 nmol/L, if deficient.** Thirty-eight studies reviewed: a zinc deficiency lowers testosterone and putting the zinc back restores it. In a small study without a comparison group, nine people who were marginally short went from 8.3 to 16.0 nmol/L after six months of zinc. Why Zinc sits in the enzymes that make testosterone and in the receptor that reads it. Twenty weeks of a zinc-poor diet cut testosterone by three quarters in the same study. The mineral is a floor, not a lever. Watch Copper deficiency and anemia with long daily zinc. Zinc blocks some antibiotics. Take a quinolone such as ciprofloxacin at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after it. Keep a tetracycline such as doxycycline as far from it as you can. The doses the studies used**About 30 mg** *the trial's 459 micromoles a day, as zinc gluconate, three to six months, from a marginal deficiency* About 30 mg supplementation with 459 mumol/ d oral zinc administered as zinc gluconate [PMID 8875519](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8875519/?ref=elonmuscular.com) #### The studies zinc deficiency reduces testosterone levels and zinc supplementation improves testosterone levels [PMID 36577241](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36577241/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Correlation between serum zinc and testosterone: A systematic review. · Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology, 2023 The sentence around it …We concluded that zinc deficiency reduces testosterone levels and zinc supplementation improves testosterone levels.… resulted in an increase in serum testosterone from 8.3 +/- 6.3 to 16.0 +/- 4.4 nmol/L (p = 0.02) [PMID 8875519](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8875519/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults. · Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), 1996 The sentence around it resulted in an increase in serum testosterone from 8.3 +/- 6.3 to 16.0 +/- 4.4 nmol/L (p = 0.02).… [The deep dive on this](https://elonmuscular.com/zinc/) 10Shilajit250 mg twice a day for ninety daysModerate evidence ### Shilajit For: Testosterone A mineral resin that raised testosterone in a 90-day trial. #### What to do 1. Take 250 mg of purified shilajit twice a day. 2. Only a batch tested for heavy metals. 3. Give it 90 days. How much 250 mg, twice When Morning and evening How long 90 days What happened in the studies Up in 90 days After 90 days at 250 mg twice a day, total and free testosterone rose against a dummy pill. ¹ Andrologia, 2016\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out Untested product can carry lead, arsenic and mercury. The science In detail 250 mg of purified shilajit twice a day for ninety days. Only a batch with a heavy-metal certificate: raw shilajit is a rock, and it carries lead. Found **Total and free T up at 90 days.** Ninety days at 250 mg twice a day: total and free testosterone and DHEA-S all rose against placebo, and the pituitary signals held. Why Fulvic acid ferries minerals into cells. The pigment part may recycle CoQ10 in the mitochondria that make the hormone. How it works is still a theory. The trial is the proof. Watch Heavy metal contamination: lead, arsenic and mercury in untested product. The doses the studies used**250 mg, twice a day** *the ninety-day trial: total and free testosterone up* 250 mg, twice a day at a dose of 250 mg twice a day [PMID 26395129](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26395129/?ref=elonmuscular.com) #### The study Treatment with Shilajit for consecutive 90 days revealed that it has significantly (P < 0.05) increased total testosterone, free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) compared with placebo. [PMID 26395129](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26395129/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers. · Andrologia, 2016 The sentence around it Treatment with Shilajit for consecutive 90 days revealed that it has significantly (P < 0.05) increased total testosterone, free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) compared with placebo. Gonadotropic hormones (LH and FSH) levels were well maintained. The sentence around it Gonadotropic hormones (LH and FSH) levels were well maintained. [The deep dive on this](https://elonmuscular.com/shilajit/) 11AshwagandhaA standardized extract daily, for eight weeksModerate evidence ### Ashwagandha For: Testosterone, stress An herb best known for stress and sleep. Across the trials pooled, it also raised testosterone. #### What to do 1. Take an extract giving 21 mg of withanolide glycosides once a day. 2. Give it eight weeks. 3. Judge it on your next blood test. How much 21 mg withanolide glycosides When Once a day How long 8 weeks, then test What happened in the studies About 57 ng/dL more than placebo Across the pooled trials, testosterone rose about 57 ng/dL more than on a dummy pill. Check it on your own blood test. ¹ Planta medica, 2026\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out Stomach upset and drowsiness. Stop if your eyes or skin turn yellow. Ask first if you have a thyroid or autoimmune problem, have surgery coming, or take medicine for diabetes, blood pressure, seizures, the thyroid or the immune system, or a sedative. Not with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. It cannot legally be sold in Denmark. The science In detail The trial's product: an extract giving 21 mg of withanolide glycosides a day, for eight weeks, then judge it on your own blood draw. Found **57.43 ng/dL more than placebo.** Pooled trials against a placebo: men's testosterone rose by 57.43 ng/dL more than on placebo, and cortisol fell. In one eight-week trial, testosterone rose 14.7% more than on placebo, and DHEA-S 18% more. Why It turns down the stress-hormone system. In the pooled trials, cortisol, the main stress hormone, fell against placebo. Testosterone rose alongside it. Watch Drowsiness, stomach upset, diarrhea and vomiting in some. Rare liver injury has been reported: stop at yellow eyes or skin, or dark urine. It is not recommended with an autoimmune or thyroid disorder, or before surgery. Avoid it with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, because it may raise testosterone. It may interact with medicines for diabetes, blood pressure, the immune system, seizures and the thyroid, and with sedatives. It cannot legally be sold as a food in Denmark. The doses the studies used**21 mg glycosides** *the trial's daily dose, for eight weeks* 21 mg glycosides delivering 21 mg of withanolide glycosides a day [PMID 30854916](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30854916/?ref=elonmuscular.com) #### The studies Ashwagandha supplementation appears to modulate key hormonal pathways, particularly cortisol and sex hormones. [PMID 41740946](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41740946/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Hormonal Modulation with Withania somnifera: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized-controlled Trials. · Planta medica, 2026 The sentence around it Ashwagandha supplementation appears to modulate key hormonal pathways, particularly cortisol and sex hormones. Ashwagandha intake was associated with an 18% greater increase in DHEA-S ( p = .005) and 14.7% greater increase in testosterone ( p = .010) compared to the placebo. [PMID 30854916](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30854916/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males. · American journal of men's health, 2019 The sentence around it Ashwagandha intake was associated with an 18% greater increase in DHEA-S ( p = .005) and 14.7% greater increase in testosterone ( p = .010) compared to the placebo. [The deep dive on this](https://elonmuscular.com/ashwagandha/) 12Fenugreek500 mg a day of a seed extract; judge on the next drawModerate evidence ### Fenugreek For: Testosterone A seed extract. Four small trials pooled found it raised total testosterone. #### What to do 1. Take 500 mg of a fenugreek seed extract once a day. 2. Judge it on a blood test after 12 weeks. How much 500 mg When Once a day How long 12 weeks, then test What happened in the studies A rise across 4 trials Four trials pooled found fenugreek raised total testosterone. In a 12-week study at 500 mg a day, free testosterone rose in most who took it. ¹ Phytotherapy research, 2020\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out Stomach upset and a maple-syrup body smell. It can lower blood sugar. Ask first if you take warfarin or diabetes medicine. Skip it if you are allergic to peanuts or chickpeas. The science In detail A seed extract, 500 mg a day, the dose a 12-week study ran. The pooled trials found a rise in total testosterone; judge it on your own draw. Found **4 trials pooled.** Four trials pooled: fenugreek extract had a clear effect on total testosterone against the comparison group. In a 12-week study of 50 people on 500 mg a day, free testosterone rose by up to 46% in 90% of them. Why Its seed glycosides act on the testosterone line in ways the trials have not pinned down. The effect in the pooled trials was on total testosterone. Watch Gut effects and a maple-syrup body odor. It can lower blood sugar. It can interact with warfarin to cause bleeding, and it can cross-react in people allergic to peanuts or chickpeas. The doses the studies used**500 mg** *a day for twelve weeks, an open study without a placebo group* 500 mg to determine the efficacy of FS (500 mg/day/subject) on free and total testosterone levels [PMID 28138310](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28138310/?ref=elonmuscular.com) #### The studies Fenugreek extract has a significant effect on total serum testosterone. [PMID 32048383](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32048383/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Effect of fenugreek extract supplement on testosterone levels in male: A meta-analysis of clinical trials. · Phytotherapy research, 2020 The sentence around it Fenugreek extract has a significant effect on total serum testosterone. It can also interact with warfarin to cause bleeding. [PMID 30000838](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30000838/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Fenugreek · Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), 2006 The sentence around it It can also interact with warfarin to cause bleeding. [The deep dive on this](https://elonmuscular.com/fenugreek/) ### Early research 13Boron10 mg a day; frees what you haveEarly evidence ### Boron For: Free testosterone A mineral that frees up more of the testosterone you already make. A small study, so keep expectations small. #### What to do 1. Take 10 mg a day with breakfast. 2. Take nothing else new, and judge it on a blood test after 12 weeks. How much 10 mg When With breakfast How long 12 weeks alone, then test Standard practice 10 mg a day is the standard adult upper limit. What happened in the studies More free testosterone After a week at 10 mg a day, free testosterone rose and estrogen fell, in a study of 8 people. ¹ Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology, 2011\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out A tiny one-week trial. Stay at the 10 mg it used. The science In detail 10 mg a day. One week moved free testosterone and dropped the binding protein and the estradiol in a study of eight; keep the expectations small. Found **Free T up in one week, in 8 people.** 10 mg a day for a week: the binding protein fell within six hours. By day seven free testosterone was up and estradiol down, with the inflammation markers lower. Why It appears to uncouple testosterone from the carrier protein that holds it, which fits the timing: hours, not weeks. It frees what you have; it makes none. Watch The trial had eight people and ran one week, and estradiol fell in it. Treat the number as a signal, and stay at the trial's dose. The doses the studies used**10 mg** *a day with breakfast: free testosterone up by day seven* 10 mg a capsule containing 10mg of boron [PMID 21129941](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21129941/?ref=elonmuscular.com) #### The study After one week (in samples taken at 8.00 A.M, only), the mean plasma free testosterone increased and the mean plasma estradiol decreased significantly. [PMID 21129941](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21129941/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Comparative effects of daily and weekly boron supplementation on plasma steroid hormones and proinflammatory cytokines. · Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology, 2011 The sentence around it After one week (in samples taken at 8.00 A.M, only), the mean plasma free testosterone increased and the mean plasma estradiol decreased significantly. Six hours supplementation showed a significant decrease on sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), high sensitive CRP (hsCRP) and TNF-α level. The sentence around it Six hours supplementation showed a significant decrease on sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), high sensitive CRP (hsCRP) and TNF-α level. [The deep dive on this](https://elonmuscular.com/boron-testosterone/) 14MagnesiumMagnesium, up to 400 mg a dayEarly evidence ### Magnesium For: Men who train hard A mineral that sweat and training drain. Four weeks of it raised testosterone in a small trial. #### What to do 1. Take up to 400 mg of magnesium a day, with food. 2. Keep it hours apart from antibiotics. 3. Judge it on your next blood draw. How much Up to 400 mg When Daily, with food How long 4 weeks, then test Standard practice UK advice: 400 mg or less a day of magnesium from supplements is unlikely to cause harm. More than 400 mg can cause diarrhea. What happened in the studies Free and total T up In a 4-week trial, magnesium raised free and total testosterone, and more in those who trained. ¹ Biological trace element research, 2011\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out Loose stools are common. Kidney disease: ask a doctor first. On antibiotics or blood-pressure medicine: ask a pharmacist about timing. The science In detail The trial gave 10 mg of magnesium per kg of body weight (4.5 mg per lb) a day, for 4 weeks. For most men that is above the UK’s 400 mg a day line, so stay at 400 mg or less unless a doctor advises more. Judge it on your own draw. Found **Free and total T up in 4 weeks.** A 4-week controlled trial: magnesium raised free and total testosterone, in the active and the inactive alike. The rise was larger in those who trained. Why Magnesium runs hundreds of enzyme reactions, and sweat and hard training drain it. Topping up a low store is the proposed route. Watch Loose stools and stomach cramps, more at high doses. With kidney disease, not without a doctor, as it can build up. It blocks some antibiotics: take a quinolone such as ciprofloxacin hours apart from it, as its label sets out. It can add to the effect of blood-pressure medicine. The doses the studies used**10 mg per kg (4.5 mg per lb)** *a day, for 4 weeks, in the trial* 10 mg per kg (4.5 mg per lb) supplemented with 10 mg magnesium per kilogram body weight [PMID 20352370](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20352370/?ref=elonmuscular.com) #### The study Our results show that supplementation with magnesium increases free and total testosterone values [PMID 20352370](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20352370/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Effects of magnesium supplementation on testosterone levels of athletes and sedentary subjects at rest and after exhaustion. · Biological trace element research, 2011 The sentence around it Our results show that supplementation with magnesium increases free and total testosterone values The increases are higher in those who exercise than in sedentary individuals. The sentence around it The increases are higher in those who exercise than in sedentary individuals. [The deep dive on this](https://elonmuscular.com/magnesium/) 15ForskolinForskolin extract, 250 mg twice a dayEarly evidence ### Forskolin For: Carrying extra fat A plant extract. In a 12-week trial it raised free testosterone and cut body fat. #### What to do 1. Pick an extract standardized to 10% forskolin. 2. 250 mg twice a day. 3. Judge it on your blood draw at 12 weeks. How much 250 mg When Twice a day How long 12 weeks, then test What happened in the studies Free T up, fat down In a 12-week trial of 30 people, forskolin raised free testosterone and cut body fat against placebo. ¹ Obesity research, 2005\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out It can drop blood pressure and speed the heart. On blood-pressure medicine or a blood thinner, or before surgery: ask first. Buy a tested product. The science In detail A Coleus forskohlii extract standardized to 10% forskolin, 250 mg twice a day, for 12 weeks, the trial’s dose. Judge it on your own draw. Found **Free T up in 12 weeks.** A 12-week placebo trial of 30 people: forskolin raised free testosterone against placebo and cut body fat and fat mass. Bone mass rose too. Why Forskolin raises cyclic AMP, the messenger that tells the testes to make testosterone when the brain signals, and that tells fat cells to release fat. Watch It can lower blood pressure and speed the heart: dizziness on standing, or palpitations. On blood-pressure medicine or a blood thinner, or before surgery, ask a doctor first. Stomach upset and loose stools in some. Buy a tested product: adulterated ones have been tied to liver injury. The doses the studies used**250 mg twice a day** *of a 10% forskolin extract, for 12 weeks, in the trial* 250 mg twice a day 250 mg of 10% forskolin extract twice a day [PMID 16129715](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16129715/?ref=elonmuscular.com) #### The study Serum free testosterone levels were significantly increased in the forskolin group compared with the placebo group (p < or = 0.05). [PMID 16129715](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16129715/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Body composition and hormonal adaptations associated with forskolin consumption in overweight and obese men. · Obesity research, 2005 The sentence around it Serum free testosterone levels were significantly increased in the forskolin group compared with the placebo group (p < or = 0.05). Forskolin was shown to elicit favorable changes in body composition by significantly decreasing body fat percentage (BF%) and fat mass (FM) as determined by DXA compared with the placebo group (p < or = 0.05). The sentence around it …Results Forskolin was shown to elicit favorable changes in body composition by significantly decreasing body fat percentage (BF%) and fat mass (FM) as determined by DXA compared with the placebo group (p < or = 0.05). 16Mucuna pruriensMucuna seed powder, 5 g a dayEarly evidence ### Mucuna pruriens For: Trying for a child, with the doctor A bean powder that carries L-dopa. In a small study it raised testosterone and improved sperm. #### What to do 1. Check the warnings: no MAO-inhibitor antidepressant. 2. 5 g of seed powder a day. 3. Judge it on your blood draw at 3 months. How much 5 g When Daily How long 3 months, then test What happened in the studies Testosterone up In a small study, mucuna seed powder raised testosterone and LH, and sperm count and motility recovered. ¹ Fertility and sterility, 2009\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out It carries L-dopa, a Parkinson’s medicine. Never with an MAO-inhibitor antidepressant, or within two weeks of stopping one. Ask a doctor first with glaucoma, melanoma or a skin growth not yet checked, a mental illness, diabetes, a stomach ulcer, an irregular heartbeat or a past heart attack, or if you take Parkinson’s medicine. Dizziness, nightmares and poor sleep are common. The science In detail Mucuna pruriens seed powder, 5 g a day, for 3 months, the trial’s dose. It carries L-dopa, the Parkinson’s medicine, so read the warnings first. Judge it on your own draw. Found **Testosterone and LH up.** A before-and-after study of 75 people on treatment, against 75 controls: mucuna seed powder raised testosterone and LH and cut prolactin, and sperm count and motility recovered. A second study, 5 g a day for 3 months, found better sperm count and motility. Why Its L-dopa becomes dopamine in the brain. Dopamine lowers prolactin, and LH, the brain’s signal to the testes, rose with it. Watch It carries L-dopa. Not with an MAO-inhibitor antidepressant, or within two weeks of stopping one. Ask a doctor first with glaucoma, a history of melanoma or an undiagnosed skin growth, a mental illness, diabetes, a stomach ulcer, an irregular heartbeat or past heart attack, or on Parkinson’s medicine. Dizziness, nightmares and trouble sleeping are common L-dopa effects. The doses the studies used**5 g** *of seed powder a day, for 3 months, in the trial* 5 g M. pruriens seed powder (5 g day(-1)) orally [PMID 18955292](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18955292/?ref=elonmuscular.com) #### The studies Treatment with M. pruriens significantly improved T, LH, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline levels [PMID 18973898](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18973898/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Mucuna pruriens improves male fertility by its action on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. · Fertility and sterility, 2009 The sentence around it Treatment with M. pruriens significantly improved T, LH, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline levels Treatment with M. pruriens significantly ameliorated psychological stress and seminal plasma lipid peroxide levels along with improved sperm count and motility. [PMID 18955292](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18955292/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Mucuna pruriens Reduces Stress and Improves the Quality of Semen in Infertile Men. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine, 2010 The sentence around it Treatment with M. pruriens significantly ameliorated psychological stress and seminal plasma lipid peroxide levels along with improved sperm count and motility. 17DHEADHEA, 50 mg or under, with a doctorEarly evidence ### DHEA For: Low draws, with a doctor A hormone the body turns into testosterone. In pooled trials, the number rose a little. #### What to do 1. Ask the doctor first: it is a hormone. 2. 50 mg a day or under, in the morning. 3. Judge it on the next draw, testosterone and estrogen both. How much 50 mg or under When Morning How long 12 weeks, then test Standard practice In the UK, prasterone (DHEA) is a controlled drug, listed in Schedule 4, Part II, of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. What happened in the studies A small rise Across 55 trial arms, testosterone rose after DHEA; in the subgroup that matches this page, by 21.36 ng/dL. ¹ Experimental gerontology, 2020\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out Acne, oily skin and hair loss. It raises estrogen too. Prostate or breast trouble: doctor first. The science In detail Early research, and a hormone: DHEA is made by the adrenal glands and turned into testosterone and estrogen. The pooled trials rose more above 50 mg a day. Stay at 50 mg or under, and only with a doctor watching your draws. Found **Testosterone up 21.36 ng/dL.** 42 trial reports, 55 arms: testosterone rose after DHEA in every subgroup. In the subgroup that matches this page, the rise was 21.36 ng/dL. The rise was bigger above 50 mg a day than at 50 or under. Why DHEA is a precursor: the body converts it into the sex hormones, so a dose tops up the raw material the testes and tissues use. Watch Androgenic side effects: acne, oily skin and hair loss. It raises estrogen as well as testosterone, so the draw checks both. With a hormone-sensitive condition, such as prostate or breast disease, not without a doctor. The doses the studies used**50 mg and under** *a rise of 19 ng/dL in the pooled trials* 50 mg and underOver 50 mg DHEA dosage of ˃50 mg/d compared to ≤50 mg/d (WMD: 57.96 ng/dl vs. 19.43 ng/dl) [PMID 33045358](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33045358/?ref=elonmuscular.com) #### The study testosterone level was significantly increased after DHEA administration (WMD: 28.02 ng/dl, 95% CI: 21.44-34.60, p = 0.00) [PMID 33045358](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33045358/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · A dose-response and meta-analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation on testosterone levels: perinatal prediction of randomized clinical trials. · Experimental gerontology, 2020 The sentence around it …Results Overall results from 42 publications (comprising 55 arms) demonstrated that testosterone level was significantly increased after DHEA administration (WMD: 28.02 ng/dl, 95% CI: 21.44-34.60, p = 0.00).… DHEA supplementation is effective for increasing testosterone levels, although the magnitude varies among different subgroups. The sentence around it …Conclusion DHEA supplementation is effective for increasing testosterone levels, although the magnitude varies among different subgroups. [The deep dive on this](https://elonmuscular.com/dhea/) ### With a doctor Everything in this group is a decision for you and a doctor who has your history. It is here so you walk in knowing what to ask for. 18Weight loss with a GLP-1 medicineA GLP-1 medicine, if you carry extra fatEarly evidence ### Weight loss with a GLP-1 medicine, if you carry extra fat For: Carrying a lot of extra fat A weekly shot from a doctor that turns hunger down, for a man with a lot of fat to lose. Testosterone rose as the weight came off. #### What to do 1. Only if you carry a lot of extra fat, on a prescription. 2. Start at 0.25 mg a week; step up every 4 weeks. 3. Keep lifting and keep the protein high. 4. Judge it on your next blood draw. How much 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg a week When Once a week How long Long term Standard practice Semaglutide starts at 0.25 mg once a week and steps up every 4 weeks to 1.7 or 2.4 mg. A step not tolerated waits 4 weeks. Heart rate is checked at regular intervals. Prescription only, in the UK and the US. What happened in the studies Testosterone up with the fat off In seven pooled studies, testosterone rose on a GLP-1 medicine as the weight came off. ¹ World journal of methodology, 2026\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out Boxed warning: thyroid tumors in rodents. Never with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2, or after a serious allergy to it. A neck lump, trouble swallowing or a hoarse voice that lasts: tell the doctor. The dose climbs every 4 weeks. Severe belly pain that will not go, maybe into the back, can be pancreatitis: stop and get seen. Gallstones, low sugar with insulin or other diabetes pills, kidney injury if sickness dries you out, and severe gut side effects. Allergic swelling of the face or throat: emergency. Diabetic eye disease can worsen. Your resting heart rate rises: report a racing heart at rest. Tell anyone sedating you. The tablet can raise levothyroxine levels. Never share a pen. Sudden vision loss in one eye: urgent help. Keep lifting and keep the protein up, or muscle goes with the fat. The science In detail If you carry a lot of extra fat and the draws are low, a GLP-1 medicine through a doctor takes the fat off faster than food alone, and testosterone rose with the loss. It is prescribed for obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition. The usual start is semaglutide 0.25 mg a week, stepping up every 4 weeks to 2.4 mg. Keep lifting and keep the protein up, so the loss is fat. The other options and the full plan: [Weight loss injections and surgery](https://elonmuscular.com/protocol-weight-medicine/). Found **Total testosterone up.** Seven studies pooled: on a GLP-1 medicine, total testosterone rose, and the erection score went up 2.73 points. In four studies, the testosterone the body can use rose too. Why Fat tissue turns testosterone into estrogen and turns down the brain's signal to the testes. Taking the fat off lifts that brake, and the number follows the weight down. Watch The label's boxed warning: thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents. So never with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2\. A lump in the neck, trouble swallowing, breathlessness or a hoarse voice that lasts: tell the doctor. Never after a serious allergic reaction to it. The dose steps up every 4 weeks. If a step is not tolerated, the next is delayed 4 weeks. Severe gut side effects, and not with severe gastroparesis. Pancreatitis: severe belly pain that will not go, sometimes into the back, means stop it and get seen. Gallstones and gallbladder inflammation. Low blood sugar with insulin or a sulfonylurea. Kidney injury when sickness or diarrhea dries you out. Anaphylaxis and swelling of the face or throat. Diabetic eye disease can get worse. The resting heart rate rises, so it is checked at regular intervals. A racing heart at rest: tell the doctor. Food can stay in the stomach under anesthesia or deep sedation: tell the team before any procedure. The tablet form raised levothyroxine levels 33%. Never share a pen. A sudden loss of vision, usually in one eye: get urgent help. Muscle goes with the fat unless you keep lifting and keep the protein high. #### The studies A significant increase was found regarding TT, SHBG, and FSH, MD 73.04, 95%CI: 16.91-129.17, MD 7.00, 95%CI: 1.71-12.30, and MD 0.46, 95%CI: 0.01-0.91 respectively. [PMID 42626264](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42626264/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Glucagon-like receptor-1 agonists and impotence: A meta-analysis. · World journal of methodology, 2026 The sentence around it A significant increase was found regarding TT, SHBG, and FSH, MD 73.04, 95%CI: 16.91-129.17, MD 7.00, 95%CI: 1.71-12.30, and MD 0.46, 95%CI: 0.01-0.91 respectively. GLP-1 RA use was significantly associated with increased bioavailable testosterone [PMID 41291666](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41291666/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Effect of GLP-1 agonists on testosterone levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis. · BMC urology, 2025 The sentence around it GLP-1 RA use was significantly associated with increased bioavailable testosterone (MD -57.18; 95% CI -87.60 to -26.76; p < 0.001; I 2 = 86%) and decreased HbA1c (MD 0.79; 95% CI 0.58 to 1.00; p < 0.001; I 2 = 0%).… 19Testosterone therapy, if the draws stay lowTestosterone therapy, when both draws stay lowStrong evidence ### Testosterone therapy, if the draws stay low For: Both draws low, with symptoms Testosterone from a doctor, only when two tests and the symptoms agree. It brings the number back into the normal range. #### What to do 1. Only after two low draws, the symptoms and the cause tests. 2. Trying for a child? Say so first: it stops sperm production. 3. Your doctor sets the dose and checks the blood count and the prostate. 4. Leg pain and swelling, or sudden breathlessness: stop and get seen. How much Doctor-set When As prescribed How long Ongoing Standard practice On the gel, blood pressure is measured periodically, and children keep off the skin where it went on. What happened in the studies Back into range In 17 trials, testosterone treatment improved sexual function against placebo. In 59 trials, fat fell and lean mass rose. ¹ The lancet. Healthy longevity, 2023\. The study is under The science, below. Watch out It can suppress sperm production. Blood pressure, red blood cells and the risk of blood clots can rise. It is ruled out by breast or prostate cancer, and the prostate is checked. It can worsen sleep apnea, cause swelling and grow breast tissue. It is not established for low testosterone that comes with age. In the biggest safety trial, an irregular heartbeat, kidney injury and lung clots were more common on it. Boxed warning on the gel: children and women must not touch the skin where it went on; cover it and wash your hands. It can be abused and can cause dependence. The science In detail If both draws stay low with the symptoms, after the habits and a search for the cause, testosterone therapy through a doctor puts the number back into the normal range. It shuts down sperm production, so trying for a child comes first. The full detail: [TRT](https://elonmuscular.com/protocol-testosterone-trt/). UK and US: prescription only. Found **Sexual function up 5.52 points.** Pooled data from 17 trials: testosterone treatment raised the sexual function score by 5.52 points against placebo. 59 trials: fat down and lean mass up. The biggest safety trial dosed a daily 1.62% gel to 350 to 750 ng/dL. Why It replaces the hormone directly, so the number rises whatever the cause. That is also why the testes' own output, and sperm, go quiet on it. Watch The label: sperm production can be suppressed. Red cell count and blood pressure can rise, and blood clots in the legs and lungs have been reported. The prostate is checked before and during treatment, and breast or prostate cancer rules it out. It can worsen sleep apnea, cause fluid retention and grow breast tissue. Its safety and benefit in age-related low testosterone are not established. On the gel, children and women must not touch the skin where it went on. In the biggest safety trial, atrial fibrillation, kidney injury and clots in the lung were more common on testosterone. It has been abused at high doses, with serious heart and mental-health harms, and the label lists dependence. The doses the studies used**1.62% gel, to 350 to 750 ng/dL** *the safety trial's dose: adjusted to the mid-normal range* 1.62% gel, to 350 to 750 ng/dL daily transdermal 1.62% testosterone gel (dose adjusted to maintain testosterone levels between 350 and 750 ng per deciliter) [PMID 37326322](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37326322/?ref=elonmuscular.com) #### The studies Compared with placebo, testosterone treatment increased 15-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) total score (mean difference 5·52 \[95% CI 3·95-7·10\] [PMID 37804846](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37804846/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · Symptomatic benefits of testosterone treatment in patient subgroups: a systematic review, individual participant data meta-analysis, and aggregate data meta-analysis. · The lancet. Healthy longevity, 2023 The sentence around it Compared with placebo, testosterone treatment increased 15-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) total score (mean difference 5·52 \[95% CI 3·95-7·10\]; τ 2 =1·17; n=1412) and IIEF-15 erectile function subscore (2·14 \[1·40-2·89\]; τ 2 =0·64; n=1436), reaching the minimal clinically important difference for mild erectile dysfunction.… TS was associated with a significant reduction in fat and with an increase in lean mass as well as with a reduction of fasting glycaemia and insulin resistance. [PMID 26537862](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26537862/?ref=elonmuscular.com) · THERAPY OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Testosterone supplementation and body composition: results from a meta-analysis study. · European journal of endocrinology, 2016 The sentence around it TS was associated with a significant reduction in fat and with an increase in lean mass as well as with a reduction of fasting glycaemia and insulin resistance. [The deep dive on this](https://elonmuscular.com/male-hrt/) ## How you'll know it's working Track Total and free testosterone How to track Two fasting blood draws between seven and ten in the morning, a few days apart, before you change anything. Then one every twelve weeks. When to judge The habits are judged on the week-12 draw. After that, each supplement runs alone and the next draw judges it. New Heroes The full library. Elon answers every weekday. [Join New Heroes.](https://elonmuscular.com/join/) Cancel anytime. ## Why this happens You have read that your testosterone is low, or you feel like it is: less drive, softer, tired by three. Before a prescription, the question is what your own body can do. ### The signal The pituitary sends LH, and LH tells the testicle to make testosterone. Short sleep, heavy drinking and belly fat all turn that signal down; opioids, steroid tablets and hormones from outside switch it off. Fix what turns it down and the testicle does the rest. ### The testicle's output The testicle builds testosterone from cholesterol, with zinc in its enzymes. Fat kept in the diet and enough zinc keep that line supplied. Tongkat ali and shilajit raised total testosterone in their trials: the output itself. ### The free fraction Most testosterone in the blood is bound to a carrier protein and does nothing. Boron loosened that grip within hours in its trial, so more of what you already make is free to work. 7 to 8 h sleep, regularBody fat downAerobic work, if heavyOver 4 US standarddrinks (7 UK units) aweekOpioids, steroid tabletsLH from the pituitarydrives the testicleZinc, if lowFat kept in the dietTongkat ali, shilajitThe testicle makes moreBoron 10 mgBinding protein loosensits gripYour owntestosteroneupYour owntestosteroneupYour owntestosteroneupYour owntestosteroneupThe signalThe testicle's outputThe free fraction7 to 8 h sleep, regularBody fat downAerobic work, if heavyOver 4 US standard drinks (7 UKunits) a weekOpioids, steroid tabletsLH from the pituitary drivesthe testicleZinc, if lowFat kept in the dietTongkat ali, shilajitThe testicle makes moreBoron 10 mgBinding protein loosens itsgripYour own testosterone upYour own testosterone upYour own testosterone upYour own testosterone upThe signalThe testicle's outputThe free fraction **Figure 2.** How the moves lead to your own testosterone up. The dotted orange boxes are the things to cut back. ## Week by week Why this order The habits first, then one supplement at a time, each judged on its own draw. 04812162024283236404448Weeks from the startThe two drawsThe habitsZinc, only if lowTongkat ali, aloneShilajit, aloneThen one more, aloneLow with symptoms: a doctorReview, week 12081624324048Weeks from the startThe two drawsThe habitsZinc, only if lowTongkat ali, aloneShilajit, aloneThen one more, aloneLow with symptoms: a doctorReview, week 12 **Figure 3.** The plan by week: navy bars keep going, orange bars are the moves you add, white bars are checks and decisions. The starburst marks the review at week 12. Swipe sideways to see the whole table | When | Add | Why then | | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Week 0 | Two morning draws, a few days apart, before you change anything. Total testosterone and SHBG both times; LH, FSH, HbA1c, ferritin and zinc on the first; prolactin if LH is low. The list of what you take. Both low with symptoms, or any warning sign: the doctor now. | The confirmed baseline every later move is judged against. | | Weeks 1 to 12 | The habits: sleep, drink, the belly with the fat kept in, and aerobic work if you carry extra weight. Zinc only if the draw said low. | They move the number most, and they go first so the draw can judge them. | | Week 12, the re-test | The same draw, same lab, same hour. This draw judges the habits. Up: keep going. Still low, with symptoms: the doctor, with all three numbers. | Twelve weeks is where the number shows. | | Weeks 12 to 24 | Tongkat ali, 200 mg a day. Nothing else new. Draw again at week 24. | One change at a time, so the draw can tell you what worked. | | Weeks 24 to 36 | If you want more: shilajit for ninety days, alone, then a draw. | The same rule: one change, one draw. | | After that | Ashwagandha, fenugreek or boron, one at a time, each for its trial's length, each with a draw after. Then, if you want the early research, magnesium, forskolin or mucuna, the same way. | The narrower claims last. | ## What to track One number: total and free testosterone, from a fasting morning draw. Two draws at the start, then one every twelve weeks, because the number swings by the day. The diary is how you know which move did it. Sleep and drinks every day; the supplement you are on; your energy out of ten. ### The diary, one week Swipe sideways to see the whole table | Day | Sleep (h) | Drinks | Supplement taken | Energy 1 to 10 | What changed | | --- | --------- | ------ | ---------------- | -------------- | ------------ | | Mon | | | | | | | Tue | | | | | | | Wed | | | | | | | Thu | | | | | | | Fri | | | | | | | Sat | | | | | | | Sun | | | | | | - Total testosterone: the target is a re-test above the baseline, on the same lab, at the same hour. - Free testosterone: calculated from the total and SHBG. Boron moves it when the total does not. - Zinc: test once; supplement only if low; stop after six months. - Warning signs, a doctor now: headaches, vision change, milky nipple discharge, breast growth. ## Doses at a glance The amounts the studies used, move by move. The label or your doctor sets your dose. Swipe sideways to see the whole table | Move | What the studies used | When | How long | Study | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [1\. Check what you take](#e1) | A list of what you take | Before the first draw | Once | [PMID 27532478](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27532478/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [2\. Trying for a child: tell the doctor](#e2) | Tell the doctor first | Before anything for testosterone | While trying | [PMID 39820213](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39820213/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [3\. Sleep](#e3) | 7 to 8 hours asleep | The same times, seven days | Always | [PMID 34801825](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34801825/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [4\. Body fat down](#e4) | Slow, steady fat loss | Until the belly is gone | 12 weeks, then the draw | [PMID 23482592](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23482592/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [5\. Keep the fat in the diet](#e5) | Fat kept in the diet | Every meal | For good | [PMID 33741447](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33741447/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [6\. Aerobic training, if you carry extra weight](#e6) | Regular aerobic training | Most weeks | 12 weeks, then the draw | [PMID 39467940](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39467940/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [7\. Drinking less without quitting](#e7) | Under four US standard drinks (seven UK units) a week | None most nights | Every week | [PMID 37159717](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37159717/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [8\. Tongkat Ali](#e8) | 200 mg standardized water extract | Daily | 1 month in the trial; judge it on a draw after 12 weeks alone | [PMID 36013514](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36013514/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [9\. Zinc](#e9) | About 30 mg a day as zinc gluconate | With food | 3 to 6 months, then stop | [PMID 36577241](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36577241/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [10\. Shilajit](#e10) | 250 mg, twice a day | Morning and evening | 90 days | [PMID 26395129](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26395129/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [11\. Ashwagandha](#e11) | 21 mg withanolide glycosides | Daily | 8 weeks in the trial; judge it on the next draw | [PMID 41740946](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41740946/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [12\. Fenugreek](#e12) | 500 mg seed extract | Daily | 12 weeks, then the draw | [PMID 32048383](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32048383/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [13\. Boron](#e13) | 10 mg a day | With breakfast | 1 week in the trial; judge it on a draw after 12 weeks alone | [PMID 21129941](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21129941/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [14\. Magnesium](#e14) | Up to 400 mg a day; 10 mg per kg (4.5 mg per lb) in the trial | Daily, with food | 4 weeks in the trial; judge on the draw | [PMID 20352370](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20352370/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [15\. Forskolin](#e15) | 250 mg of 10% extract, twice a day | Twice a day | 12 weeks in the trial | [PMID 16129715](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16129715/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [16\. Mucuna pruriens](#e16) | 5 g seed powder a day | Daily | 3 months in the trial | [PMID 18973898](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18973898/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [17\. DHEA](#e17) | 50 mg a day or under | Morning | 12 weeks, then the draw | [PMID 33045358](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33045358/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [18\. Weight loss with a GLP-1 medicine, if you carry extra fat](#e18) | Semaglutide 0.25 mg a week to start; 2.4 mg to keep | Once a week | Steps every 4 weeks; judge on the next draw | [PMID 42626264](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42626264/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | | [19\. Testosterone therapy, if the draws stay low](#e19) | Doctor-set, on the blood tests | Daily, as prescribed | Ongoing | [PMID 37804846](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37804846/?ref=elonmuscular.com) | ## Deep dives Each of these has its own page in the library, with its risks, its doses and every study. - [**Sleep**Seven to eight hours, at the same times](https://elonmuscular.com/sleep/) - [**Drinking less without quitting**Under four US standard drinks (seven UK units) a week; none most nights](https://elonmuscular.com/cutting-down-drinking/) - [**Tongkat Ali**200 mg a day of the standardized extract](https://elonmuscular.com/tongkat-ali-testosterone/) - [**Zinc**About 30 mg a day, only if your level is low](https://elonmuscular.com/zinc/) - [**Shilajit**250 mg twice a day for ninety days](https://elonmuscular.com/shilajit/) - [**Ashwagandha**A standardized extract daily, for eight weeks](https://elonmuscular.com/ashwagandha/) - [**Fenugreek**500 mg a day of a seed extract; judge on the next draw](https://elonmuscular.com/fenugreek/) - [**Boron**10 mg a day; frees what you have](https://elonmuscular.com/boron-testosterone/) - [**Magnesium**Magnesium, up to 400 mg a day](https://elonmuscular.com/magnesium/) - [**DHEA**Early research: DHEA, 50 mg or under, with a doctor](https://elonmuscular.com/dhea/) - [**Testosterone therapy, if the draws stay low**With a doctor: testosterone therapy, when both draws stay low](https://elonmuscular.com/male-hrt/) ## The studies Every study behind this page, newest first. - [Adult Male Hypogonadism: A Review.JAMA, 2026\. PMID 42207626](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42207626/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Hormonal Modulation with Withania somnifera: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized-controlled Trials.Planta medica, 2026\. PMID 41740946](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41740946/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Glucagon-like receptor-1 agonists and impotence: A meta-analysis.World journal of methodology, 2026\. PMID 42626264](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42626264/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Clinician's guide to the management of azoospermia induced by exogenous testosterone or anabolic-androgenic steroids.Asian journal of andrology, 2025\. PMID 39820213](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39820213/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Effect of GLP-1 agonists on testosterone levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC urology, 2025\. PMID 41291666](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41291666/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [The Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training on Testosterone Concentration in Individuals Who are Obese or Have Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Sports medicine - open, 2024\. PMID 39467940](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39467940/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Investigating the association between alcohol intake and male reproductive function: A current meta-analysis.Heliyon, 2023\. PMID 37159717](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37159717/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Correlation between serum zinc and testosterone: A systematic review.Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology, 2023\. PMID 36577241](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36577241/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Symptomatic benefits of testosterone treatment in patient subgroups: a systematic review, individual participant data meta-analysis, and aggregate data meta-analysis.The lancet. Healthy longevity, 2023\. PMID 37804846](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37804846/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Epidemiology of Male Hypogonadism.Endocrinology and metabolism clinics of North America, 2022\. PMID 35216709](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35216709/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Dietary Supplements as Source of Unintentional Doping.BioMed research international, 2022\. PMID 35496041](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35496041/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [*Eurycoma longifolia* (Jack) Improves Serum Total Testosterone in Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 2022\. PMID 36013514](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36013514/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Effect of partial and total sleep deprivation on serum testosterone in healthy males: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sleep medicine, 2021\. PMID 34801825](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34801825/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Low-fat diets and testosterone in men: Systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention studies.The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology, 2021\. PMID 33741447](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33741447/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Effect of fenugreek extract supplement on testosterone levels in male: A meta-analysis of clinical trials.Phytotherapy research, 2020\. PMID 32048383](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32048383/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [A dose-response and meta-analysis of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation on testosterone levels: perinatal prediction of randomized clinical trials.Experimental gerontology, 2020\. PMID 33045358](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33045358/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Reproductive Dysfunction from Exercise Training: The "Exercise-Hypogonadal Male Condition".Archivos de medicina del deporte, 2019\. PMID 32724267](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32724267/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study Examining the Hormonal and Vitality Effects of Ashwagandha ( Withania somnifera) in Aging, Overweight Males.American journal of men's health, 2019\. PMID 30854916](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30854916/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Testosterone Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2018\. PMID 29562364](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29562364/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Former Abusers of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids Exhibit Decreased Testosterone Levels and Hypogonadal Symptoms Years after Cessation: A Case-Control Study.PloS one, 2016\. PMID 27532478](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27532478/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Clinical evaluation of purified Shilajit on testosterone levels in healthy volunteers.Andrologia, 2016\. PMID 26395129](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26395129/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [THERAPY OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: Testosterone supplementation and body composition: results from a meta-analysis study.European journal of endocrinology, 2016\. PMID 26537862](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26537862/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Efficacy of Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia) on erectile function improvement: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Complementary therapies in medicine, 2015\. PMID 26365449](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26365449/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Body weight loss reverts obesity-associated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of endocrinology, 2013\. PMID 23482592](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23482592/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Comparative effects of daily and weekly boron supplementation on plasma steroid hormones and proinflammatory cytokines.Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology, 2011\. PMID 21129941](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21129941/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Effects of magnesium supplementation on testosterone levels of athletes and sedentary subjects at rest and after exhaustion.Biological trace element research, 2011\. PMID 20352370](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20352370/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Mucuna pruriens Reduces Stress and Improves the Quality of Semen in Infertile Men.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine, 2010\. PMID 18955292](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18955292/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Mucuna pruriens improves male fertility by its action on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis.Fertility and sterility, 2009\. PMID 18973898](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18973898/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [FenugreekDrugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), 2006\. PMID 30000838](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30000838/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Body composition and hormonal adaptations associated with forskolin consumption in overweight and obese men.Obesity research, 2005\. PMID 16129715](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16129715/?ref=elonmuscular.com) - [Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults.Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), 1996\. PMID 8875519](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8875519/?ref=elonmuscular.com) ## Words on this page Standardized mean difference (SMD) A way to put results measured on different scales onto one scale. About 0.2 is a small effect, 0.5 medium and 0.8 large. 95% CI The range the true result probably sits in. The narrower the range, the surer the result. Meta-analysis Many studies pooled into one result. RCT A randomized controlled trial: people put by chance on the treatment or on a dummy version. PMID A study's ID number in PubMed, the public index of medical research. Strong, moderate and early evidence Strong: many human trials agree. Moderate: human studies point the same way. Early: the first small human studies. Total and free testosterone Total is everything in the blood; most of it is bound to a carrier protein and inert. Free is the fraction that works. The draw on this page asks for both. SHBG Sex hormone binding globulin, the carrier protein. Less of it means more free testosterone from the same total. ng/dL and nmol/L The two units labs report testosterone in. Divide ng/dL by 28.8 to get nmol/L; 300 ng/dL is about 10.4 nmol/L. Hypogonadism The medical word for a testosterone that is low twice, with the symptoms. The guidelines diagnose on the number and the symptoms together, never the number alone. LH and FSH The two pituitary hormones that run the testicle: LH for testosterone, FSH for sperm. Testosterone from outside switches both off. Standardized mean difference (SMD) An effect in units of spread, so trials with different scales can be pooled. About 0.2 is small, 0.5 medium, 0.8 large. Unit of alcohol The measure the drinking studies count in: 10 mL, or 8 g, of pure alcohol. A single measure of spirits is one; a pint of ordinary beer is about two. Prolactin A pituitary hormone. Too much of it turns the testosterone signal down; the draw adds it when LH is low. HbA1c and ferritin HbA1c is average blood sugar over about three months; ferritin is the body's iron store. Diabetes and iron overload both sit behind some low results. Get the two draws, fix sleep, drink and the belly, then add one supplement at a time, each judged on its own draw. If the number stays low, walk into the doctor with the numbers. ## Not this? Try - [**Get Your Sex Drive Back**Low libido](https://elonmuscular.com/protocol-sex-drive/) - [**Do TRT Right**TRT](https://elonmuscular.com/protocol-testosterone-trt/) - [**Get Harder Erections**Erectile dysfunction](https://elonmuscular.com/protocol-stronger-erections/) When to see a doctor - Your first result is very low: under 150 ng/dL (5.2 nmol/L). - You have new headaches, or your vision or side vision has changed. - You have discharge from a nipple, milky or not. - Your breasts are growing, sore, or have a lump. - Your testes are small. - You are trying for a child. Tell the doctor before you take anything for testosterone. - Your LH comes back low or low-normal: prolactin is the next test, read by a doctor. - Both morning draws are under 300 ng/dL and you have the symptoms. I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. This is self-education. Every dose on this page is the dose a trial used, quoted from the trial; it is not a prescription. Talk to a physician who has your bloodwork before you change a medication and before anything in the With a doctor group. New Heroes The full library. Elon answers every weekday. [Join New Heroes.](https://elonmuscular.com/join/) Cancel anytime.