What Are the Side Effects of Taking Testosterone Pills?

Low testosterone in men can cause a variety of symptoms including fatigue and sexual problems. Testosterone pills can treat this, but may cause shrinking testicles, enlarged breasts, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, among other symptoms.

Testosterone is a type of androgen, which is a hormone the body makes naturally. Androgens such as testosterone are often called "male hormones," but both men and women have androgens though men normally have much higher levels of androgens than women.

In men, testosterone pills are used to treat symptoms of low testosterone (sometimes called low T), such as:

• Feeling tired, especially at the end of the day
• Loss of interest in sex (low libido)
• Depression

After a year or more of low T, symptoms can include:

• Loss of muscle
• Loss of bone strength
• Loss of facial or body hair
• Enlarged breast tissue (gynecomastia)

Low testosterone in men can be caused by: 

• Normal aging
• Injury or infection of the testicles 
• Cancer treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy for prostate cancer
• Pituitary gland disorders
• Liver and kidney disease
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• AIDS
• Certain rare genetic problems

In women, use of testosterone pills (androgen therapy) is limited. Some uses for testosterone in women may include:

• Sexual dysfunction

Other uses in women that have not been proven include: 

• Hot flashes
• For cognitive function and mood
• To improve bone mineral density

Side effects of testosterone pills in men may include:

• Acne
• Fluid retention (edema)
• Increased red blood cells
• High blood pressure
• Chest pain
• Blurred vision
• Muscle pain
• Decreased testicle size
• Decreased sperm count
• Infertility
• Breast enlargement
• Increased urination
• Increased cholesterol levels
• Worsening of existing sleep apnea
• Blood clots (rare)
• Possible increased risk of heart attack or stroke 

Side effects of testosterone pills in women may include:

• Acne
• Increased male-pattern hair growth (hirsutism)
• Scalp hair loss
• Deepened voice
• Liver problems 
• Decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations (the “good” cholesterol), which could have a negative impact on cardiovascular risk
• Abnormal uterine bleeding
• Decreased breast size
• Clitoromegaly (abnormal enlargement of clitoris)
• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Possible increased risk of breast cancer (needs more investigation)