Testosterone replacement is taking over the men’s health conversation… again.
Fountain of Youth
A vital hormone, testosterone affects men’s fertility, libido, body composition, and overall well-being.
Medicine x marketing. Testosterone boosters have become a multi-billion-dollar industry. Yet, many experts
question the rise of unregulated supplements and widely accessible hormone prescriptions.
- The testosterone therapy market is expected to reach $3.3B by 2027.
- Between 2003–2013, testosterone use quadrupled among 18- to 45-year-old men in the US.
Clinically diagnosed, hypogonadism is a condition in which the body doesn’t produce enough testosterone.
Conventional wisdom says testosterone declines naturally with age, dropping about 1.6% per year starting in the mid-30s. But,
scientists and
entrepreneurs are pushing back on this notion.
Citing lifestyle factors, including smoking, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and
environmental toxins, many are quick to point out that the decline is unnatural and largely preventable.
A step further, optimizing testosterone levels has become part of the high-performance
movement, taken to enhance longevity, energy, and aesthetics.
Cashing in. During the mid-2000s, pharmaceutical companies aggressively marketed testosterone treatments with TV ads touting an elixir of youth.
A successful campaign, testosterone prescriptions grew 300% in the first half of the decade, with drugmakers notching billions in sales.
A red flag, only a fraction of those men were diagnosed with hypogonadism. Worse, many others never had their hormone levels tested at all.
In 2014, the FDA
warned against these treatments, resulting in thousands of lawsuits claiming drug manufacturers failed to disclose serious side effects.
Mail-Order TRT
Destigmatizing sensitive health issues from ED to hair loss, companies like hims and Roman ushered in a new era of men’s wellness.
Following their lead, telehealth startups are moving prescription testosterone treatments into the mainstream.
The latest: Maximus raised $15M in a Series A led by Founders Fund’s Keith Rabois, along with 8VC, Gaingels, and Dave Asprey of Bulletproof, among others.
The company tackles men’s hormonal and sexual health issues with a combination of prescribed medication, at-home tests, 1:1 coaching, and digital community.
More specifically, Maximus offers enclomiphene pills to naturally boost testosterone levels. Dubbed the King Protocol, it’s billed as a safer alternative to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Tele-test. Following a familiar
playbook, companies are repackaging TRT as a convenient solution to anti-aging and health optimization.
- Opt Health uses telehealth and wearables to deliver TRT.
- Hone Health created a membership-based online hormone clinic.
- Founded by Tony Robbins and Dr. Peter Diamandis, Lifeforce offers a variety of personalized hormone protocols.
A host of other companies offer digital visits and prescriptions, in addition to countless over-the-counter
supplements claiming testosterone support.
Although, for now, in-person clinics like Ageless Men’s Health and Low-T Center dominate the TRT space, with locations across the US.
Looking Ahead
Promoting healthy hormone levels is important, as is removing barriers to care.
But, making prescription meds easily accessible via virtual visits has its
drawbacks, especially when it comes to
TRT.
As endocrinologist Dr. Richard Quinton told the
NYT, these treatments are intended for hypogonadal patients, “not the overweight businessman whose erections aren’t as good as they used to be.”
Similarly, urologist Dr. Charles Welliver said patients under 40 rarely need testosterone therapy, but they often seek it out to improve muscularity.
A slippery slope, with a
growing number of teen boys experiencing an obsessive drive for muscularity known as “
bigorexia,” promoting a synthetically enhanced body image poses serious risks.
Punchline: With TRT moving into the mainstream, guys will line up to boost their levels. But, in a society obsessed with instant gratification, there’s a risk that seeking treatment for low T becomes the default. Vetting patients and advocating for healthy habits, brands will have to carefully separate want from need.