Doctors are warning that a flood of misinformation on social media is prompting men to seek testosterone therapy through NHS clinics when they don’t actually need it — placing additional strain on already overstretched healthcare systems, The Guardian reports.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is intended only for men with a clinically confirmed hormone deficiency, diagnosed based on symptoms and repeated blood tests.

However, viral videos on TikTok and Instagram are reframing blood testing as a way to obtain testosterone as a kind of “life supplement,” promoting the hormone as a solution for low energy, poor concentration, and reduced libido.

Doctors caution that unnecessary testosterone use suppresses the body’s natural hormone production and can lead to infertility, blood clots, cardiovascular problems, and mood disorders.

The growing popularity of such services online is now being felt in clinics. Professor Channa Jayasena of Imperial College London notes that specialists are seeing an increasing number of men who, after undergoing private blood tests promoted on social media, are being wrongly advised to start testosterone therapy.

While advertising prescription drugs is prohibited in the UK, some influencers are partnering with private clinics, offering discounts and free tests to encourage men to check their testosterone levels — and potentially start therapy. The cost of such programs is estimated at £1,800–£2,200 for the first year, including medication, monitoring, and consultations.

Once intended only for a small number of patients with a medically confirmed deficiency, testosterone therapy is now being marketed as a lifestyle or performance enhancement tool, easily accessible through online clinics and home testing, bypassing the traditional healthcare system.