Does testosterone therapy cause or increase the risk of prostate cancer?

Current evidence does not support a link between testosterone replacement therapy and new development of prostate cancer. Many studies have looked at older men with low testosterone who were treated with testosterone therapy. These men did not have higher rates of prostate cancer than men who did not receive testosterone therapy.

What may happen in some cases is that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels go up after taking testosterone therapy. These higher PSA levels may lead to more prostate biopsies. And that may lead to increased detection of prostate cancer that otherwise might have gone unnoticed.

Testosterone therapy often comes in injections, pellets, patches or gels. It can improve the signs and symptoms of low testosterone. Low testosterone is a condition called hypogonadism. Symptoms often include fatigue, loss of muscle and bone density, weight gain and changes in sexual function. These symptoms can have a big impact on quality of life.

If you don't have low testosterone, taking testosterone isn't recommended. The main reason is because taking testosterone doesn't seem to do much. For example, the improvement in sexual function from testosterone therapy is linked more to bringing testosterone levels up to the standard range rather than to the treatment itself.