Author: Daniel Kelly, Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry, Sheffield Hallam University

Shilajit, Himalayan rock ooze. StockImageFactory.com/Shutterstock.com Shilajit is the latest supplement marketed online as a “natural testosterone booster”. Promoted by influencers, wellness brands and biohacking communities, this sticky black resin is advertised as a way to increase testosterone, improve energy and enhance male vitality. Shilajit is a tar-like substance formed over centuries from decomposed plant material […]

Pop-up clinics and glossy adverts are selling men a new message: it is time to “check your T” (shorthand for testosterone levels). The idea is not about treating medical problems but about “optimising” energy, focus and masculinity. With online services offering home blood tests and fast-track access to treatment, testosterone therapy has shifted from specialist […]

A case that first appeared in a medical journal several years ago has recently resurfaced in the media, highlighting an unexpected risk of hormone therapies: a baby girl in Sweden developed unusually large genitals after lying on her father’s bare chest, accidentally exposed to his testosterone gel. The incident is a reminder that hormone treatments, […]