Side Effects of Testosterone Boosters

Testosterone is a hormone that is responsible for the growth of male sex characteristics. Although it is mainly present in men, testosterone can also be found in small quantities in women. Testosterone is necessary for bone and muscle production, and also to increase libido. Many times, the testosterone level in the body goes down because there is less production of the hormone in the body. In such cases, doctors prescribe testosterone boosters to the concerned person.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone

A person with a low testosterone may experience certain changes in his or her body. He or she may have mood swings, gain weight, and may also experience a decline in bone density and muscle mass, low sexual desire, and sometimes it can also lead to impotence in men. It also leads to depression, and tiredness and weakness in the muscles. When such cases occur, people take testosterone boosters. It is common in athletes to take testosterone boosters, as it helps in improving their performance. Even bodybuilders are known to use testosterone boosters as nutritional supplements, to increase their muscle mass and size. They are also effective for treating erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems.

Testosterone Booster Side Effects

The side effects of testosterone boosters depend on the type of booster that a person takes. They are available in two types, viz. one which is legally prescribed and used, and the other which is illegal. While testosterone boosters that include creatine are safe for the health of a person, one must totally avoid the use of anabolic steroids, which may give immediate results, but may have many side effects.

On Men
Even if testosterone boosters are used in minimal amounts for legal reasons, it is not always safe and does have many side effects. When a person over-indulges in the intake of testosterone boosters, it can cause oily skin, which further leads to acne. It is also seen that men who take these supplements may lose their hair at a faster rate, resulting into baldness.

Intake of testosterone boosters have reported to cause harmful effects to the health of individuals. It is seen as a reason for a person developing diabetes. If a person consumes too much of testosterone boosters, it can also cause damage to the liver, and sometimes, it can even cause liver cancer. It may also lead to kidney failure in certain human beings. Sometimes, it can also lead to an enlarged prostate and cause pain while urinating.

If a person has been using testosterone boosters for a long period of time, it may happen that the body may not be able to produce testosterone naturally due to the reduction of the testicles.

On Women
Testosterone boosters can also have severe side-effects on women. If the level of testosterone increases in the body of a woman, she may develop male sex characteristics, like facial and body hair, a deep voice like that of a man, and sometimes, an enlarged clitoris. Women using testosterone boosters also are at a risk of having breast cancer.

Natural Alternatives
Testosterone boosters, whether they contain creatine or are anabolic steroids, are artificial supplements and can affect the natural functioning of the body. Hence, it would be better if a person would opt for a safer method, like natural testosterone boosters. The natural way of increasing the production of testosterone in the body is to follow a proper diet and exercise routine. Intake of certain food products can increase testosterone levels, like eggs, cabbage, oysters, chicken, garlic, beef, etc. One can also consume certain herbs like eurycoma longifolia and tribulus terrestris, to enhance testosterone production in the body.

It is true that testosterone boosters have many positive effects, and are necessary if the problem is very serious. However, it is better to stay away from such substances that can affect a person's health adversely.