Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Why Is There A Rise In Testosterone Prescriptions In UK?

Testosterone prescription in the UK have surged in recent years. Reels and TikTok videos with medical practitioner talking about testosterone shots, how to take it, and the do's and dont's are easily found on social media platform. Many doctors, patients and private clinics are debating on whether the hormone is genuine treatment for low libido or just a wellness trend. 

As per the NHS Business Authority data compiled by the Care Quality Commission and reported by the BBC, testosterone prescriptions increased by 135 per cent between 2021 and 2024. This spike comes when people in Britain are also having less sex than the previous generation, noted a BBC report. This has raised an important question. Are hormones the missing link or are there deeper social changes at play?

<h2>Hormone Therapy: Is It Need Of The Hour?</h2>

In the 1990s, Alan Reeves performed in front of thousands as part of the male dance troupe Dreamboys and even appeared in the Spice Girls film Spice World. But in his thirties, his energy dipped and his libido faded.

“I just didn't feel right,” Reeves told the BBC.

Now 52 and working as a fitness and lifestyle coach in London, he began testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, and says the difference was dramatic. He described feeling transformed from “a grumpy old man” to someone who felt decades younger.

His relationship had been struggling before treatment. “We were going without sex for three, four months at a time. I just wasn't interested,” he said in the BBC report, adding that such changes can damage relationships.

Women are increasingly seeking treatment too. Menopause blogger Rachel Mason told the BBC the hormone was “amazing” for her concentration, energy and libido.

There is a broader trend in the rise of prescribed testosterone. The long running National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles documented a steady decline in sexual frequency over decades. People aged 16 to 44 reported sex about five times a month in 1990, by 2010, the number had dropped to three times. Researchers further predict a downward trend to continue. 

Soazing Clifton, academic director of the survey, told the BBC that the fall appears across almost every demographic, including couples living together.

“No data we have so far can really tell us with any confidence why, as a population, we are no longer having sex as much,” she said.

Experts point to multiple factors. GP and sex therapist Dr Ben Davis said modern pressures play a role. Stress, loneliness, depression and constant digital distraction all reduce desire.

Another explanation is biological. Consultant urologist Professor Geoffrey Hackett told the BBC testosterone levels in men are declining, partly linked to obesity, diabetes and sedentary lifestyles. Lower hormone levels increase the likelihood of low libido, though not everyone with low testosterone experiences sexual problems.

For some patients, the results feel life changing.

Melissa Green, 43, said the treatment “gave me my life back” and improved both energy and intimacy in her marriage after she sought help from a private clinic, according to the BBC.

But not everyone benefits. Cheryl O’Malley stopped taking testosterone after a year due to intense anger and excessive sexual arousal. “I felt out of control,” she said in the BBC report.

Doctors note that side effects can include acne, hair growth and weight gain in women, and mood swings, infertility and prolonged erections in men.

The growing demand has fuelled a booming private clinic market. Some NHS clinicians are concerned.

Dr Paula Briggs described it to the BBC as a “gravy train”, saying patients may pay for treatments they do not need and warning that advertising has “blown everything out of proportion”.

Private providers disagree. GP Jeff Foster told the BBC the private sector is filling a care gap because the NHS lacks capacity to diagnose large numbers of men who may have low testosterone.

Guidelines also differ. Some professional bodies recommend treatment below 12 nmol per litre while NHS thresholds can be lower, leading some patients to seek private prescriptions after being refused treatment publicly.

Despite its popularity, doctors caution that TRT is not a universal fix.

“For some, medication can be really transformative,” Davis told the BBC. “But there are so many factors that play into a low libido and testosterone is not the only answer.”

Even Reeves agrees. After seven years on therapy, he says lifestyle changes matter just as much.

Otherwise, he said, taking testosterone alone is like installing a Ferrari engine in a worn out car.

As prescriptions continue to rise, the debate reflects a broader question about modern health. Is declining desire a medical problem, a social shift, or a mix of both? The answer may determine whether testosterone therapy becomes mainstream medicine or remains a controversial shortcut to vitality.

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A Rise In Testosterone Prescriptions In UK

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Testosterone prescription in the UK have surged in recent years. Reels and TikTok videos with medical practitioner talking about testosterone shots, how to take it, and the do's and dont's are easily found on social media platform. Many doctors, patients and private clinics are debating on whether the hormone is genuine treatment for low libido or just a wellness trend. As per the NHS Business Authority data compiled by the Care Quality Commission and reported by the BBC, testosterone prescriptions increased by 135 per cent between 2021 and 2024. This spike comes when people in Britain are also having less sex than the previous generation, noted a BBC report. This has raised an important question. Are hormones the missing link or are there deeper social changes at play?Hormone Therapy: Is It Need Of The Hour?In the 1990s, Alan Reeves performed in front of thousands as part of the male dance troupe Dreamboys and even appeared in the Spice Girls film Spice World. But in his thirties, his energy dipped and his libido faded.“I just didn't feel right,” Reeves told the BBC.Now 52 and working as a fitness and lifestyle coach in London, he began testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, and says the difference was dramatic. He described feeling transformed from “a grumpy old man” to someone who felt decades younger.His relationship had been struggling before treatment. “We were going without sex for three, four months at a time. I just wasn't interested,” he said in the BBC report, adding that such changes can damage relationships.Women are increasingly seeking treatment too. Menopause blogger Rachel Mason told the BBC the hormone was “amazing” for her concentration, energy and libido.Sex Drive Is Fading In BritainThere is a broader trend in the rise of prescribed testosterone. The long running National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles documented a steady decline in sexual frequency over decades. People aged 16 to 44 reported sex about five times a month in 1990, by 2010, the number had dropped to three times. Researchers further predict a downward trend to continue. Soazing Clifton, academic director of the survey, told the BBC that the fall appears across almost every demographic, including couples living together.“No data we have so far can really tell us with any confidence why, as a population, we are no longer having sex as much,” she said.Experts point to multiple factors. GP and sex therapist Dr Ben Davis said modern pressures play a role. Stress, loneliness, depression and constant digital distraction all reduce desire.Another explanation is biological. Consultant urologist Professor Geoffrey Hackett told the BBC testosterone levels in men are declining, partly linked to obesity, diabetes and sedentary lifestyles. Lower hormone levels increase the likelihood of low libido, though not everyone with low testosterone experiences sexual problems.For some patients, the results feel life changing.Melissa Green, 43, said the treatment “gave me my life back” and improved both energy and intimacy in her marriage after she sought help from a private clinic, according to the BBC.But not everyone benefits. Cheryl O’Malley stopped taking testosterone after a year due to intense anger and excessive sexual arousal. “I felt out of control,” she said in the BBC report.Doctors note that side effects can include acne, hair growth and weight gain in women, and mood swings, infertility and prolonged erections in men.A Boom In Private IndustryThe growing demand has fuelled a booming private clinic market. Some NHS clinicians are concerned.Dr Paula Briggs described it to the BBC as a “gravy train”, saying patients may pay for treatments they do not need and warning that advertising has “blown everything out of proportion”.Private providers disagree. GP Jeff Foster told the BBC the private sector is filling a care gap because the NHS lacks capacity to diagnose large numbers of men who may have low testosterone.Guidelines also differ. Some professional bodies recommend treatment below 12 nmol per litre while NHS thresholds can be lower, leading some patients to seek private prescriptions after being refused treatment publicly.Despite its popularity, doctors caution that TRT is not a universal fix.“For some, medication can be really transformative,” Davis told the BBC. “But there are so many factors that play into a low libido and testosterone is not the only answer.”Even Reeves agrees. After seven years on therapy, he says lifestyle changes matter just as much.Otherwise, he said, taking testosterone alone is like installing a Ferrari engine in a worn out car.As prescriptions continue to rise, the debate reflects a broader question about modern health. Is declining desire a medical problem, a social shift, or a mix of both? The answer may determine whether testosterone therapy becomes mainstream medicine or remains a controversial shortcut to vitality.