Exclusive | Young men are injecting testosterone to be more masculine without getting doctors involved

For years, Aiden* didn’t think his naturally skinny figure represented who he was. Athletic but slight, he felt there was a disconnect between how he looked and how he wanted to feel in his body.After turning 30, he decided to do something about it, including eating a protein-heavy diet, prioritizing sleep and working out with a trainer.

He made progress, but his gains plateaued.“As I got older, I noticed my testosterone or general energy levels felt lower, and I wanted a boost to help me reach the next level in the gym,” he told The Post.His solution? Testosterone injections — sourced without a prescription.While testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can be an important tool for men with clinically diagnosed testosterone deficiency, Aiden never had his levels checked by a doctor.Instead, he believed his T levels had declined based on how he was feeling — and didn’t want a medical professional to tell him otherwise.“I haven’t spoken to a doctor because I didn’t want to be talked out of it, as I had my mind set on it,” he said.

“I just researched a lot online.”After three hormone cycles over two years, Aiden reports that the injections give him “more energy, more focus, more motivation, more strength and faster recovery than what I felt at my natural baseline level.” His story isn’t unique: Young men without diagnosed testosterone deficiencies are increasingly taking testosterone to accelerate their gains, a trend known as “testmaxxing.”But while synthetic hormones may seem like a harmless way to supercharge success, the trend poses serious risks and speaks to a growing culture of physical optimization and the pursuit of “masculinity.”“Testosterone is the main androgen (the male sex hormone) produced by the testes,” explained Dr.Sam Saling, a general practitioner.

Both men and women produce it, but in adult men, “it supports libido and erectile function, muscle strength and mass, bone density, sperm production, and re...