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Is Testosterone Legal?

Testosterone abuse among athletes is clearly a problem. Yet there are many legal uses of prescribed testosterone for both men and women. Sometimes this relates to hormone levels, but it has other uses too.

  1. Definition

    • Testosterone is a hormone that is found in both men and women; men have far more than women do.

    Legal Use in Men

    • Some men have naturally lower levels of testosterone than the average. When this descends to abnormal levels, they might be given testosterone. A male contraceptive using testosterone is also being developed.

    Legal Use in Women

    • Testosterone is one of the drugs used to treat menopause-related issues. It can also be used to treat symptoms of terminal breast cancer.

    Legal Use in Sex Transition

    • Biological females who are transitioning to males are often prescribed testosterone.

    Illegal Use

    • Athletes and bodybuilders have used testosterone illegally to enhance muscle strength. 80 percent of positive illegal drug tests among athletes are due to testosterone and two related drugs.

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