Does boron raise your testosterone?
The two randomised studies in men show no effect on testosterone; the only small study that did find a rise in men had no placebo group and just eight participants. If you want to improve your testosterone, boron currently has no reliable supporting evidence.
Two randomised controlled studies in male bodybuilders (19 participants combined) showed that 2.5 mg of boron per day for seven weeks did nothing for testosterone, muscle mass or strength compared with placebo. Both groups did improve, but that was due to the training itself, not to boron.
The only study that reported a significant rise in free testosterone in men used 10 mg per day in just eight men with no placebo group. After one week, the protein that binds testosterone and renders it inactive dropped significantly, leaving more active testosterone available in the blood. Without a comparison group, this result is hard to evaluate: it may be due to chance.
In women the picture is equally divided. An early study in postmenopausal women observed a noticeable rise in testosterone after switching from a very low intake to 3 mg of boron per day. However, a replication study with a comparable design found no effect whatsoever on those same hormones. The researchers suspected that the overly strict baseline diet had muddied the results, but that does not resolve the contradiction.
At higher doses (10 mg/day) in healthy men, oestradiol rose clearly, whereas testosterone showed only a non-significant upward trend. All in all, the evidence consists of contradictory results, small groups and missing placebo controls. Boron as a testosterone booster currently has no solid foundation.
Sources: two RCTs in male athletes (PMID 7889885, 8508192), a small clinical study without a control group in men (PMID 21129941), two studies in postmenopausal women with opposing outcomes (PMID 3678698, 8329361), a clinical study at a higher dose (PMID 9197924) and a review (PMID 10376277).
Is testosterone important for women?
Testosterone is a physiologically relevant hormone for women, with the strongest evidence for sexual desire and sexual function. If you have symptoms consistent with low testosterone levels, it is worth discussing this with your doctor, including the choice of skin-based delivery.
Does using testosterone help if you are over 50, and can it be dangerous?
Testosterone can be worthwhile for men over 50 with a medically confirmed testosterone deficiency, but it is not a treatment for everyone who is getting older: the benefits are real, the risks are too, and a doctor must establish the indication.
Does fadogia agrestis increase your testosterone?
Do not use it. There is barely any human evidence that fadogia agrestis raises testosterone, it is not authorised for sale in the EU, and animal studies show damage to kidneys, liver and testes.
Does testosterone decline in men with age, and should you do something about it?
Testosterone really does decline in men with age. TRT is well supported only in men with established hypogonadism and symptoms, primarily for sexual function. If you have symptoms, always have the underlying cause investigated first.
Can exercise really improve your hormone levels as you get older?
Yes, exercise demonstrably raises several hormone levels in people over 40. The strongest practical benefit lies in muscle preservation: strength training is the most effective approach for that, regardless of which type of training you choose.
Does tongkat ali actually work for your testosterone?
Do not use it, even though it probably does raise your testosterone. The European food safety authority EFSA found signs that tongkat ali can damage your DNA, precisely at the common 200 mg per day, and it is not authorised in the EU and banned from sale.