Having been in and around the fitness industry for many years now, I have seen just about every performance enhancing drug (and their effects) you’ve ever heard of and then some.

 

And yet I have never taken any. 

There may well become a time in my older years where I consider it for health purposes and one of those could be TRT.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) has become increasingly popular for men wanting to reclaim their energy, build muscle, and feel like themselves again.

And for good reason — when done properly, TRT can improve strength, focus, libido, mood, and even bone density.

But if you’re considering it (or already on it), and you also care about fertility, there’s something critical you need to know: TRT can significantly reduce your sperm count.

Here’s how it works.

When you take testosterone from outside the body, your brain thinks you’ve got more than enough.

In response, it stops producing two key hormones — luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) — both of which are essential for sperm production in the testes.

Without them, sperm production can plummet, often to zero. It’s no surprise that TRT was once being trialled as a form of male contraception!

This matters even if kids aren’t on your radar right now. If you’re hoping to stay fertile, it’s important to discuss options with a specialist.

Alternatives like Clomid or hCG therapy can stimulate your body’s own testosterone production without shutting down sperm.

And what about women? While testosterone plays a much smaller role in female physiology, high levels — either from supplementation or naturally, like in PCOS — can disrupt ovulation, affect insulin sensitivity, and even reduce egg quality!

That said, when carefully prescribed in microdoses, testosterone has shown promise in women struggling with fatigue, low libido, or hormonal changes in perimenopause.

In short, TRT isn’t the enemy — it’s a powerful tool.

But like any tool, it needs to be used wisely.

If fertility matters to you or your partner, make sure your hormone strategy is aligned with your long-term goals.

Your coach,

Rupert Hambly