Testosterone 101 | Veedma's evidence-based men's health articles

Can low testosterone cause joint pain?

Dr. Susan Carter, MD: Endocrinologist & Longevity Expert

Dec 06, 2025 · 13 min read

Low testosterone can contribute to joint pain by increasing chronic inflammation and weakening the muscle, bone, and cartilage support that stabilizes joints, and studies have linked low levels to about double the risk of developing osteoarthritis. If aching knees or stiff shoulders come with fatigue, lower libido, or shrinking strength, it’s worth seeing how hormones ...

Does stress cause low testosterone in men? What science really shows

Dr. Alexander Grant, MD, PhD: Urologist & Men's Health Advocate

Dec 05, 2025 · 14 min read

Chronic psychological stress is linked to lower morning testosterone in men, largely because sustained HPA-axis cortisol output can suppress hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (GnRH/LH) signaling and reduce testicular testosterone production. Here’s how to recognize the stress–low T feedback loop and what actually helps break it. “Stress and testosterone talk to each other all day long. Short bursts of ...

Semen retention meaning and the science behind the hype

Dr. Alexander Grant, MD, PhD: Urologist & Men's Health Advocate

Dec 05, 2025 · 12 min read

Semen retention is deliberate abstinence from ejaculation, and research suggests it doesn’t produce a sustained testosterone boost—one study found a modest rise around day 7 of abstinence that drifted back toward baseline despite continued retention. Here’s what the evidence says about how “holding semen” affects hormones, mood, sex, and long‑term health. “Your body is not ...

Does testosterone cause hair loss? Separating hormonal fact from fiction

Dr. Alexander Grant, MD, PhD: Urologist & Men's Health Advocate

Dec 04, 2025 · 10 min read

Testosterone itself isn’t the direct cause of male pattern hair loss; the issue arises when 5‑alpha reductase converts it into DHT, which miniaturizes genetically androgen‑sensitive scalp follicles even when total testosterone is normal. With androgenetic alopecia affecting roughly 30%–50% of men by age 50, the real question is whether your follicles are “wired” to overreact—and ...

TRT before and after: What the clinical data actually promises for your body

Dr. Alexander Grant, MD, PhD: Urologist & Men's Health Advocate

Dec 04, 2025 · 13 min read

In men with symptoms and consistently low testosterone (total testosterone under ~350 ng/dL, or free testosterone under ~100 pg/mL), TRT that restores levels to the mid‑normal range (~400–700 ng/dL) can increase lean muscle, reduce fat mass, and improve sexual function, with modest improvements in mood and vitality. The viral “before and after” transformations are often ...