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 ...