Testosterone supplementation did not show consistent benefit for cardiovascular risk , sexual function , mood and behavior , or cognition .
Studies that examined clinical cardiovascular endpoints have not favored testosterone therapy over placebo .
Testosterone is ineffective in treating erectile dysfunction and controlled trials did not show a consistent effect on libido .
Testosterone supplementation consistently increased muscle strength but did not have beneficial effects on physical function .
Most studies on mood-related endpoints found no beneficial effect of testosterone treatment on personality , psychological well-being , or mood .
Testosterone products are recommended by some prescribers in response to a diagnosis or presumption of " low testosterone " ( low-T ) for cardiovascular health , sexual function , muscle weakness or wasting , mood and behavior , and cognition .
Testosterone Versus Fluoxetine for Depression and Fatigue in HIV/AIDS: A Placebo-Controlled Trial
Background : While testosterone 's ameliorative effects on depressive disorders and fatigue in HIV-positive patients have been suggested in the literature , no placebo-controlled trial selecting for depressive disorders and including a st and ard antidepressant has been conducted . Accordingly , this double-blind trial was design ed to determine whether testosterone , as well as fluoxetine , is superior to placebo for depression , fatigue , or both . Method : One hundred twenty-three men with HIV/AIDS with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fourth Edition depressive disorder entered the 8-week trial and were r and omized to testosterone ( up to 400 mg IM testosterone cypionate biweekly ) , fluoxetine ( up to 60 mg/d ) , or double placebo . Outcome variables were the Clinical Global Impressions Scale for mood and for fatigue , the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression , and the Chalder Fatigue Scale . Results : Ninety men completed the trial . In intention-to-treat analyses , mood response rates were 54 % , 47 % , and 44 % for fluoxetine , testosterone , and placebo , respectively . Among completers , mood response rates were 70 % , 57 % , and 53 % , respectively ; in neither analysis were differences between treatments statistically significant . In contrast , testosterone was superior to fluoxetine and placebo for completers regarding fatigue . In intention-to-treat analysis , response rates were 39 % , 56 % , and 42 % for fluoxetine , testosterone , and placebo , respectively , and for study completers , 41 % , 63 % , and 52 % , respectively , ( P < 0.05 ) , Conclusion : While over 50 % of patients treated with testosterone reported improved mood , this rate was not statistically superior to placebo . Thus , our findings do not support prescription of testosterone as a first-line treatment for depressive disorders  in HIV-positive men . However , if vali date d in additional studies , testosterone may be a useful option for medically ill men experiencing significant fatigue as well as depression
Testosterone supplementation did not show consistent benefit for cardiovascular risk , sexual function , mood and behavior , or cognition .
Studies that examined clinical cardiovascular endpoints have not favored testosterone therapy over placebo .
Testosterone is ineffective in treating erectile dysfunction and controlled trials did not show a consistent effect on libido .
Testosterone supplementation consistently increased muscle strength but did not have beneficial effects on physical function .
Most studies on mood-related endpoints found no beneficial effect of testosterone treatment on personality , psychological well-being , or mood .
Testosterone products are recommended by some prescribers in response to a diagnosis or presumption of " low testosterone " ( low-T ) for cardiovascular health , sexual function , muscle weakness or wasting , mood and behavior , and cognition .