ReviewEuropean journal of endocrinology2011
Onset of effects of testosterone treatment and time span until maximum effects are achieved.
Review in European journal of endocrinology, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT01758029 (Satisfaction and Quality of Life of Men and Spouses of Hypogonadal Men Treated With Injectable Testosterone Undecanoate), which is not on this map. Cited by 70 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Satisfaction and Quality of Life of Men and Spouses of Hypogonadal Men Treated With Injectable Testosterone Undecanoate
Who cites it
70 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 226 citations in OpenAlex.
- An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of testosterone replacement therapy on erectile function and prostate.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2024Pooled it
- Association of Testosterone Treatment With Alleviation of Depressive Symptoms in Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA psychiatry · 2019Pooled it
- Metabolic effects of testosterone replacement therapy on hypogonadal men with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Asian journal of andrologyPooled it
- Bioelectrical impedance phase angle is associated with physical performance before but not after simulated multi-stressor military operations.Physiological reports · 2023Trial
- Testosterone replacement in young male cancer survivors: A 6-month double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial.PLoS medicine · 2019Trial
- Trial
- Increased sexual desire with exogenous testosterone administration in men with obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized placebo-controlled study.Andrology · 2016Trial
- Effect of long-acting testosterone undecanoate treatment on quality of life in men with testosterone deficiency syndrome: a double blind randomized controlled trial.Asian journal of andrology · 2012Trial
- Diagnostic challenge of pulmonary embolism during testosterone replacement therapy for primary hypogonadism.JCEM case reports · 2026Article
- Update on testosterone deficiency and therapeutic options for testosterone replacement therapy.Nature reviews. Urology · 2026Review
- Rethinking Testosterone Deficiency Thresholds: A Call to Integrate Organ-Specific Needs and Circadian Influences.The world journal of men's health · 2026Article
- Clinical practice recommendations for the diagnosis and management of nephropathic cystinosis.Nature reviews. Nephrology · 2026Review
- Divergent long-term trends in semen quality and reproductive hormones across the COVID-19 pandemic era in infertile men: an age-stratified retrospective study.Basic and clinical andrology · 2026Article
- A New Framework for Testosterone Deficiency: Integrating Organ-Specific and Circadian Thresholds.The Journal of urology · 2025Article
- Systemic endocrine benefits of benign prostatic obstruction surgery.World journal of urology · 2025Article
- The Chronobiology of Hormone Administration: "Doctor, What Time Should I Take My Medication?"Endocrine reviews · 2025Review
- Comment on: "Mitochondria as Nutritional Targets to Maintain Muscle Health and Physical Function During Ageing".Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2025Article
- Review
- Male Hypogonadism: The Korean Society of Men's Health and Aging Position Statement.The world journal of men's health · 2025Review
- Testosterone-induced erythrocytosis: addressing the challenge of metabolic syndrome and widely prescribed SGLT2-inhibitor drugs.Endocrine connections · 2025Review
10 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 5 institutions in 6 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTestosterone has a spectrum of effects on the male organism. This review attempts to determine, from published studies, the time-course of the effects induced by testosterone replacement therapy from their first manifestation until maximum effects are attained.
designLiterature data on testosterone replacement.
resultsEffects on sexual interest appear after 3 weeks plateauing at 6 weeks, with no further increments expected beyond. Changes in erections/ejaculations may require up to 6 months. Effects on quality of life manifest within 3-4 weeks, but maximum benefits take longer. Effects on depressive mood become detectable after 3-6 weeks with a maximum after 18-30 weeks. Effects on erythropoiesis are evident at 3 months, peaking at 9-12 months. Prostate-specific antigen and volume rise, marginally, plateauing at 12 months; further increase should be related to aging rather than therapy. Effects on lipids appear after 4 weeks, maximal after 6-12 months. Insulin sensitivity may improve within few days, but effects on glycemic control become evident only after 3-12 months. Changes in fat mass, lean body mass, and muscle strength occur within 12-16 weeks, stabilize at 6-12 months, but can marginally continue over years. Effects on inflammation occur within 3-12 weeks. Effects on bone are detectable already after 6 months while continuing at least for 3 years.
conclusionThe time-course of the spectrum of effects of testosterone shows considerable variation, probably related to pharmacodynamics of the testosterone preparation. Genomic and non-genomic effects, androgen receptor polymorphism and intracellular steroid metabolism further contribute to such diversity.
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Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.