Testosterone is a naturally produced hormone that drives physical development, especially muscle mass, and sexual development in men. While this hormone is produced in the pituitary gland, a small organ situated in the brain that produces the body’s hormones, naturally, some athletes consume doses of testosterone in the form of a testosterone booster, usually a pill or powder. This is done in order to stimulate muscle growth and it get an edge over the competition, especially in body building. Here are some common testosterone booster side effects that may turn you off to the idea of pumping yourself up with this product.

Acne – Artificially boosting levels of testosterone via a booster can excite your skin to produce more acne. Testosterone excites the sebaceous glands of the skin to produce more oil. This in turn often results in the development of more acne as this oil clogs up the skin’s pores and becomes infected. Intense acne is often the result of a booster and can cover the chest, back, shoulders and face of people who routinely use a testosterone booster.

Hair Loss – Long term use of a testosterone booster can speed up hair loss and aggravate male pattern baldness. Testosterone is often detrimental to hair growth as this hormone, while responsible for hair growth during the early part of life, can cause hair follicles to stop properly growing new hair strands. This can result in early baldness and hair loss in many users.

Diabetes – Testosterone boosters can greatly affect blood sugar levels in users, causing the potential risk of diabetes in people who take boosters for an extended period of time. This condition is even more threatening as stopping testosterone booster usage will not cause diabetes to go away. This is a lifelong condition that has drastic implications for a person’s lifestyle.

Engorged Prostate – Heightened levels of testosterone can cause certain organs to balloon in size. One organ in particular is the prostate gland. An enlarged prostate can interfere with urination, making it either difficult or painful. Furthermore, an enlarged prostate is at greater risk for cancer than a normal sized prostate.

Liver Damage – As more testosterone circulates throughout the body, the liver is under greater stress filtering this hormone. This can often result in cirrhosis and liver cancer from the increased wear and tear exerted on this organ.

Breast Cancer – One of the more dire side effects of a testosterone booster is the propensity for it to either promote the growth of new tumors in the breast or to aggravate existing tumors. Breast cancer can be difficult to detect and treat, especially for men who are largely unconcerned with checking themselves for growths or tumors.

Masculinization – Women who used testosterone boosters for muscle development often become more masculine, resulting in a deeper voice and an increase in body hair. The clitoris may also become enlarged through using testosterone boosters.

These seven testosterone booster side effects are some of the  most serious and most common problems faced by people taking this supplement.  Consider what the use of the boosters are for and whether they are worth the possible negative effects before you consider any sort of testosterone injections.