Does Taking Testosterone Make You Angry?

If you’re considering testosterone therapy, you may be worried about the potential of increased anger, aggression, or even testosterone rage. It’s a common concern, and researchers have been looking at this issue for decades. The study findings are complex, but what we understand today is that both low and high testosterone can impact mood, and that properly managed testosterone therapy under a doctor’s guidance doesn’t increase anger.

Does Taking Testosterone Cause Anger?

Although research continues, the current consensus is that when TRT is prescribed appropriately by a doctor, it doesn’t cause increased anger or aggression.^{1 2}

A comprehensive review of research, published in 2022, found that men with naturally higher levels of testosterone were not more aggressive than those with lower levels.³ 

In one experimental study included in the review, researchers asked participants to play competitive games and found that men who received testosterone shots showed no more anger than those who got a placebo shot. Temporary mood swings can be a side effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but aggression and anger are not known side effects.⁴

Where did the idea of “testosterone rage” come from?

The idea that taking testosterone makes you angry is most likely rooted in bodybuilding culture and the abuse of anabolic steroids (manufactured testosterone taken specifically to increase muscle mass). 

As one 2022 study found, bodybuilders with a history of taking steroids were more likely to have anger problems than bodybuilders who didn’t use them.⁵ But even that connection is complicated by other factors: The study found that the men who took steroids were also more likely to have psychopathic tendencies and engage in high-risk behavior. Personality disorders and other issues are also linked to anger, so a direct connection between anabolic steroids and aggression is still unclear.

Measuring Aggression is Complicated

Studying testosterone and aggression is complicated because anger isn’t just about biology or hormones. Emotions and behavior are also strongly influenced by situational factors such as our environment, how we think, and what’s going on around us.⁶

For example, a 1972 study found a link between higher testosterone levels and aggression in young prison inmates.⁷ But experts have since questioned the results, noting that the tough prison environment and other situational influences weren’t considered in the findings. The researchers in the aforementioned 2022 review of studies noted that in many cases, testosterone levels rise in reaction to stressful situations, creating a chicken-or-egg dilemma: Mood changes and behavior previously blamed on high testosterone may actually be caused by the stressful circumstances, and elevated testosterone is a consequence rather than the cause.⁸

Testosterone’s Role in the Brain

Testosterone connects with receptors on nerve and tissue cells all over your body, including in your brain. When the hormone connects to these receptors, it triggers a cascade of reactions that heighten activity in the amygdala—the brain’s emotional processing center. This increased sensitivity between testosterone and the amygdala could make people more reactive to emotional situations, including those that might cause anger.⁹ However, testosterone is part of a complex hormonal network that influences mood including cortisol (which manages stress responses) and serotonin (which promotes emotional balance and well-being).^{10 11} All of these hormones work together to regulate emotional responses and maintain emotional stability.

Low Testosterone and Mood

When testosterone levels drop too low—a condition called male hypogonadism—it can cause mood changes. Animal studies suggest low testosterone can cause anxiety, especially social anxiety.¹² Because testosterone helps with mood balance, low levels are also commonly linked to depression.^{13 14} Low testosterone often comes with other issues that can also affect mood, including fatigue and lack of libido.¹⁵

When to Get Help With Anger Issues

Genetics, family background, and personality all play a role in how much anger or aggression a person feels and expresses. But if anger has become a problem for you, there will likely be some signs: 

• Acting in ways that feel out of control
• Frightening yourself or others
• Having important people in your life distance themselves or express concern 

A good place to start with testosterone and anger is by talking to your doctor. Regardless of whether you are currently taking TRT, he or she may want to do some blood tests, ask mental health screening questions, or refer you to an anger management program.¹⁶

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About the author

Lauren Bedosky is award-winning health and fitness journalist with bylines in top magazines and websites like Redbook, LIVESTRONG.com, Runner’s World, and Men’s Health.

About the reviewer

Joshua Calvert, M.D., is a urologist who specializes in vasectomy and vasectomy reversal, Peyronie’s disease, testosterone management, and male infertility.