from Hacker News

Ask HN: Why is testosterone a scheduled substance in the USA?

by pixel_tracing on 2/4/23, 3:36 AM with 6 comments

It seems like in 1990 the USA banned testosterone across the nation, but estrogen can easily be picked up over the counter?

Why the double standards here? If I’m a non competing athlete that wants balanced hormones and a healthy sex drive I should be able to do this right?

Not to mention many people who identify as trans find it difficult to get testosterone too.

What do we need to do to appeal this?

  • by aurizon on 2/4/23, 3:50 AM

  • by WheelsAtLarge on 2/4/23, 7:41 AM

    I'm wondering if it has to do with the abuse by athelets both amature and profesional. I remember a time when it was easily bought in high school to increase your muscle mass. The problem is that it's very dangerous and can lead to death when abused. There was also the issue of roid rage that leads to people getting out of control. There were a few nationwide reports of men killing their families and themselves because they lost the ability to control themselves.

  • by Sunspark on 2/4/23, 4:18 AM

    It's frustrating. The thing about lab testing results in general, is that they aren't really the "optimal" value but rather a range in a population from like age 18 to age 85+. Much like how vitamin RDAs are really the bare minimum needed to avoid scurvy and the like.

    So if you are having symptoms of needing supplementation, the doctor will just shrug and say you're still in the normal range.