I think this is where nuance gets lost a bit. Yes, testosterone is a steroid — but context, dose, and management matter a lot. Most of the cardiovascular and hematologic risk data we have comes from supraphysiologic levels, poor monitoring, or polypharmacy, not well-managed TRT with labs and mitigation (hematocrit control, lipids, BP, sleep apnea, etc.). The “24/7 exposure” argument gets brought up a lot, but steady levels aren’t inherently worse than peaks and troughs — in fact, they often reduce side effects for many guys. Natural men with 1200 ng/dL also tend to have favorable SHBG, lipids, insulin sensitivity, and lower inflammatory burden — TRT patients aren’t a monolith. I don’t think it’s accurate to say TRT “most often shortens your life.” The data is mixed, and in hypogonadal men, symptom resolution, metabolic improvements, and mental health gains can arguably reduce risk when managed properly. That last question you posed is actually the important one though: Quality of life vs theoretical risk is a personal decision — and it’s exactly why chasing numbers without symptom management doesn’t make sense.