What is Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), and What Does it Mean for You?

If your algorithm has been serving up testosterone content lately, you’re not imagining it.  

Low testosterone symptoms, TRT before-and-afters, and “optimize your hormones” content have exploded across social media and search over the past year. 

But the conversation is shifting beyond social media, too. 

In April 2026, the FDA took a step towards potentially expanding how testosterone therapy could be used in some men with low testosterone – a meaningful signal that the science and clinical conversation around TRT are evolving. That doesn’t mean testosterone therapy has suddenly been given the green light for everyone. The science is evolving, the conversation is getting more nuanced – but the path forward is still the same: get your labs done, speak to a qualified clinician, and make decisions based on your body, not a headline.  

In this guide, we’ll break down what TRT is, and what the FDA announcement does – and doesn’t – mean. We’ll also explore the symptoms of low testosterone, and how our partnership with Joi + Blokes can help you get real answers instead of guesswork. 

What is Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)?

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a prescription treatment designed to restore testosterone to a healthy range in people whose levels are clinically low. It’s typically delivered through injections, topical gels, or pellets, and it’s prescribed based on blood work and symptoms¹ – not a friend’s recommendation and not a supplement aisle. 

Low testosterone (sometimes called “Low T” or hypogonadism) can show up as fatigue, low libido, mood changes, brain fog, reduced muscle mass, and slower post-workout recovery. The tricky part is that low testosterone symptoms overlap with a dozen other things – stress, poor sleep, thyroid issues – which is exactly why testing is so important. 

TRT: what’s changing at the FDA?

In April 2026, the FDA announced it’s taking a first step toward expanding how testosterone therapy could be used in men. Specifically, the agency is inviting drugmakers to pursue a new approved use for TRT in men with low libido caused by idiopathic hypogonadism – low testosterone without a clear structural or genetic cause. The decision followed a review of clinical literature and a December 2025 expert panel, and FDA leadership described it as an opportunity to expand options for a symptom that meaningfully affects quality of life². 

Here’s the nuance that’s getting lost in a lot of headlines: this is not a broad approval of TRT for normal, age-related decline in testosterone levels. Current FDA-approved testosterone products are still indicated for men with specific, diagnosed forms of hypogonadism. What’s changed is that the agency is now actively encouraging manufacturers to bring forward stronger evidence for a wider set of patients – a meaningful signal that the conversation around testosterone and TRT is evolving, even if the label hasn’t caught up yet. 

In plain terms: the science is moving faster than the guidelines, and the smartest move you can make is individualized evaluation – real labs, a real clinician, and ongoing monitoring – rather than self-diagnosing off a checklist of low testosterone symptoms. 

What are the symptoms of low testosterone?

Low testosterone symptoms include: 

• Persistent fatigue, even with a full night’s sleep 

• Noticeably slower recovery between workouts 

• Loss of muscle mass or strength plateaus you can’t train through 

• Low libido or changes in sexual function 

• Brain fog or trouble concentrating 

• Mood changes, irritability, or low motivation 

• Unexplained weight gain, especially around the midsection 

 None of these low testosterone symptoms are diagnostic on their own, but that’s the whole point. These signs are a reason to test – not a reason to assume. 

Testosterone therapy for women: why TRT isn’t just for men 

Here’s something that often gets left out of the testosterone conversation entirely: women have testosterone too, and it matters for energy, mood, cognition, and libido. A retrospective study of 332 women receiving individualized, biomarker-guided testosterone therapy found meaningful improvements across eight low testosterone symptom domains – most notably energy and mood – with roughly 90% of patients reporting a better overall quality of life over time. Cardiometabolic markers like triglycerides also improved, though researchers are careful to note that more research is needed to understand exactly why^3,4. 

When it comes to testosterone therapy for women, the takeaway is the same as it is for men: maintaining healthy testosterone levels isn’t about chasing a trend. It’s about understanding your own biology through real data, with a clinician guiding the process from start to finish. 

Want to dive deeper? Explore Joi + Blokes’ guide to the hormones you need as a woman in your 40s. 

Why testosterone therapy needs clinical guidance

The growing body of evidence on testosterone therapy is genuinely exciting. But more visibility also means more misinformation, more unregulated products, and more people trying to self-treat symptoms that deserve a real workup.  

Individualized care – labs first, symptoms second, treatment plan third – is what separates responsible hormone health from guesswork. Crucially, that’s exactly the philosophy behind Joi + Blokes, built on the idea that patients deserve real answers instead of being told their labs are “normal” and sent on their way.⁵ 

“Hormone health isn’t about chasing a perfect number. We look at the whole person—their symptoms, lab results, health history, and goals—to understand what’s actually going on and determine whether treatment is appropriate.”

— Lauren Dulay, NP, Clinical Director of Operations for Joi+Blokes

F45 x Joi + Blokes: training and hormone health, working together

Fitness and hormone health aren’t separate conversations – they’re the same one. 

Your training, recovery, sleep, and energy are all connected to what’s happening beneath the surface, and Joi + Blokes was built to help you understand exactly that.  

As an F45 member, our partnership with Joi + Blokes gives you a direct path to: 

• Comprehensive hormone lab testing, done from home, that goes beyond a standard annual physical 

• Clinician-guided evaluation, so any next step – including testosterone therapy, if appropriate – is based on your actual biomarkers, not assumptions 

• Ongoing monitoring, because hormone health isn’t a one-time fix; it’s a relationship between you, your labs, and your care team over time 

• A team-based approach to feeling like yourself again, combining the training and community you already get at F45 with the clinical insight Joi + Blokes specializes in 

 Whether you’re chasing better recovery, trying to break through a strength plateau with our resistance workouts, or simply want to know what your numbers are saying, this partnership exists to connect the dots between how you train and how you feel. 

If you’ve been wondering whether it’s time to dive deeper into what’s really going on with your hormones, this is your sign to start finding out.  

Simply ask your local F45 studio about member access to Joi + Blokes lab testing and consultations – or visit joiandblokes.com to learn more. 

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Testosterone therapy should only be pursued under the guidance of a licensed clinician following appropriate lab testing. 

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Sources:

1 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/testosterone-replacement-therapy-trt 

2 https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-step-forward-testosterone-therapy-men 

3 https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/16/5/231 

4 https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/individualized-trt-demonstrates-broad-symptom-improvements-beyond-sexual-function 

5 https://joiandblokes.com/journal/men/five-years-of-lessons-on-hormones-labs-and-longevity/ 

Written and published by F45 Training HQ, and reposted here for the F45 Morris Plains community.