Taking supplements to support healthy hormone production is not the same as taking hormones, which can reduce the chance of fertilization and healthy pregnancy. While supplement-based approaches to increase testosterone are not shown to disrupt ovulation or endogenous testosterone production, they cannot determine which sperm will fertilize an egg to produce an XX or XY offspring.
Tongat Ali, a supplement taken at 400 milligrams per day, can increase testosterone by reducing sex hormone binding globulin, which can exist in free or bound form. It can also have a stimulant effect when taken early in the day.
Testosterone has an impact on thyroid hormones in the body, leading to decreased binding protein and increased levels of active thyroid hormones. This can cause symptoms such as tachycardia and increased fight or flight response.
In this podcast, a man reflects on his experience training under a mentor who he referred to as "PhD," short for "piled high and deep." Despite the insults, he found the high-intensity training programs to be effective.
The proper balance of nutrients like magnesium, D3, and zinc can help promote normal endogenous levels of estrogen and testosterone. While other supplements like bulbine natalensis have been shown to increase testosterone, studies have only been done on rats.