Alpha Club Supplements' TRT fertility claims, fact-checked

What does this TikTok actually claim?

@alphaclubsupps tells viewers that TRT won't necessarily ruin fertility and that plenty of men conceive while using testosterone. They acknowledge that testosterone can reduce sperm production but suggest two options (cutting off at HCG) for men who want to preserve fertility.

The video takes a measured approach, avoiding the extreme positions that TRT either definitely destroys fertility or has no impact at all. That's refreshing for supplement company content, which often oversells benefits.

Does testosterone actually affect sperm production?

Yes, and the impact is substantial. A 2016 systematic review by Crosnoe et al. in Fertility and Sterility found that 88-100% of men on TRT develop oligospermia (low sperm count) or azoospermia (no sperm) within 6-12 months.

The mechanism is straightforward. Exogenous testosterone suppresses luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) through negative feedback. Without these hormones, the testes stop producing both testosterone and sperm.

Bhasin et al.'s landmark 1996 NEJM study showed that 300mg weekly testosterone enanthate reduced sperm concentration from 73 million/mL to 1 million/mL within 20 weeks. That's not a minor dip.

Can men still conceive while on TRT?

Some can, but the creator oversells this possibility. While complete azoospermia doesn't happen immediately or universally, fertility drops dramatically for most men within months of starting TRT.

The 2016 Crosnoe review found that while some men maintain low levels of sperm production, conception rates plummet. A 2017 study by Roth et al. in Urology found that among 66 men on TRT trying to conceive, only 17% achieved pregnancy without additional interventions.

Saying "plenty of men still conceive" without mentioning these odds misleads viewers about their actual chances.

What about HCG for fertility preservation?

HCG can help maintain fertility during TRT, though the video cuts off before explaining this fully. HCG mimics LH, stimulating the testes to continue producing sperm even while on testosterone.

Hsieh et al.'s 2013 study in Journal of Urology found that adding 500 IU HCG three times weekly maintained sperm production in 26 of 29 men on TRT. Coviello et al.'s 2005 JCEM study showed similar results with HCG preserving testicular function.

The catch? HCG doesn't work for everyone, and it needs to be started before or concurrent with TRT for best results. Starting it after months of suppression is less effective.

What should men actually know about TRT and fertility?

Plan ahead if fertility matters to you, period. Don't bank on being one of the lucky few who maintain adequate sperm production on TRT alone.

Consider sperm banking before starting TRT. It's cheaper and more reliable than hoping HCG will work later. Recovery after stopping TRT can take 6-18 months, and some men never fully recover their baseline fertility.

The American Urological Association's 2018 guidelines recommend discussing fertility preservation before starting any testosterone therapy. That's not because they're being overly cautious, it's because the fertility impact is real and often irreversible.