Testosterone shots may ease side effects in prostate cancer survivors

NCT ID NCT03716739

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This phase 2 trial tested whether testosterone replacement therapy could safely improve symptoms like low sex drive and fatigue in 136 men who had their prostate removed for low-risk prostate cancer. Participants received weekly testosterone injections or a placebo for 12 weeks. The study tracked PSA levels and sexual activity to see if the treatment helped without causing cancer to return.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

testosterone cypionate (Depo-Testosterone)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could offer a way to ease sexual and fatigue-related symptoms in prostate cancer survivors without raising short-term cancer recurrence risk.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase trial with only 136 men who had very low-risk cancer. Testosterone may still trigger cancer growth in other patients, and long-term safety is not established.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

prostate cancer

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

  • Dana Farber Cancer Institute

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

  • Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States