I understand why this question gets searched so often. Creatine helps people train harder and can support gains in strength and lean mass, so it is easy to make the leap: if I am getting stronger, did creatine raise my testosterone?
Those are not the same thing. Creatine can improve training performance without needing to meaningfully increase circulating testosterone. I already use and write about creatine from the strength side of Vitamin Hippo, so I wanted to separate the hormone question from the gym results.
Does creatine increase testosterone?
Not reliably based on the current evidence. There are studies in which testosterone or other androgen measures changed, but there are also controlled studies in which creatine did not significantly change testosterone. The overall picture is too inconsistent to call creatine a testosterone-boosting supplement.
For example, a double-blind crossover study in healthy young men found that short-term creatine did not alter the testosterone response to a heavy resistance-training session. Another resistance-training study found performance and body-composition benefits that were not explained by changes in resting hormone concentrations. See the short-term hormone study →
Why people think creatine boosts testosterone
Part of the confusion is that creatine works. If your training improves, you may lift more, recover between repeated high-intensity efforts better and eventually see changes in strength or lean mass. Testosterone is also associated in the public mind with muscle, so the two get blended together.
But a supplement does not have to raise testosterone to help muscular performance. Creatine increases the availability of phosphocreatine used to rapidly regenerate ATP during short, intense efforts. That mechanism is a much more direct explanation for why creatine belongs in the performance conversation.
Our broader Creatine After 40 guide covers why I think it is interesting for aging men without pretending it is a hormone treatment.
What do the testosterone studies actually show?
| Study | What happened | What I take from it |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 double-blind crossover | Five days of creatine did not significantly alter the testosterone response to heavy resistance exercise. | Evidence against a simple “creatine raises testosterone” claim. |
| 2004 resistance-training study | Creatine improved some performance/body-composition outcomes, while testosterone decreased during overreaching in both creatine and placebo groups. | Performance benefits do not require a testosterone increase. |
| 2006 football-player study | Resting testosterone increased in the creatine group in this small trial. | An interesting positive result, but not enough to override inconsistent findings. |
| 2025 hair/androgen RCT | Creatine and placebo showed no significant group-by-time differences in total testosterone, free testosterone or DHT over 12 weeks. | Useful newer evidence that did not find an androgen-raising effect from creatine. |
That is why I would not cherry-pick one positive study and advertise creatine as a testosterone booster. When a question has mixed results, the honest answer is mixed results.
What about creatine and DHT?
This is where the internet discussion gets especially noisy. A small 2009 study of 20 college-aged rugby players found no change in serum testosterone but reported an increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and the DHT-to-testosterone ratio after creatine loading and maintenance. That study generated years of discussion about creatine and hair loss. Read the 2009 study →
Importantly, a 2025 randomized controlled trial directly assessed androgen levels and hair-follicle outcomes in resistance-trained men taking 5 g/day of creatine or placebo for 12 weeks. It found no significant between-group effects for total testosterone, free testosterone, DHT, the DHT-to-testosterone ratio or measured hair outcomes. Read the 2025 trial →
That newer study does not mean every possible question is permanently closed, but it is a good example of why one small older study should not become a universal claim.
Can creatine accelerate hair loss?
The best answer I can give readers now is that the direct 2025 randomized trial did not find creatine worsened the measured hair outcomes over 12 weeks. The older concern largely grew from the DHT finding rather than a study that actually showed men losing hair from creatine.
If hair loss is a major personal concern, you can still discuss it with a clinician or dermatologist. But I would not present “creatine causes baldness” as an established fact.
So why take creatine if it does not boost testosterone?
Because testosterone is not the reason creatine became one of the most studied sports supplements. Its value is in repeated high-intensity performance, strength training and lean-mass support when combined with training. A major evidence review from the International Society of Sports Nutrition describes creatine as effective for increasing high-intensity exercise capacity and training adaptations and discusses evidence in older populations as well. Review the creatine evidence →
That is the distinction I want Vitamin Hippo readers to remember: a supplement can be useful without being a testosterone booster.
If you are deciding between formats, see my creatine gummies guide. If you are more interested in maintaining muscle as you age, read Can You Still Build Muscle After 50? and Why Am I Losing Muscle After 40 Even Though I Work Out?.
Is creatine worth it if you are on TRT?
This is another search result that shows up around the topic. Creatine and testosterone replacement therapy are completely different things. Creatine is a dietary supplement used primarily for exercise performance; TRT is prescription hormone treatment for appropriately evaluated patients.
I would not use creatine to adjust, enhance or “stack” a medical testosterone regimen without discussing your supplements with the clinician managing your treatment. Whether creatine is useful for your training goals is a separate question from whether your TRT is appropriately prescribed and monitored.
Does creatine increase testosterone in women?
There is no good basis for telling women that ordinary creatine supplementation is a testosterone-boosting strategy either. Creatine has research interest for female exercise performance and other outcomes, but that should not be translated into a blanket hormone claim.
How much creatine do people typically take?
A common maintenance approach is around 3–5 grams of creatine monohydrate per day. Loading protocols can saturate muscle creatine stores faster, but loading is not mandatory for someone willing to reach saturation more gradually. The exact choice depends on the person and product.
For me, the bigger buying question is much less exciting: does the label clearly tell me how much creatine I am actually getting? That is especially important with gummies, where serving size and total creatine per serving can vary.
Bottom line
If your goal is higher testosterone, I would not buy creatine for that reason. The research does not show a dependable testosterone-boosting effect.
If your goal is strength, training performance or supporting lean mass alongside resistance training, that is where creatine has a much stronger evidence base. Those benefits are worthwhile on their own. We do not need to turn every useful supplement into a hormone hack.
If you are specifically worried about testosterone after 40, start with Testosterone After 40, Free vs. Total Testosterone and How to Increase Testosterone Naturally rather than assuming creatine is doing the hormonal heavy lifting.
Sources & further reading
- Short-term creatine supplementation does not alter the hormonal response to resistance training.
- Creatine, muscular performance, body composition and resting hormones during resistance-training overreaching.
- 2009 creatine, DHT and testosterone study in rugby players.
- 2025 randomized trial of creatine, androgen levels and hair-follicle health.
- Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: evidence review.
Tim Lekach founded Vitamin Hippo in 2020 and writes from the perspective of a man over 40 who actually tries many of the routines and products discussed on the site. Personal observations are identified as experience and kept separate from published evidence and manufacturer claims.
More about Tim and Vitamin Hippo →