Table 1. Overview of relevant Internet-based studies for hypogonadism.
| Study | Year | Medium or study type | Main outcomes | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirola et al. | 2010 | Case report | Case report | Patients are purchasing and consuming anabolic steroids sold on the Internet without consideration for the long-term impact of these therapies on fertility potential |
| Cordaro et al. | 2011 | Websites | Assessment of popular products sold on AAS websites | Nandrolone, methandrostenolone and testosterone are commonly sold on the Internet. Adverse effects of these drugs were rarely reported on these sites. Suggested dosages are 2- to 4-fold higher than recommended |
| Oberlin et al. | 2015 | Websites | Assessment of content on Testosterone-oriented websites | A majority of testosterone-oriented websites were produced by non-physicians. A majority discussed the benefits of TTh while fewer than 30% discussed side effects associated with TTh. Popular benefits of TTh included improvements in libido, cognitive function, sports ability and energy |
| McBride et al. | 2017 | Websites | Assessment of readability, credibility and quality of patient information for hypogonadism and TTh | Websites included in the study were deemed to be of poor quality and too complicated for the average patient. Most websites were developed by non-physicians. Fewer than half discussed appropriate management of hypogonadism or TTh-associated risks |
| Ivanov et al. | 2018 | Websites | Qualitative content analysis of Testosterone Websites | Testosterone-oriented websites promote the relationship between androgens, muscle development, sexual function and overall well-being |
| McBride et al. | 2018 | Websites | Assessment of popular products sold on AAS websites | Common synthetic AAS featured on these sites included metandienone, nandrolone decanoate, and stanozolol. The authors noted that none of these AAS websites required prescriptions and that the drugs were supplied by unregulated international pharmaceutical vendors |
| Balasubramanian et al. | 2019 | Amazon.com | Evaluation of highest rated and frequently reviewed testosterone boosting supplements on Amazon.com | Analysis revealed that limited human studies have evaluated the efficacy of ingredients in T-Boosters with no conclusive findings of efficacy. Authors identified considerable differences in benefits reported in popular and trustworthy product reviews |
AAS, anabolic androgenic steroids; TTh, testosterone therapy.