A creatine container beside a research journal and a molecular diagram, representing the science of hormones and supplementation

Does Creatine Boost Testosterone? What the Research Actually Shows

One study from 2009 changed how people talk about creatine and hormones. It was widely reported as evidence that creatine boosts testosterone — but that is not quite what it showed. Here is an honest look at creatine, DHT, and what the evidence actually supports.

Key Takeaways

Creatine does not reliably or meaningfully raise free or total testosterone levels in well-designed trials.
The widely-cited Stellenbosch study (2009) found an increase in DHT (dihydrotestosterone), not testosterone — these are different hormones with different roles.
DHT remained within the normal physiological range in that study, and findings have not been consistently replicated.
There is no mechanistic reason why creatine supplementation would upregulate testosterone synthesis.
Creatine supports strength and muscle mass gains through energy system enhancement, not hormonal manipulation.

Where the 'creatine raises testosterone' claim comes from

The claim traces almost entirely to a single study published in 2009 in Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, conducted by van der Merwe and colleagues at Stellenbosch University. In that trial, college-aged rugby players took creatine for three weeks and showed a statistically significant increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT) relative to placebo.

DHT is an androgen — a hormone in the same family as testosterone, synthesized from it via the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. The popular media translation was quick: 'creatine raises testosterone.' That framing is inaccurate.

The study measured DHT and the DHT:testosterone ratio — not free testosterone and not total testosterone. Both remained essentially unchanged. The distinction matters because DHT and testosterone have meaningfully different physiological roles, different target tissues, and different implications for performance and health.

DHT is not the same as testosterone

Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone are both androgens, but they are not interchangeable. DHT is roughly 3–5x more potent at the androgen receptor than testosterone, but it has a much narrower tissue distribution. It plays a key role in prostate development, skin, and hair follicles. Testosterone, by contrast, is the primary driver of muscle protein synthesis, bone density, red blood cell production, and most of the performance-relevant effects people associate with 'high testosterone.'

A rise in DHT without a corresponding rise in testosterone does not translate straightforwardly into more anabolic drive. It is a different signal, in different tissues.

The van der Merwe finding was also specific to a DHT:testosterone ratio shift rather than a change in absolute DHT levels in isolation — meaning the ratio moved partly because the denominators changed slightly, not because DHT spiked dramatically. DHT levels remained within the normal physiological range throughout the study.

Does creatine directly affect testosterone levels?

The short answer is: not in any meaningful or consistent way that the evidence supports.

Multiple trials have measured testosterone in creatine-supplemented subjects and found no significant change in total or free testosterone compared to placebo. A 2021 systematic review by Kaviani et al. examining hormonal responses to creatine supplementation found no consistent effect on testosterone across controlled studies.

There is also no plausible mechanistic pathway. Creatine does not interact with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, which regulates testosterone production. It does not upregulate Leydig cell activity or luteinizing hormone (LH) release — the upstream signal for testosterone synthesis. The mechanisms by which creatine acts (phosphocreatine replenishment, intracellular buffering, satellite cell signalling) are entirely separate from gonadal hormone regulation.

If creatine meaningfully boosted testosterone, you would expect to see consistently elevated testosterone readings in the many clinical trials that have measured it. You do not.

Why creatine still builds muscle and strength — without the hormone boost

Creatine's well-documented benefits — increased strength output, improved lean mass gains, better high-intensity performance — are not testosterone-mediated. They operate through a completely different mechanism: the phosphocreatine energy system.

When you perform a heavy set or a sprint, your muscles use ATP faster than aerobic metabolism can supply it. The phosphocreatine system bridges that gap by rapidly donating a phosphate group to ADP, regenerating ATP in milliseconds. Creatine supplementation saturates intramuscular phosphocreatine stores above normal resting levels, extending the duration and intensity of that high-power output window before fatigue sets in.

More total work done per session over weeks and months is what drives progressive overload — and progressive overload is what drives hypertrophy and strength gain. Creatine earns its results through training quality, not through manipulating your endocrine system.

This is arguably more reassuring than the testosterone narrative. You do not need elevated hormones (with whatever baggage that might bring) to get creatine's benefits. The mechanism is cleaner and more direct.

The DHT finding and the hair-loss concern

The Stellenbosch DHT finding has also fuelled concern that creatine causes or accelerates male-pattern baldness, since DHT is the primary driver of androgenetic alopecia. This is covered in detail in our creatine and hair loss guide.

The short version: the evidence is extremely limited. One study showing a DHT ratio increase (values still within normal range, not replicated consistently) is insufficient to draw conclusions about hair loss risk in men who are genetically susceptible to it. If you are already experiencing hair loss and are concerned about DHT, it is worth noting the uncertainty — but the current evidence does not support a strong causal claim.

Creatine and testosterone: the numbers

0 Meaningful change in free or total testosterone found across controlled creatine trials
1 Key study (Stellenbosch 2009) that measured DHT, not testosterone — commonly misrepresented
Normal range DHT levels remained within normal physiological bounds even in the study that found an increase

Frequently Asked Questions

Does creatine raise testosterone?

No — creatine does not reliably raise free or total testosterone. Multiple controlled trials have measured testosterone in creatine users and found no significant change. The myth stems from a 2009 study that found a rise in DHT (a different androgen), not testosterone.

What did the Stellenbosch study actually find?

It found that the DHT:testosterone ratio increased after creatine supplementation in college rugby players. DHT rose; testosterone did not meaningfully change. DHT levels remained within the normal physiological range. The study has not been consistently replicated.

Does creatine affect DHT?

One study found a rise in DHT with creatine, but findings have not been consistently replicated across other trials. The mechanism by which creatine would increase DHT is unclear. Current evidence is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions.

If creatine doesn't boost testosterone, why does it build muscle?

Creatine builds muscle through the phosphocreatine energy system — it helps your muscles regenerate ATP faster during intense exercise, allowing more total work per session. Over time, more training volume drives muscle and strength gains. This is independent of testosterone.

Should I be concerned about creatine and my hormones?

Based on available evidence, no. Creatine does not meaningfully alter testosterone or other major hormones in healthy adults. If you have a specific hormonal condition, speak with your doctor — but for most people, creatine's hormonal footprint is negligible.