What is the indication of testerone injection in children ?

Clinical answer with reasoning, red flags and references. Clinically reviewed by Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP.

Posted: 23 October 2025Updated: 23 October 2025 Clinically Reviewed
Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGPClinical Lead • iatroX

Indications for testosterone injections in children are very limited and generally not licensed for use in this population. Testosterone enantate, a commonly used injectable testosterone preparation, is not licensed for use in children .

In clinical practice, testosterone injections may be considered under specialist paediatric or endocrinological advice for specific conditions such as delayed puberty due to hypogonadism or other endocrine disorders causing testosterone deficiency, but this is off-label and requires specialist oversight. There is no direct UK primary care guideline recommending routine testosterone injections in children.

For conditions like undescended testes, hormone treatment including testosterone is generally not recommended as effective and surgery is preferred .

Overall, testosterone injections in children should only be used following specialist paediatric endocrinology advice, with careful consideration of risks and benefits, and are not licensed for this age group .

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