Testosterone use in females triggers biological signs of kidney stress and injury within just three months.
In a 2025 study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation1, females taking testosterone for gender transition showed biological changes consistent with subclinical kidney stress and tubular injury after three months—including a 134% increase in a urinary marker linked to kidney inflammation (YKL-40) and an 8% rise in an inflammatory blood protein (TNF receptor-1). Although overall kidney filtration remained unchanged, testosterone negatively affected kidney-protective proteins and activated pathways tied to inflammation, tissue remodeling, and fibrosis. The researchers called for long-term studies in larger populations to assess potential lasting effects.