What are the health risks to taking testosterone / Is testosterone safe?
When prescribed by and used under the supervision of a doctor, being on testosterone can be very safe. There are certain blood tests that should be performed before starting testosterone as well as repeated every 3 months during the first year of hormone therapy, every 6 months during the second year of hormone therapy, then yearly thereafter. The most common medical side effects of testosterone include polycythemia (increased RBC mass), increased liver enzymes, and/or increased cholesterol levels. See here for a more in-depth explanation of these side effects.
