Unfortunately, because it might be the only way to learn about an alternative treatment that wasn’t advertised to your doctor.

This was almost exactly my situation and I’m still in favor of banning pharmaceutical advertising to the public because those same ads that drastically improved my life have harmed millions of others.

I’m a transgender man, with a moderate needle phobia. I transitioned over a decade ago, and back then testosterone gel was basically never used for transition (the cost was significantly higher and insurance coverage was almost non-existent back then - I did have insurance coverage though) and there was misinformation around it in the trans community in the rare instance gel was discussed - but the only reason I or pretty much anyone else knew it was an option was the obscene deluge of ads for it. I asked my doctor about it and she figured out the dosing for me. It’s been a fantastic choice for me for a lot of reasons beyond just the needle phobia issues.

But testosterone replacement therapy, and Androgel specifically, is a case study in exactly why you don’t want this kind of widespread direct to consumer marketing. Androgel basically created a market for their drug through this marketing. Men in their 60s complained about not feeling like they were in their 20s anymore (without any other negative symptoms of low T) and demanded a medication that could have increased their risk of cardiovascular issues and forced them onto the medication permanently, and they didn’t even feel 20 again because they’re not 20 anymore.