Why is hormonal birth control for women normalized, but testosterone is treated like a dangerous substance?

I’ve noticed something in Germany, but I guess it is like this almost anywhere, and I’m curious how people here see it here.

Hormonal birth control for women is extremely common. Yes, it technically requires a prescription, but getting one is usually very easy: a quick check-in with a doctor, a short conversation, and that’s it. It’s treated as something normal and almost routine.

But when it comes to men and testosterone, even basic testosterone replacement is treated as something borderline dangerous. A simple testosterone ester requires a strict prescription, doctors are often very hesitant to prescribe it even when levels are really low, and pharmacies will not sell yuo anything without precise documentation. The cultural perception also seems completely different: testosterone is associated with doping, aggression, or cheating, while hormonal birth control is seen as harmless and ordinary.

What I find interesting is that, biologically, both are forms of hormone manipulation. Both suppress parts of the natural reproductive axis. Both have side effects. But socially, one is normalized and the other is stigmatized. And if anything, hormonal birth control can have even stronger or more aggressive side effects than a mild testosterone replacement.

Why is hormonal birth control considered a normal and acceptable part of healthcare, while testosterone is viewed as something risky or suspicious?

I’d like to hear how people interpret this difference.