Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT): Is It Right For You?

TRT can be administered in a variety of ways, says Judson Brandeis, M.D., a board-certified urologist and sexual medicine expert in San Ramon, California. Consult with your health care provider to determine the best option for you.

TRT injections, self-administered under the skin or muscle, can be short-acting (one to two injections per week) or long-acting (one injection every two weeks), explains Dr. Brandeis. Testosterone levels are inconsistent with this delivery, with levels being highest right after injection and lowest before the next injection, he says.

Topical gels, creams, liquids and patches often last for about four days, says Dr. Brandeis. Theyre easy to apply and produce relatively steady levels.

Though tablet-like in appearance, buccal patches are placed on the gum line above your incisor teeth, says Dr. Brandeis, adding that the drug needs to be used every 12 hours.

Delivered as a gel thats pumped into each nostril, intranasal TRT is usually taken three times a day, says Dr. Brandeis, adding that this therapy can be expensive.

Pellets are fast-acting and placed under the skin of the upper hip or buttocks in about five to 10 minutes in a physicians office, says Dr. Brandeis. Over the course of four to six months this pellet dissolves, providing a consistent and stable level of medication, he says.

The FDA has approved two testosterone capsules that may be taken orally for the treatment of low testosterone. The capsules can be taken twice daily with food.

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Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT): Is It Right For You?