Testosterone

Several testosterone delivery methods exist. Choosing a specific therapy depends on your preference of a particular delivery system, the side effects and the cost. Methods include:

• Injection. APPROX COST: $100-$200 per month ~ Intramuscular testosterone injections are safe and effective. Injections are given approximately every two weeks. You may experience fluctuations in symptom relief between doses. You or a family member can learn to administer this method of TRT at home. If you're uncomfortable administering injections, a nurse or doctor can give the injection.
• Patch. APPROX COST: $200-$500 per month.

  A patch containing testosterone (Androderm) is applied each night to your back, abdomen, upper arm or thigh. The site of the application is rotated to maintain seven-day intervals between applications to the same site to lessen skin reactions.

• Gel. APPROX COST: $200-$500 per month.

  You rub testosterone gel (AndroGel, Testim) into your skin on your lower abdomen, upper arm or shoulder. As the gel dries, your body absorbs testosterone through your skin. Gel application of testosterone replacement therapy appears to cause fewer skin reactions than patches. Avoid showering or bathing for several hours after an application to ensure adequate absorption. A potential side effect of the gel is the possibility of transferring the medication to your partner. You can avoid this by avoiding skin-to-skin contact until the gel is completely dry or by covering the area after an application .

• Gum and cheek (buccal cavity).

  APPROX COST: $200-$500 per month.

  Striant, a small putty-like substance, delivers testosterone through the natural depression above your top teeth where your gum meets your upper lip (buccal cavity). This product rapidly adheres to your gumline and, as exposed to saliva, softens into a gel-like form, allowing testosterone to be absorbed directly into your bloodstream. Side effects may include gum irritation or pain, bitter taste or headache. A recent study found this form of testosterone therapy may deliver a steadier dose of testosterone throughout the day.

• Oral. APPROX COST: $100-$300 per month.

  Taking testosterone orally is not recommended for long-term replacement. Testosterone taken by this method may cause an unfavorable cholesterol profile and increase your risk of blood clots and heart and liver problems.

Okay, no offense to the above author, but those prices are very bank-breaking, especially when I've had TRT for years.

First, any decent Doctor would never charge more than $50 per injection unless there was other services rendered. Personally with regular lab work, I showed up with NO office visit 2 times monthly for my injections of $15 bucks. Another Doc was higher when I moved, but he only charged $30 bucks.

As for Gel Testosterone? Dirt freaking cheap, and that is what I switched too. And why? Tell your Doc that you're gonna take it to a compounding Pharmacy and have it made. Get this, I paid $30 to $40 dollars for 60 days worth. Hell, even if it cost $100 for 60 days, it beats the hell out of those 20 & 22 gauge needles and trips to the Doctors.

As for the sub lingual/buccal stuff? A compounding pharmacist can make that as well, but why use all of these others when you can rub-in a dimes worth or less on your body right out of the shower? It's clean too, no mess or greasiness.

Now "The Patch!" You can keep it! If you shower & bathe normally, it WILL come off at some point, plus it is annoying as hell.

Last but not least, "The Pill!" Here's the deal: Pills are not only way more inconsistent, but they are definitely much more dangerous to the liver, even with regular use of just a couple of years.

As for the info I just posted? No offense, but I know, I've been there and done that for 15 + years, not to mention the fact that I routinely study all available info and pick the brains of Doctors and Pharmacist. Please, just do as I've done and insist on what you feel is best for you, not your doctor or insurance companies wallets.

Anabolic steroids

-APEX

I can give you several sentences.

• Testosterone is a sex hormone.
• Men with high testosterone levels often go bald.
• Your doctor can give you synthetic testosterone to replace natural testosterone

DRs Love to show you the Test report from the lab & say "Your Testosterone is in the normal range"! The range is age based & they should say "Your Testosterone is in the normal range, FOR ALL THE OTHER MISERABLE GUYS YOUR AGE".

GUYS: A TESTOSTERONE LEVEL OF ABOUT 250-450 is normal for guys in the 45-60 age range. Normal, healthy sexual function needs your Testosterone levels much higher than that! The normal 250-450 range is for all those guys with aches, pains & trouble having an erection.

Here are the truths that most normal General Practioner Drs or Urologist won't add to your education.

1. When we were young & healthy (16-35 years old), you had great muscle tone, no problem with erections or sexual desire, no heart disease & loving life! From 16-35 Most guys natural, normal testosterone level was between 1500-2000 some even higher.

2. After 35 your level naturally starts to drop pretty aggressively at about 5% per year so in 10 years you could be operating with HALF as much & by our mid 50s most men have only about 10% of what you had at 30... No wonder sex is not as much fun & erections tougher to keep, heart disease is rampant & your joints hurt!

3. Your body gets CHOLESTEROL from our food & makes TESTOSTERONE from that CHOLESTEROL. Cholesterol medication (Statins) is killing your cholesterol, your liver, muscle tone & your ability to make more testosterone

4. Most guys feel good & have good sexual function, energy, health & sleep & no joint pain, with a testosterone blood level anywhere above 800/ Below that & you will have lots of "AGING" symptoms that are really just LOW TESTOSTERON symptoms, not really aging symptoms.

5. By our late 50s & beyond the normal male will fall into the "Double digits" 10-99 on the blood testosterone & feel terrible & have very poor sexual function or desire.

6. When your Testosterone falls the small amount of estrogen that your body produces, starts to dominate & you feel even less masculine, more emotional, muscle mass starts to atrophy & weight gain, ED & loss of sex drive are PROFOUND.

MORE INFO YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR BUT MIGHT FIND HELPFUL!

· Injections and patches even pills can be a common ways to get Testosterone, but the Patches & creams are ineffective & irritate the skin and can be dangerous if they come in contact with children, pets or other people. They typically can only raise the ("T"estosterone ") levels by 100-200 points, so if you start at 200 and the creams, pills & patches do their best you are still at half of what your levels need to be for true Hormone Replacement Therapy!

· The Injection gives a severe SPIKE and then about 24-48 hours later a severe crash and will probably be SYNTHETIC hormones & that can be problematic too.

· Info about the ladies in our lives! Most DRs are taught that ESTROGEN defines a woman & that the only remedy is more estrogen.

· Theenlightened Dr is starting to understand that it is often best to give the body what it needs (Testosterone) & let it make the estrogen. SYNTHETIC Estrogen has been linked to elevated levels of Cancer in women, BE CAREFUL!