Testosterone Shot Vs. Cream

Testosterone is vital to male health. Many men lack sufficient amounts and must seek testosterone supplementation. Male hormone replacement therapy uses a variety of delivery mechanisms. Two of the choices in the arsenal are gels or creams and shots.

Are There Differences?

• Deciding on the right form for testosterone supplementation is a highly individual choice.

  Supplemental testosterone, whether delivered through an injection or a cream or gel, is necessary for many men. Several factors determine the delivery system for any individual. Although both topical and injectable testosterone work, there are ancillary factors to consider aside from efficacy.

Comfort Level

• The most-used forms of injectable testosterone are based on an oil suspension. Efficient delivery requires a small gauge needle of sufficient length to penetrate a major muscle.

Convenience

• Testosterone gels and creams are typically applied daily, at the patient's convenience. Unless a patient is doing self-injections, as some do, he will need to visit the doctor's office every 10 to 14 days for his shots.

Cost

• Injectable forms of testosterone are generally less expensive than creams and gels. Injectable testosterone is not patented. The most frequently used gels and creams are, although a compounding pharmacy can produce formulations that are lower in cost than the popular name brands.

Safety

• When creams or gels are used, care must be taken that the areas of the skin where the formulation was applied do not come into contact with others, especially women and children. This is not a concern with injections.

Timing

• Creams and gels are fast-acting but of short duration. They must be applied one to two times per day to keep testosterone levels stable. Injections release testosterone into the body more slowly, but their duration of action is anywhere from 10 to 14 days or longer.