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No. 027hormone

Testosterone

Testosterone is a hormone that is FDA-approved, prescription only.

Also known as TRT, Testosterone cypionate, AndroGel, Testosterone replacement therapy

Testosterone therapy (TRT) is used for men with hypogonadism confirmed by symptoms and repeated blood tests. It comes as injections, gels, patches, pellets and oral capsules.

In 1 example journal

A close-up black-and-white shot of a stethoscope coiled on a reflective white surface; no people, no text.
FDA-approved · Prescription

Is Testosterone FDA-approved?

Approved by the FDA. A licensed clinician has to decide it is right for you and prescribe it. FDA-approved, prescription only, and a Schedule III controlled substance. In February 2025 FDA removed the cardiovascular-risk language from the boxed warning after the TRAVERSE trial, added blood pressure warnings, and kept the limitation of use for age-related low testosterone.

As of September 23, 2026.

Key takeaways

  • Testosterone therapy is FDA-approved for men whose low testosterone is confirmed by symptoms and repeat morning blood tests.
  • It usually shuts down sperm production, so it is not for men trying to have children.
  • In 2025 FDA updated every testosterone label after the TRAVERSE trial found no rise in major heart events, and added blood pressure warnings.
  • It needs ongoing labs, including red blood cell counts and, for many men, PSA.

Your next steps

Interested in testosterone? Here’s what usually happens next.

Interest is the beginning, not a diagnosis or a treatment decision. Explore each milestone to understand the process before comparing providers.

Step 1 of 4

What brings you here?

Notice the concerns that apply to you. You do not need to decide what is causing them.

  • Energy
  • Sexual health
  • Strength or muscle
  • Mood or concentration
  • Menopause symptoms
  • General hormone health

A clinician can help determine whether testosterone, another condition or more evaluation fits your symptoms.

How does Testosterone work?

Testosterone therapy replaces the hormone directly. Your body notices the outside supply and turns down its own signal to the testes, which is why natural production and sperm counts usually fall while you are on it.

That is different from pills like enclomiphene, which nudge your own system to make more. Replacing the hormone raises levels more predictably, but it trades away fertility for as long as you take it, and sometimes for a while after.

A bright yellow stethoscope coiled on a clean mint-green background; no people, no text, vivid modern clinical styling.
A patient's hands, seen only from behind, hold a tablet displaying an x-ray image in a bright waiting area.
A bright flat lay of a rolled yoga mat, a small hand weight and a resistance band arranged on a clean white surface, no people visible.

What does the evidence say about Testosterone?

Strong human evidence

Strong evidence for treating confirmed hypogonadism; TRAVERSE found no increase in major heart events. Benefits in men with normal levels are not established.

What to expect

What trials and prescribing information measured over time. Everyone responds differently.

  1. First weeks

    A 2011 review of treatment studies found changes in sexual interest and mood often began within about three to six weeks.

  2. 3 to 6 months

    The same review found erections and body composition changes took longer, often three months or more. The AUA suggests discussing stopping if symptoms have not improved three to six months in.

  3. 6 to 12 months

    Changes in fat and lean mass tended to level off between six and twelve months. The rise in red blood cells peaked around nine to twelve months, which is why labs continue.

  4. Ongoing

    The Endocrine Society recommends checking levels, blood counts and prostate risk three to twelve months after starting, then yearly.

What do clinicians say about Testosterone?

Urology and endocrinology guidelines agree on the basics: confirm the diagnosis with repeat morning tests, talk about fertility first, and keep checking blood counts and prostate markers once treatment starts.

Summaries of published guidelines, drug labels, regulators and reviews, each attributed to its source. DiscoverMedica does not employ clinicians.

Is Testosterone right for you, and who should avoid it?

Often considered for

  • Men with symptoms of low testosterone, such as low libido, low energy or loss of muscle, whose levels are low on two separate morning tests
  • Men whose low testosterone has a medical cause, such as a pituitary or testicular condition (the use FDA approves)
  • Older men only after an individual discussion of risks and benefits

Not a fit, or needs extra care

  • Men trying to conceive now or soon, because it usually suppresses sperm production
  • Anyone with prostate or male breast cancer, or an unexplained prostate nodule or raised PSA that has not been checked by a urologist
  • Men with a high red blood cell count, untreated severe sleep apnea or uncontrolled heart failure
  • Anyone who has had a heart attack or stroke in the past several months (the guidelines advise waiting)
  • Women and children should avoid skin contact with testosterone gels, which carry a boxed warning about transfer

Only a licensed clinician who knows your history can decide whether it is right for you.

What are the risks and side effects of Testosterone?

  • It usually suppresses sperm production and can cause infertility; tell your clinician if you want children.
  • It can raise red blood cell counts and blood pressure, so regular labs are needed.
  • Gels carry a boxed warning: skin contact can transfer testosterone to children and partners.
  • Not for people with prostate or male breast cancer; can worsen untreated sleep apnea.

What should you ask a clinician about Testosterone?

  • Have my levels been confirmed with repeat morning tests?
  • How will TRT affect my fertility, and are there alternatives if that matters?
  • What labs will we check, and how often?

These save with the compound when you add it to My Journal, so they’re on the printout for your visit.

How do people get Testosterone through telehealth?

A close-up of a hand typing on a dark laptop keyboard on a white desk; no face, no screen visible, softly lit.

  1. Fill in an online health questionnaire about symptoms, medical history and fertility plans.

  2. Get labs: most programs send an at-home kit or book a draw at a lab like Quest; some accept recent results from your own doctor.

  3. A licensed clinician reviews your results and history, sometimes by video, and decides whether treatment is appropriate. Some states require a live visit.

  4. If prescribed, medication ships to you from a licensed pharmacy, usually on a monthly or longer refill schedule.

  5. Expect repeat labs a few months after starting, then at regular intervals, to check levels, red blood cells and PSA.

Labs you may be asked for

  • Total testosterone on two early-morning tests
  • Free testosterone or SHBG when total testosterone is borderline
  • LH and FSH, to tell where the problem starts
  • Hematocrit or a complete blood count
  • PSA for men over 40

What programs often include

  • Clinician review and prescription
  • Lab testing, sometimes bundled into the monthly price
  • Ongoing messaging with the care team
  • Shipping of medication and supplies

Check your levels first

Some services let you order common lab tests yourself, so the results are ready for your visit. Your clinician decides which labs, if any, you need, and what the results mean.

  • Function HealthAnnual membership for broad lab panels, drawn at Quest sites or at home.
    Visit
  • Quest HealthOrder individual lab tests from Quest Diagnostics online, without a doctor’s visit.
    Visit

From each service’s own site, checked September 23, 2026.

How some providers do it

  • Henry MedsShort online intake, then a visit with a licensed provider. The monthly subscription says it covers visits, labwork, medication and supplies. Eligibility is limited by age and lab criteria.
  • MaximusAt-home lab test before a doctor finalizes the prescription; accepts outside bloodwork from the past six months if it includes total testosterone, SHBG or free testosterone, LH, PSA and hematocrit.
  • Quest HealthNot a prescriber. You can order a total testosterone blood test without a doctor visit and take the results to your own clinician.

From each provider’s own site, checked September 23, 2026. Programs change, so confirm the details before you sign up.

Where can I get Testosterone?

7 providers list Testosterone on DiscoverMedica, lowest listed price first.

Hone HealthCompounded testosterone cypionate injections
Compounded, not FDA-approvedLowest listed priceClinician consult required
From $28/mo + membershiplisted price†
Start at Hone Health
Hone HealthCompounded testosterone cream for women
Compounded, not FDA-approvedClinician consult required
From $60/mo + membershiplisted price†
Start at Hone Health
HealthspanCompounded testosterone topical cream for women
Compounded, not FDA-approvedClinician consult required
$64/mo with membershiplisted price†
Start at Healthspan
Quest HealthTotal testosterone blood test
No prescription
$69.00listed price†
Buy at Quest Health
MaximusInjectable testosterone (TRT)
Clinician consult required
From $99.99/mo with a 6-month planlisted price†
Start at Maximus
Henry MedsTestosterone therapy (compounded, or branded oral Kyzatrex)
Compounded, not FDA-approvedClinician consult required
$129/molisted price†
Start at Henry Meds
Rex MDTestosterone cypionate injection or testosterone gel
Clinician consult required
As low as $250 per monthlisted price†
Start at Rex MD
Amazon PharmacyTestosterone cypionate vial (generic Depo-Testosterone)
Clinician consult required
see site
Start at Amazon Pharmacy
Amazon PharmacyTestosterone gel tubes (generic Testim)
Clinician consult required
see site
Start at Amazon Pharmacy

† Prices as listed by the provider when we checked; they change.

How much does Testosterone cost?

Listed prices run from $28 to $129 a month across 4 providers, as checked October 7, 2026.

Prices as listed by the provider when we checked; they change. Membership or consult fees may be separate; see each provider.

Compare and learn

Testosterone: questions, answered

How do I know if my testosterone is really low?

Guidelines ask for symptoms plus two low results on separate early-morning blood tests. Levels swing during the day and after poor sleep or illness, so one test is not enough.

Will testosterone affect my fertility?

Usually, yes. Outside testosterone tells your body to stop making sperm. If you want children now or soon, ask about options that keep fertility, such as clomiphene-type drugs, before starting.

Is TRT bad for my heart?

The large TRAVERSE trial found no increase in major heart events in men with low testosterone and heart risk. It did see more atrial fibrillation and blood clots in the lungs, and FDA added a blood pressure warning in 2025. Your clinician will weigh your own risks.

Can I get testosterone through telehealth?

Yes. It is a controlled substance, but federal telemedicine rules currently allow it to be prescribed without an in-person visit, and several providers do so after labs. Some states add their own requirements.

Do I have to stay on it forever?

Not necessarily, but symptoms and low levels usually return if you stop, and it can take time for your own production to recover. Talk through a plan before you start.

Important safety information

Key risks

  • It usually suppresses sperm production and can cause infertility; tell your clinician if you want children.
  • It can raise red blood cell counts and blood pressure, so regular labs are needed.
  • Gels carry a boxed warning: skin contact can transfer testosterone to children and partners.
  • Not for people with prostate or male breast cancer; can worsen untreated sleep apnea.

Talk to a clinician first, or avoid it, if

  • Men trying to conceive now or soon, because it usually suppresses sperm production
  • Anyone with prostate or male breast cancer, or an unexplained prostate nodule or raised PSA that has not been checked by a urologist
  • Men with a high red blood cell count, untreated severe sleep apnea or uncontrolled heart failure
  • Anyone who has had a heart attack or stroke in the past several months (the guidelines advise waiting)
  • Women and children should avoid skin contact with testosterone gels, which carry a boxed warning about transfer

This is not a complete list of risks. Read the full prescribing information and any Medication Guide, and talk to a licensed clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. If you have a severe reaction, call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA through MedWatch at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Sources

Also checked for this guide

Guide reviewed September 23, 2026.

Educational information only, not medical advice. It does not replace a conversation with a licensed clinician.

Example journals

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a men’s health clinician
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Example

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What we discuss after bloodwork, not before it.

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