If you’re concerned about low testosterone (Low-T), you may be wondering if testosterone replacement therapy is right for you. Testosterone replacement can help increase your testosterone levels and improve your quality of life. Testosterone therapy can be an affordable way to improve your health and well-being. Often, one of the most important questions we are asked at Ehormones MD is “how much does testosterone replacement therapy cost?”. This is a very important question and one that requires thorough details. Before we dive into the cost associated with testosterone therapy, let’s understand what testosterone replacement therapy can do for you and why it may be a vital piece missing from your body’s complex puzzle.
What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
Testosterone replacement therapy is a treatment for Low-T. Testosterone replacement involves introducing exogenous testosterone to your body. Exogenous simply means that the testosterone is not naturally produced by your body; instead, your doctor is prescribing it to you.
Testosterone replacement therapy also includes monitoring, blood tests, and can include supplemental treatments. Your doctor will work with you to determine the most effective treatment plan for you and your body’s unique biochemistry. They will also regularly evaluate you for any side effects and treat these as necessary.
The goal of testosterone replacement therapy, no matter what form it ultimately takes, is to increase the testosterone in your body. This can help you feel more energized and increase your sexual drive. Testosterone also has many other effects on the male body.
How Can Testosterone Replacement Therapy Help Me?
While testosterone replacement therapy can increase energy and libido, it can also improve your health in many other ways. To fully understand how testosterone replacement improves men’s health, let’s quickly recap the role of testosterone in the body.
During puberty, testosterone levels spike in young men. Testosterone is primarily responsible for the development of sexual characteristics in men. It jump-starts muscle development. It initiates the growth of facial and body hair. It drives sexual urges.
In adults, testosterone also plays an important role in overall health. It continues to support muscle growth. It aids in sexual desire and erection. It helps maintain body composition and reduces excess fat, especially belly fat. It can also contribute to mood, energy levels, and sleep quality.
As men age, our bodies naturally slow down the production of testosterone. This starts as early as age 30. However, most men don’t notice decreased testosterone levels until their mid-40s, though this varies with each individual.
When our bodies reduce testosterone production, it can have a variety of negative effects, including reduced sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, weight gain, difficulty sleeping, irritability or depression, and decreased muscle mass.
Testosterone replacement therapy helps you to restore your body’s natural testosterone balance. Returning you to a healthy level of testosterone can improve your overall quality of life. Testosterone replacement can help alleviate any of the symptoms of Low-T. Overall, this will help you look and feel better.
How Much Does Testosterone Replacement Therapy Cost?
Testosterone replacement therapy can vary greatly in cost. The type of therapy you receive will impact the cost as will the frequency of treatment. If you search the internet, you will find a wide range of cost estimates. Some sources place the average as low as $10-30 a month for oral testosterone pills. Others say closer to $100 a month. At the high end, estimates can be between $500 and $1,000 per month for testosterone injections! Keep in mind, these estimates often don’t factor in additional costs of treatment, including office visits and blood work.
Many other factors determine the total cost of treatment:
- The type of treatment (oral, injection, patch, cream, etc.)
- Your insurance copay, if any
- Whether generic medications are available
- The number of doctor’s visits you need and the frequency of treatment
- The overall cost of medical care in your city
- Any additional blood tests needed
- Additional medications you may need
As we’ll explore below, testosterone replacement therapy includes prescription testosterone, but it also includes lab visits and potentially other medications. Each individual is unique, so your treatment plan will reflect your individual needs.
While you might be tempted to shop around, remember that this is your body, and you don’t want to wager your health to save a few bucks. Furthermore, the cheapest treatment available is likely not the most effective. It is important to seek out a qualified physician who can support your treatment and address any side effects.
Testosterone therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution to Low-T. Investing more money in high-quality treatment will often yield the best results.
How Does the Cost of Different Types of Testosterone Replacement Therapy Compare?
Another factor that affects the cost of treatment is the type of testosterone prescribed. We already mentioned generics. If a generic medication is available, the cost of treatment will be significantly less. If there is no generic available, treatment might be more expensive.
In addition, testosterone can be administered in several forms. You can take oral pills, receive injections, apply patches to your skin, or use topical creams. Each formulation is slightly different and thus, carries a different price tag. Even among injections, the price can vary depending on the inclusion of various additives.
Although the price may be a consideration when seeking testosterone replacement therapy, remember that the outcome is the most important factor. It does you no good to choose a less effective form of treatment and have an unfavorable outcome. It’s much better to spend a little more money and follow the advice of your doctor. That way, you’ll be much more likely to benefit from testosterone replacement therapy.
Based on your unique situation, your doctor may recommend one type of testosterone over another. Although all formulations contain the same medication, the duration of effect can vary. This is an important point. If your testosterone levels are much lower than average, a longer-acting form of testosterone may be more effective. Alternatively, you can receive treatment more frequently.
Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy Covered by Insurance?
Testosterone replacement therapy is covered by some insurance companies some of the time. This will largely depend on the provider, your level of coverage, and whether you have an underlying health condition.
When it comes to insurance providers, there are rarely easy answers. Be sure to check your coverage or call customer service to see if testosterone replacement will be covered. Make sure your doctor is in your provider’s network to avoid additional fees.
Most insurance companies will provide some coverage for testosterone replacement therapy. If you have a health condition for which you need testosterone, this will almost always be covered.
However, if you have Low-T and wish to undergo testosterone replacement therapy, things can get tricky. Your insurance may not consider this a health issue. It’s similar to cosmetic surgery: you can survive without it. Sure, your quality of life will be impacted, but you won’t suffer any serious complications.
Because Low-T affects many facets of our lives, testosterone replacement can do more than just improve your sex drive. For this reason, you’ll find many providers will cover some of the costs of testosterone therapy.
What to Avoid When Starting Testosterone Replacement Therapy
If you are concerned about Low-T and want to start testosterone replacement therapy, make sure you do it right. Speak to a licensed endocrinologist. They will work with you to determine a treatment plan that is right for your body. They will order blood work and run tests to see how to help you.
Any doctor offering to give you testosterone pills with no consultation or examination is a big red flag. Avoid these people!
Testosterone replacement therapy is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Your doctor will need to evaluate your unique condition to help you find the right treatment plan. You wouldn’t trust a surgeon to operate blindly without examining your body. Likewise, you shouldn’t trust anyone to prescribe testosterone without understanding your body’s unique needs.
There are many online services that purport to provide testosterone pills in the mail without a prescription. These are scams and can be very dangerous. At best, the pills will be a placebo and won’t do anything for you. At worst, you could have an adverse reaction that lands you in the hospital.
Another common substitute for receiving testosterone from a licensed physician is to look for treatment outside the U.S. This is also dangerous for many of the same reasons. First, prescribing laws differ in other countries. Again, you run the risk of receiving a treatment that is generic, rather than tailored to your body. (This can cause serious harm!) Second, manufacturing laws may also differ, meaning the substance and purity aren’t regulated as strictly as in the U.S. You risk receiving a product with harmful impurities.
When it comes to testosterone replacement therapy (as with all things), if it seems to good to be true, it probably is. The most reliable treatment will come from a licensed physician with experience treating Low-T. Seriously, guys, trust the professionals.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy Is More Than a Prescription
In addition to all the risks of fraudulent treatment, there are risks associated with genuine treatment. So, even if you don’t get scammed, you could be doing your body more harm than good. That’s because testosterone replacement therapy does not only include prescription testosterone. It actually involves much more than just exogenous testosterone.
First, let’s take a look at some of the risks involved with testosterone replacement. Like many prescription medications, testosterone can cause side effects. One particularly dangerous side effect is an increase in the number of red blood cells. As red blood cells increase in number, you increase your risk of blood clots, which can increase your risk for heart attack and stroke.
Another side effect of exogenous testosterone is a natural response by your body to stop producing sperm, which can lead to infertility. As you receive exogenous testosterone, your body will no longer rely on its natural testosterone production, which takes place in the testes. As your testes stop producing testosterone, they will also slow or stop sperm production. This may be a more serious concern for men who wish to have children.
Finally, testosterone treatment can actually cause the body to produce more estrogen. Even men need a little estrogen for normal bodily functions, but excess estrogen can cause your breast tissue to grow. Again, not something most men want.
These side effects shouldn’t scare you away from testosterone replacement therapy. In fact, the risk of dangerous or undesirable side effects is actually very low if you receive testosterone replacement under the supervision of a qualified doctor.
Your doctor will monitor your blood to make sure your red blood cells don’t proliferate too much. In addition, you may also need to take additional medications to prevent side effects of testosterone replacement therapy. Your doctor can help you with all of this. Taking testosterone on your own (from any source) is a recipe for disaster.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy Is Tailored to Each Individual Body
As we discussed above, testosterone replacement therapy is not a quick and easy solution. Your doctor will work with you to find the right dosage and treatment plan. They will monitor your blood for testosterone, estrogen, and other chemicals to make sure the treatment is working and not causing dangerous side effects.
The dosage each man needs will vary. The dosage you can tolerate will also vary. The need for additional medications… well, you get the picture. Your treatment plan will be tailored to your individual needs.
The doctors at Ehormones MD have experience navigating the complexities of testosterone replacement therapy. They can make sure you receive the treatment you need to restore your testosterone levels and improve your quality of life.
Schedule a Personalized Consultation Today!
If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of Low-T, it’s time to schedule a consultation with our experienced professionals. Our doctors will evaluate your unique situation to determine whether testosterone replacement therapy is right for you.
Even if you’ve tried testosterone replacement before with little or no results, we may be able to help. The physicians at Ehormones focus specifically on testosterone replacement and can often produce results where others have failed. This is because we focus very precisely on your individual needs. Throughout the course of treatment, we will evaluate and adjust your treatment as needed.
Don’t suffer any longer! Contact us today for a free consultation to see how our experts can help you.
