Most prescribed
Injectable (testosterone cypionate)
A small injection under the skin or into a muscle, usually weekly or every other week.
Good for: Steady, predictable levels.
Keep in mind: You'll learn to self-inject. It takes a few minutes.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)Your energy. Your drive. Your strength. Restored.
Provider-prescribed testosterone for men with low testosterone confirmed by lab work. Labs before you start, monitoring while you're on it, and a provider licensed in your state.
From $169/moLabs before you startAvailable in select states
Reading a testosterone resultMove the marker
ng/dL total testosterone
Within the typical adult range (about 300 to 1,000 ng/dL). If you still have symptoms, your provider looks at free testosterone and other causes.
An educational illustration of how results are commonly read, not a diagnosis. Reference ranges vary by lab, and a provider reads your results alongside your symptoms.
Is this you?
Is Low Testosterone Affecting Your Life?
Testosterone tends to decline slowly with age, often about 1% a year after 30. Many men have symptoms long before anyone checks their levels.
Check any that sound familiar.
Why we test first
These symptoms overlap with many other things, like poor sleep, sleep apnea, thyroid problems, low iron, depression, or medications. Symptoms alone can't diagnose low testosterone. A blood test can, which is why every plan starts with labs.
The science
How Testosterone Replacement Therapy Works
Here's the hormone chain in plain words.
Your brain sends the signal
Your brain's pituitary gland releases a hormone called LH, which tells the testes to make testosterone.
Production can slow down
With age, or with some health conditions, that signal or the response to it weakens, and testosterone levels drop.
TRT supplies it directly
TRT gives your body testosterone from outside, bringing levels back into a normal range. Your own production usually slows while you're on it.
In plain English
Think of testosterone like a dial for energy, strength and drive. TRT doesn't create a superhuman. The goal is to bring a low level back into a normal range, not to push it as high as possible.
What to Expect and When
- Weeks 1 to 2
Getting started
Changes are subtle. Some men notice better sleep first.
- Weeks 4 to 6
Energy and mood
Many men notice more energy and a steadier mood.
- Weeks 8 to 12
Libido and strength
Sex drive, strength and recovery often improve.
- Week 12+
Fuller effects
Body composition and focus changes build. Labs confirm your levels.
- Month 6+
Maintenance
Your provider fine-tunes your dose based on labs and how you feel.
Typical timing. Everyone responds differently.
Delivery options
Three Ways to Take Testosterone — Clinician Recommended.
Your provider recommends the form that fits your lifestyle and labs. Every option includes the same monitoring.
No needles
Topical gel
Rubbed into the shoulders, upper arms or abdomen once a day.
Good for: Men who don't want injections.
Keep in mind: Avoid skin contact with partners or children until it dries, since testosterone can transfer.
Once daily
Oral tablet
A daily tablet, where your provider and state allow it.
Good for: Men who want neither injections nor gel.
Keep in mind: Not every form is available in every state.
Illustrations. Availability of each form depends on your state and your provider's recommendation.
Full transparency
What Labs Are Required — And Why We Require Them
Testosterone is a prescription hormone and a controlled substance. Labs make it safe.
Before you start
- Total and free testosterone, usually on two separate mornings
- A blood count (hematocrit)
- Estradiol
- PSA (prostate screening) for men 40 and over
- A metabolic panel, and others your provider orders
While you're on it
- Testosterone and estradiol to fine-tune your dose
- Hematocrit, since testosterone can thicken the blood
- PSA for men 40 and over
- Blood pressure
- A fuller panel about once a year
Labs are drawn at a Quest or Labcorp location near you. Your provider sets your monitoring schedule.
Protecting Testicular Function During TRT
Because TRT gives you testosterone from outside, your body usually makes less of its own, and sperm production drops. That can shrink the testes and lower fertility. If keeping fertility matters, your provider may add gonadorelin, or recommend enclomiphene instead.
Managing Estrogen During TRT
Some testosterone naturally converts to estrogen. A little is healthy. Too much can cause breast tenderness or water retention. Your provider checks estradiol on your labs and only adds an estrogen-blocking medicine like anastrozole if your labs show it's needed.
State availability
See what's available where you live
Testosterone is a controlled medication, so where we can prescribe it depends on state rules. Some states may also require a video visit. Pick your state to see your options.
Choose a state to see availability.
Pricing
TRT Pricing — Everything Included
One monthly price for your medication, provider care and ongoing labs. Your price doesn't change with your dose.
Available now
Testosterone replacement therapy
From$169/month, billed every 4 weeks
- Your testosterone prescription
- Licensed provider visits and dose adjustments
- Ongoing monitoring labs
- Estrogen management if your labs call for it
- Patient portal and messaging
Good to know about cost
- A one-time initial lab fee of $50 before your first prescription
- Optional gonadorelin ($35/mo), only if your provider recommends it, billed separately
- Cancel any time before your next billing date
Not included: care coaching. FSA and HSA accepted. Insurance isn't billed.
Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance. Some states require a video visit before prescribing.
Is it right for me?
Who Qualifies — and Who Should Discuss Carefully
TRT is for men with low testosterone confirmed by labs. It isn't for everyone.
✓Good candidates
- Men 25 and older with symptoms of low testosterone
- Low testosterone confirmed on two separate morning blood tests
- Men who are OK with ongoing labs and check-ins
- Men who aren't trying to have children soon, or who have discussed fertility with their provider
!Who it's not for
- Prostate or breast cancer, now or in the past
- Trying to conceive now or soon (enclomiphene may fit better)
- A high blood count (hematocrit) that hasn't been evaluated
- Untreated severe sleep apnea
- A heart attack or stroke in the last 6 months, or uncontrolled heart failure
- An elevated PSA or prostate symptoms that haven't been checked
Your provider reviews your history, medications and labs before prescribing, and may suggest a different option.
Side effects
Side Effects — What the Research Shows
Most side effects are manageable and show up on routine labs.
Common
Acne or oily skin, fluid retention, breast tenderness, and smaller testes. Usually manageable with dose changes.
Thicker blood
Testosterone can raise your red blood cell count (hematocrit). It’s checked on your labs and managed with dose changes or a pause.
Fertility
TRT lowers sperm production. Talk to your provider before starting if you want children.
Heart health
In the TRAVERSE trial of 5,246 men, major heart events occurred in 7.0% of men on testosterone vs. 7.3% on placebo. Your provider also monitors your blood pressure.
Why Long-Term Monitoring Matters
Regular labs catch changes in blood count, estrogen and prostate markers early, keep your dose in a healthy range, and are what make TRT safe to stay on.
Know the difference
TRT vs. Over-the-Counter Testosterone Boosters
Boosters sold online are not the same category of treatment as prescription TRT.
Prescription TRTOTC “boosters”
What it isTestosterone itselfHerbs, zinc or amino acids
Regulated asA prescription and controlled substanceA dietary supplement
Effect on levelsMeasurable, confirmed on labsLittle evidence in men with true low T
OversightLabs, a provider and monitoringNone
Works well with
Programs That Work Well With TRT
Separate programs your provider may pair with TRT.
TRT + Sermorelin
Sermorelin supports sleep and recovery through your own growth hormone signaling.
Learn about sermorelinTRT + NAD+
NAD+ supports cellular energy, a different pathway from testosterone.
Learn about NAD+TRT + Hair Restoration
Testosterone can speed hair loss in men who are prone to it. A hair plan can help.
Hair restorationHow it works
From Assessment to First Dose — What to Expect
- Step 1
Take the quiz
About 5 minutes on your symptoms and health history.
- Step 2
Get your labs
Visit a Quest or Labcorp near you. Results go straight to your provider.
- Step 3
Provider review
A provider licensed in your state reviews your labs, usually within 24 to 48 hours. Some states require a video visit.
- Step 4
Treatment ships
If you're prescribed, it ships discreetly from a U.S.-licensed pharmacy, with ongoing labs on your provider's schedule.
TRT Questions Answered
Straight answers. If your question isn't here, our care team will answer it.
Don't see your city? We serve all 50 states. See all TRT locations we serve
A morning blood test measuring total and free testosterone is the most reliable way. Symptoms alone aren’t diagnostic — your provider orders labs before prescribing to confirm clinical need.
Total testosterone measures all the testosterone in your blood, including the portion bound to proteins and largely unavailable to your tissues. Free testosterone measures the smaller fraction your body can actually use. Your labs include both, since a normal total reading can still come with a low free testosterone level.
Primary means the testes aren’t producing enough testosterone even when the pituitary signal is normal. Secondary means the testes are capable, but the pituitary or hypothalamus isn’t sending an adequate signal. Secondary cases are sometimes addressed with enclomiphene instead of TRT directly — your labs and intake determine which pattern applies.
At-home kits can be a reasonable first signal, but they typically measure total testosterone only, using a less precise sample than a venous blood draw, and don’t come with a provider to interpret the result. Your provider orders lab testing through Quest or Labcorp.
Check the state tool above. If TRT isn’t offered in your state, enclomiphene — our non-steroid alternative — may be a good fit.
Injection is the most common delivery method, and most patients find it straightforward after the first time. Gel and oral options also exist in some states. Your provider recommends what fits best.
Yes. TRT lowers sperm production. If you’re trying to conceive or want to preserve that option, talk to your provider before starting — gonadorelin can help maintain testicular function, and enclomiphene is an alternative that supports natural testosterone without suppressing fertility.
Not necessarily. Some patients use TRT for a defined period then transition to enclomiphene to restore natural production. Others continue long-term — this is a decision you make with your provider over time.
Labs are reviewed on the schedule your provider sets, and your dose is adjusted if needed.
Coverage for TRT varies by insurance plan and is not guaranteed. Like all Bold You programs, TRT is offered on a direct-pay basis — we recommend checking with your insurance provider about your specific coverage before enrolling.
Yes. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance, which is why state rules, labs, and in some states a video visit, are required.
At doses that keep levels in a normal range, most men don’t notice aggression. Tell your provider about any mood changes.
Your drive is worth a blood test.
Take the quiz, get your labs, and a licensed provider in your state reviews your results.