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Host: So testosterone replacement — injection, gel form, pill form — what would be the best type?
Dr. Stengler: The two main forms we use with patients are: number one, a transdermal gel — a topical testosterone cream or gel applied to the skin in the morning that absorbs through the skin and gets into the bloodstream. That's a common way to increase testosterone levels. It works well and it's quite cost-effective. You do have to be careful not to contaminate other family members or friends with it — once you've applied the cream, for a couple of hours if you're touching someone else's skin it could transfer to them. So that could be a problem, especially if you have young children. The other main form used is the injection, which is normally done once a week or every two weeks at the longest. That's a good option too, especially if you have young children. Most patients choose the transdermal gel form, and a lot of conventional doctors are actually starting to recommend that form as well.
Host: So you can't take it as a pill or sublingual — is that just not the most effective way?
Dr. Stengler: No one really uses the pill form anymore. It can be too hard on the liver. When you use the injection or the gel form, it's not hard on the liver at all. Sublingual can be used — that's where you have tablets that dissolve under the tongue — but we typically don't use that form because it doesn't last very long in the body. A sublingual tablet stays in your bloodstream for about two to three hours, whereas the transdermal gel lasts pretty much throughout the day, and an injection lasts at least a week.
Host: Thanks, Dr. Stengler. We've got to take a quick break — thanks for joining us. We will be back talking more on men and testosterone.
Gel form? Pill form? How do we help men replace testosterone? Primarily, we use two forms at the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine: transdermal gel or injection. Transdermal gel is cost effective and works well, but you do have to watch out not to contaminate other family members by touching them, especially kids. Injection is weekly or biweekly, and is a good option for those who spend time near small children. Check out our short video for a little more on how we help men get additional testosterone when they need it. And if you suffer from low testosterone or other hormone levels, call the Stengler Center right away for an appointment to get your levels tested.
