Testosterone Gel
Overview
Testosterone gel is applied daily to the skin, providing steady hormone levels without injections. It's a popular choice for those who want to avoid needles or prefer stable daily levels over the peaks and troughs of injections.
| Brand | Concentration | Typical Dose | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| AndroGel | 1% (10 mg/g) | 25–100 mg/day | $$$ (prescription) |
| Testogel | 1% (10 mg/g) | 25–100 mg/day | $$–$$$ |
| Cernos Gel (India) | 1% (10 mg/g) | 25–100 mg/day | $ (DIY source) |
| Testoheal Gel (India) | 1% (10 mg/g) | 25–100 mg/day | $ (DIY source) |
| Testosign Gel (India) | 1% (10 mg/g) | 25–100 mg/day | $ (DIY source) |
| Testoboon Gel (India) | 1% (10 mg/g) | 25–100 mg/day | $ (DIY source; 80g tube) |
| Generic gel | Various | 25–100 mg/day | Varies |
How to Apply
- Apply to clean, dry skin on shoulders, upper arms, or abdomen
- Spread a thin layer over a large area (not just a small spot)
- Allow 3–5 minutes to dry completely before dressing
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after application
- Cover the area with clothing once dry
Transfer warning
Testosterone gel can transfer to others through skin contact. Cover the application area with clothing. Avoid contact with children, pregnant women, or partners until fully absorbed (1+ hours). If direct skin contact occurs, wash the area immediately with soap and water.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Steady T levels (no peaks/troughs) | Daily application required |
| No needles (good for needle phobia) | Transfer risk to others |
| Easy to adjust dose (just change amount) | More expensive than injections per month |
| Good for sensitive skin (vs. patches) | Skin irritation possible at application site |
| Less drastic if supply chain breaks | Higher cumulative cost over time |
| Lower legal risk for import (gel < controlled than injectables) | Some find daily routine tedious |
Which Gel Product Should You Choose?
| Situation | Recommended Product |
|---|---|
| You have a prescription | AndroGel, Testogel, or generic gel from a local pharmacy |
| DIY — best value | Testoboon Gel 80g tube (~$31–35, lasts 2+ months) |
| DIY — single packets (easy to travel) | Cernos Gel sachets (~$3–4 each) |
| DIY — cheapest per sachet | Testogel from Cheap Medicine Shop (~$2.30/sachet) |
| DIY — widest selection | IndiaMart marketplace (multiple brands, compare prices) |
| DIY — EU/UK shipping | DashPCT (Germany warehouse) or Safe Generic Pharmacy (UK) |
Sourcing Testosterone Gel
WARNING
Testosterone is a controlled substance in most countries. Importing without a prescription carries legal risk. This information is for educational purposes only.
Online Sources (Specific Product Links)
| Source | Specific Product | Approx. Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| DashPCT (Germany) | Testoheal Gel 5gm tube | ~$3.00/tube | Buy here |
| DashPCT (Germany) | Cernos Gel 1% | — | Buy here |
| Safe Generic Pharmacy (UK) | Testosign Gel 1% (5g sachets) | — | Buy here |
| Safe Generic Pharmacy (UK) | Testoboon Gel 80g tube | $31.33–$35.00 | Buy here |
| Cheap Medicine Shop (Bulgaria) | Cernos Gel 1% (14 sachets) | $50.80/box | Buy here |
| Cheap Medicine Shop (Bulgaria) | Testogel (14 sachets) | $32.20/box | Buy here |
| Cheap Medicine Shop (Bulgaria) | Full testosterone gel category | Varies | Browse all |
| IndiaMart (India) | Cernos Gel 1% (14 sachets) | ~₹1,470/box | View listing |
| IndiaMart (India) | Testosterone gel search | Varies | Browse sellers |
Cost Comparison
- Testogel (Cheap Medicine Shop): $32.20 for 14 sachets = $2.30/sachet. At 1 sachet/day, that's ~$69/month.
- Testoboon 80g tube: $35 for an 80g tube. At ~2g gel/day (≈20mg T/day), that's ~$9/month — significantly cheaper than sachets.
The tube format is dramatically more cost-effective if you can measure your dose accurately.
How to Measure Gel From a Tube
If you buy a multi-dose tube (like Testoboon 80g) instead of single-use sachets:
- Know your target dose (e.g., 50 mg T/day)
- For 1% gel: 50 mg T = 5 g of gel (about 1 teaspoon)
- Use a precision scale (0.1g accuracy) to measure your dose
- Apply the measured amount to your skin
- Store the tube at room temperature, tightly capped
How to Measure Gel From Sachets
Most sachets contain 5g of 1% gel = 50mg of testosterone. If your prescribed dose is different:
- 25 mg/day: Use half a sachet (store the rest in a sealed container for next day — use within 24 hours)
- 50 mg/day: Use one full sachet
- 75 mg/day: Use 1.5 sachets
- 100 mg/day: Use 2 sachets
Avoiding Squeeze Tube Style Gels
WARNING
Do NOT buy squeeze tube style gels without clear dosage markings. These are typically designed for direct application to specific body parts (like the scrotum) and have very different absorption rates compared to standard shoulder/arm application.
The author has had good experience ordering from IndiaMart due to the lower cost and wider availability of options, but only purchase sachet or clearly-dosed tube formats.
Switching Between Gel and Injections
If you want to switch from gel to injections (or vice versa):
| Current Form | Switching To | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Gel | Injections | Start injections at standard dose; gel can be stopped immediately (no taper needed) |
| Injections | Gel | Start gel immediately after your last injection would have been due; it takes ~5 half-lives (3–4 weeks) for injected T to clear |
Always test blood levels 4–6 weeks after switching to confirm levels are in target range.
References
- UCSF Transgender Care. Masculinising hormone therapy. https://transcare.ucsf.edu/guidelines/masculinizing-hormone-therapy
- r/FTMDIY. Testosterone gel sourcing and reviews. https://www.reddit.com/r/FTMDIY/
- diyhrt.market. HRT sourcing aggregator. https://diyhrt.market/