Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in males. It is responsible for the typical male characteristics such as facial and body hair as well as muscle development. This hormone also helps maintain sex drive, sperm production, and plays an important role in bone health. When testosterone production is reduced for some reason, the effects can be quite wide-ranging and in some cases quite debilitating. There are a range of treatment options, but how much does testosterone cost?

Low testosterone can cause a drop in sex drive, poor erections, low sperm count, enlarged breasts, loss of body hair, loss of muscle bulk and strength, and weight gain. Over time, low testosterone may also cause osteoporosis, mood changes, exhaustion, and smaller testes. Signs and symptoms will vary from person to person, but if you have any of the symptoms it is important to visit your GP and to have a test to ascertain your testosterone levels. The great news is that if you are symptomatic and your test reveals that you do indeed fall below normal levels, then alongside with some lifestyle changes, there are several ways to successfully treat low testosterone and get your life back on track.

Ideally, you should try to visit a private men’s health GP such as Dr Jeff Foster, who uses treatments that are used widely by the NHS and recommended by endocrinologists but has the added advantage of more autonomy in treating individual patients. What this means in practice is that private doctors treat patients with wider ranges of testosterone levels depending on symptoms as well as test results. Also, not all GP’s are qualified to prescribe testosterone therapies, so they may refer you to an endocrinologist who will repeat the tests before prescribing treatment. That process can take a lot of time, especially if you are feeling like rubbish for most of it. The other benefit of a private men’s health doctor is that they will match the treatment to your lifestyle as there are various treatments out there which, although they will all work effectively, are not one-size-fits-all methods of treating low testosterone.

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Testosterone Cost: Injections

The injections cost around £4-5 each and last 2-3 weeks, varying from person to person. For obvious reasons, if you have a phobia of needles then being injected every 2-3 weeks will not appeal to you. Testosterone injections are most often given by your doctor, typically in the gluteal muscles in the buttocks. However, your doctor may allow you to self-administer the injections. In that case, the injection site would be in your thigh muscles.

Testosterone Cost: Gel

The gel costs around £25-£30 for one month’s supply. The gel is ideal for needle-phobic patients but not great for the more hirsute amongst us as it will prevent the gel from being absorbed into the skin effectively. The gel is rubbed on to the shoulders where it is absorbed through the skin, enters your bloodstream, and helps your body reach normal testosterone levels.

Nebido:

Nebido is injected into a muscle in your body and costs around £100 per shot but lasts 9-12 weeks. Nebido is stored in the muscle where it is gradually released over a period of time. So, it is ideal for those who travel or can not visit their doctor’s surgery regularly as it is efficacious for a longer time period than its counterparts.

There are pros and cons to all of these methods, so it is important that you have the time to discuss your lifestyle with your doctor. Also, no treatment is entirely without risk, so following treatment, you will be monitored carefully. These are probably the most important reasons for choosing who treats you very carefully. The effects of low testosterone can be far-reaching and have an impact on family life and even affect the efficacy of your work, so if you have any of the symptoms it is important to seek help so you can restore the status quo and reclaim your life.

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About Dr Jeff Foster

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A Men’s Health specialist and Medical Director and founder of H3 Health.  I’m passionate about raising awareness of all aspects of Men’s Health, and heavily involved in both teaching and health promotion.   I’m a committee member of the British Society of Sexual Medicine, and have been involved in writing the most recent national guidelines for testosterone deficiency in men.

Get in touch with Dr Jeff

If you are a prospective patient and wish to see Dr Jeff privately, then you can book an appointment via H3 Health (03309 120769 – National Rate).  Alternatively if you are a member of the Media, then please use our contact form for media enquiries.