Did you know that a man’s testosterone levels decrease by 1% each year after the age of 30? This means that when you’re into your fifties, your testosterone levels are at least 20% smaller in comparison to when you were 30 years old.
Luckily, there is a thing called Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). TRT is increasingly popular these days and it involves raising your testosterone levels using injections, pellets or creams. But how much do testosterone shots cost? And what budget should you prepare if you want to raise your testosterone levels?
These are all good questions. Dive into this article to find out more about the costs of testosterone injections and TRT in general!
1. Injections Can Cost From Around $30 Up to $300
When people inject testosterone, they usually use testosterone cypionate which is a generic version of the primary male sex hormone. It depends on a lot of factors, but some injections can cost around $30 while others can go up to $300. The dosage as well as the vendor you’re buying them from influences their price. Testosterone injections are administered once every 2 or 4 weeks, so you might need several injections per month for an effective TRT.
2. You Need to Factor In the Cost of Syringes As Well
Most people inject testosterone in their quadriceps or deltoid muscles. This ensures maximum absorption and efficacy. Depending on the doctor’s prescription, some injections might contain 50, 100 or 200mg/mL of testosterone. If your testosterone levels are really low and the doctor recommends it, you might need to inject 200mg/mL once every 2 weeks.
The standard cost of a syringe is about $5. You can buy these syringes online and obtain some discounts for bulk purchases. The dosage and frequency of your testosterone injections dictate how much you’re going to spend every month on your TRT.
3. There Are Other Costs Associated with TRT Such As Doctor’s Visits, Bloodwork, Etc
Obviously, you cannot simply inject testosterone without doing a few tests first. Numerous TRT doctors in the United States can help you. An initial blood test to determine your testosterone levels might cost around $100. You might also need to measure your estrogen levels and this test can cost about $200.
Monitoring your hormones is essential during your TRT, so any bloodwork done (usually once every 3-6 months) will also increase the total cost of the therapy. Some doctors recommend taking a dose of HCG as well as testosterone. HCG is good for men who have fertility problems.
Doctor’s visits are also important in this equation. Again, you need to talk with specialists in TRT and most of the time you’ll need to pay your doctors in cash. Each visit might cost around $100 and any follow-up routines will also be added to your TRT bill. Although this seems like a lot of money, having normal levels of testosterone is worth more than anything.
4. Some Insurance Companies Might Cover the Costs
You might be happy to find out that you can obtain help to finance your TRT. Keep in mind that this treatment option doesn’t restore normal testosterone levels, but increase them using injections, pills, and creams. Most patients might need to do TRT for the rest of their lives, so obtaining any financial help from an insurance company is crucial.
Luckily, there are a lot of insurance companies that might cover some of the costs associated with TRT. This doesn’t mean that you won’t incur out-of-pocket expenses, but having the insurance company for your doctor’s visits is definitely helpful. Make sure that you discuss this with your TRT doctor to find out how you can obtain compensation from your health insurance provider.
5. There Are Health Risks Involved That Might Require Additional Medication
No treatment is perfect and TRT is not an exception to this rule. Although most men experience little to no side effects and enjoy a better quality of life during TRT, some patients are not that lucky. The side effects of TRT include acne development, an increase in breast tissue (gynecomastia), and even hair loss.
Some patients might experience these side effects in various degrees. For example, if your friend on TRT starts to experience significant hair loss problems, you might not even see your hair thinning. Mitigating these side effects is possible using different types of drugs.
Increasing testosterone levels will automatically result in an increase in estrogen. Some of your testosterone is converted to estrogen which is a female sex hormone. Too much estrogen can make your breast tissue grow too much which causes an unattractive appearance. This effect can be reduced using a drug called Anastrazole which prevents the body from converting too much testosterone to estrogen.
Similarly, various shampoos can help with the hair loss problems caused by TRT. If you start to develop acne, there are numerous health products, creams, and pills that might mitigate this side effect. All these drugs might add to the total TRT bill, but only if you really need them.
6. The Cost of TRT Injections Also Varies Depending on Your Location
Not only the dosage and frequency of TRT injections affect their price, but also your location. If you live in a heavily-populated metropolitan area, you should expect to pay more for your injections. On the other hand, people who live in rural areas can get cheaper TRT products simply because the costs of manufacturing and shipping are much lower.
Now You Know How Much Do Testosterone Shots Cost!
Hopefully, this article provided insightful answers to your original question – how much do testosterone shots cost? Now you’re able to prepare a budget and plan your TRT more effectively.
The best thing you can do now is to speak with an experienced TRT doctor. Feel free to ask as many questions as you want such as how many injections do you need per month, what blood tests are required, what out-of-pocket expenses to expect in the future, etc.
Don’t forget to also check out our blog article on testosterone therapy to learn more about its benefits, how it works, and who qualifies for it!
