Question: I’m considering testosterone therapy. How can I know how much I should take and whether I should go for an injection, or a patch, or gel?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:

Testosterone therapy is intended to address hormone deficiencies related to disease or genetics. The use of testosterone as an anti-aging product has been discounted, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent a warning to physicians in late 2014 of the adverse consequences of inappropriate testosterone use.

These include heart attack, accelerated vessel disease, strokes, and terribly disabling consequences for some. If testosterone therapy is advised, most patients do very well with a patch or gel.

Injectable formulations used to be the only form available, and they are still preferred by many because of convenience and the fact that they are not required to be administered daily.