Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) involves getting testosterone injections on a regular basis to treat low testosterone levels. The cost per testosterone shot can vary quite a bit depending on several factors:
- Type of testosterone - There are different types of injectable testosterone that can be prescribed:
- Testosterone cypionate - One of the most commonly prescribed injectable testosterones. Typically needs to be injected every 1-2 weeks.
- Testosterone enanthate - Another very common injectable. Also typically injected every 1-2 weeks.
- Testosterone propionate - A shorter-acting injectable, usually needs to be injected 2-3 times per week.
- Dosage - The dose of testosterone prescribed can impact the cost per shot. Doses usually range from 100-200 mg per shot for cypionate and enanthate.
- Brand vs. generic - Brand name injectables like Depo-Testosterone can be more expensive than generic versions.
- Where it's obtained - Prices can vary depending on whether someone gets their prescription from a local pharmacy, online pharmacy, clinic, compounding pharmacy, etc. Online and compounding pharmacies sometimes offer lower prices.
- Insurance coverage - Those with health insurance that covers testosterone may have lower out-of-pocket costs. But many insurance plans don't cover it.
- Office visit fees - If getting TRT shots from a physician's office or clinic, there will likely be charges for the doctor visits and injections on top of the medication cost itself.
Typical testosterone cypionate costs:
- Generic - Usually $5-20 per shot from an online or local pharmacy for 200mg/ml. So $10-40 per month.
- Brand name (Depo-Testosterone) - Roughly $50-100 per shot from a pharmacy. So $100-200 per month.
- From a men's health clinic - Usually a weekly or biweekly program costing something like $100-300 per month depending on dosage. That may include consultations, injections, labs, etc.
So all factors considered,
testosterone injection costs often range from around $30-500 per month on average. But it varies quite a bit case-by-case.
Things that affect testosterone prescription costs:
- Type of testosterone used
- Brand vs. generic
- Dosage and frequency
- Where it's obtained from
- Doctor's office fees
- Insurance coverage or lack of it
Most men require 100-200mg injections weekly or biweekly. So calculate cost based on price per shot and number of shots needed per month. Those with insurance that covers testosterone or using online/compounding pharmacies generally pay less out-of-pocket.
Why TRT costs can be expensive:
- Lifelong treatment - Most men require TRT long-term or lifelong, making cumulative costs high over time.
- Lack of insurance coverage - Many plans won't cover testosterone treatment, leaving men to pay full price out-of-pocket.
- Brand vs. generic - Branded versions (like Depo-Testosterone) are pricier than generics.
- Office fees - Doctor consultations and injection charges rack up costs.
- Compounding requirements - For customized doses/mixtures, must use specialty compounding pharmacies at greater expense.
So TRT can get very expensive over the long run. But there are ways to reduce costs, like using generics, getting insurance coverage, finding the best local pharmacies, or using reputable online men's health clinics or telemedicine providers. But total out-of-pocket costs may still be thousands per year for most men.
