Here's the short version. There's no single right form of TRT. Injections, gels and capsules each have FDA-approved products, each label flags something different, and prices vary by program [6]. The choice comes down to your routine, your household and your budget. Not sure you need TRT at all? Start with what testosterone therapy is for.
Each form has FDA-approved products, plus compounded creams
| Injection | Gel or cream | Oral capsule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDA-approved examples | Testosterone cypionate (DEPO-Testosterone), enanthate; Xyosted autoinjector [7] [8] | AndroGel gel [9] | Testosterone undecanoate: Jatenzo, Kyzatrex, Tlando [10] |
| Compounded versions | Some programs; not FDA-reviewed | Compounded creams from HealthRx and Maximus | Confirm whether a quoted oral product is FDA-approved undecanoate or a different compounded formulation |
| Boxed warning today | DEPO-Testosterone: none. Xyosted: blood-pressure boxed warning removed March 2025 | Gels: secondary exposure to children | Blood-pressure boxed warnings removed in 2025 |
| Blood pressure | Listed under warnings on the Xyosted label [8] | Listed under warnings on the AndroGel label [9] | Listed under warnings [10] |
| Controlled substance | Schedule III | Schedule III | Schedule III |
| Cost comparison | Confirm the current all-in renewal quote | HealthRx cream one-month plan shown below | Confirm product identity, labs and renewal quote |
FDA also lists patches and a buccal system among approved formulations, while this guide focuses on the three above [6]. Approved products in every form share one indication: adult men with low testosterone from a medical cause [7].
The label warnings differ more than the hormone does
Gels and creams. AndroGel opens with a boxed warning. Children who were exposed to the gel through skin or clothing have shown signs of virilization, meaning early male traits [9]. The label also notes the gel is flammable until dry. If you live with kids, that warning is worth a real conversation.
Virilization has been reported in children who were secondarily exposed to testosterone gel.[9]
Injections. The DEPO-Testosterone label carries no boxed warning section [7]. Xyosted, the under-the-skin autoinjector, had its blood-pressure boxed warning removed in March 2025; blood pressure now sits under Warnings and Precautions [8].
Oral capsules. Jatenzo, Kyzatrex and Tlando also lost their blood-pressure boxed warnings in 2025 [10]. They still list blood pressure increases as a warning, so expect your prescriber to check it.
Compounded creams aren't the same as an approved gel
A compounded cream is mixed by a pharmacy for each patient. FDA doesn't review it before it's dispensed, and the strength is set by the pharmacy and prescriber, not a standard label. Ask which patient-specific need calls for the compounded formulation. It also means no FDA-reviewed data on how evenly it absorbs.
Ask which pharmacy makes it and whether the program re-checks your levels after you start. The same secondary-exposure concern applies to any testosterone you put on your skin.
Cost by form: compare the ongoing monthly price
The table distinguishes confirmed one-month HealthRx quotes from options needing a current written quote. It is not a cheapest-provider ranking. HealthRx's current product pages confirm the figures and inclusions shown [1] [2].
| Provider | Form | Ongoing per month |
|---|---|---|
| HealthRx | Injection | $179 |
| HealthRx | Compounded cream | $206 |
Also offered by (no standing monthly price published): PeterMD, MangoRx, Maximus, TMates, DudeMeds. Labs and visit fees change the real monthly total. Ask for the month-two price in writing.
Some programs list more than one form. Maximus lists injection, cream and oral plans; HealthRx lists injection and cream. The Maximus or PeterMD comparison and the cost guides go further on fees.
Monitoring overlaps, but follows the specific label and patient
The core checks overlap, while schedules and additional tests vary. The labels call for checking red blood cell levels, because testosterone can thicken the blood [8]. They also call for prostate checks such as PSA, plus liver tests and lipids on the gel label [9], and blood pressure across forms.
- Red blood cells (hematocrit): checked on a schedule your prescriber sets.
- Prostate: PSA and symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
- Blood pressure: now a labeled warning on oral, autoinjector and gel products.
- Fertility: large doses may suppress sperm production, whatever the form [8].
If fertility matters to you now, a different approach may fit better; see enclomiphene or testosterone.
Questions to bring to your prescriber
- Which form fits my routine and my household, especially with kids at home?
- Is the product FDA-approved or compounded, and which pharmacy makes it?
- Which labs do you check, and how often, and are they included in the price?
- What's the month-two total once labs and visits are added?
Want a short list matched to your goal first? Try the 30-second match or browse the hormones shortlist.