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Looking for a way to treat your low testosterone levels? A testosterone cream might just be the solution you were looking for! Testosterone levels drop as you age, and for men and women alike, the effects can really impact one’s way of living.
You might have less energy, you might lose strength, you might sense your libido is lacking. All this – and more – is connected to low testosterone, and may be solved with the right solution.
Can topical testosterone – testosterone cream for men or women – be the answer? What are the benefits and – maybe more importantly – what are the testosterone cream side effects? Read on to find out!
- What is testosterone cream?
- Testosterone cream for women
- What options are available?
- How to use testosterone cream?
- Testosterone creams vs testosterone shots
- Benefits of testosterone creams
- Risks and side effects
- What are alternative options?
What is testosterone cream?
Suffering from low testosterone can be horrible, but luckily, there are several ways to get your t-levels back up again. Testosterone cream is one such solution. It’s a topical solution, which is directly applied to the skin.
Even though it’s commonly referred to as “testosterone cream”, the product is often actually more a gel than a cream. Regardless of how you like to classify it, it remains a topical solution, meaning you apply it by rubbing it in your skin. By doing so, it goes directly into your bloodstream.
This makes it an easy-to-use and convenient type of testosterone treatment, because you don’t have to worry about any surgeries or needles. Just rub it on and see your testosterone levels soar!
Testosterone cream is a prescription drug, and you should never use it without consulting with your doctor first. A doctor may prescribe it to treat hypogonadism, which is a condition in which the male body doesn’t produce enough testosterone on its own.
Testosterone cream for women
For women, testosterone gel/cream is especially used during menopause. Increasing testosterone may help fight the symptoms associated with the menopause such as a decreased sex drive, lower energy levels, and less stamina. It is even said to be beneficial for your skin!
Other uses might be to improve one’s mood, increase metabolism, and helping with weight loss and dieting.
What options are available?
So what options do you have? What different creams are out there? Are they all the same?
There are several topical testosterone products on the market, and all are manufactured slightly differently and therefore may require a different doses or should be applied to a different part of the body. Be sure to check with your doctor and read the instructions carefully before use.
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Some well-known US brand names are:
- Androgel
- Axiron
- Fortesta
- Testim
- Vogelxo
How to use testosterone cream?
Now with testosterone we tend to think about, well, the “downstairs department”. True, testosterone is produced in the gonads/testicles (the ovaries for women) and it’s in many ways connected to the state of your little (or big, sorry…) friend down there.
Because of that, many people often just assume you apply the solution where the problem is; they assume you have to rub it on your manhood.
Truth is though, that all testosterone creams specifically state NOT to rub it on your penis or testicles! That’s right, do not rub testosterone cream on your genitals.
So where to apply testosterone cream? Instead of on the genitals, the prescribed usage is generally by applying it on your shoulders, upper arms, or abdomen. However, this is not try for all gels/creams, so be sure to always check with your doctor and read the instructions carefully before use.
Testosterone creams vs testosterone shots
Before we dive into the pros and cons of creams, a quick comparison with the more well-known testosterone treatment about: testosterone injections. What’s the difference?
Well, for one – and this is straight away the most important difference for most people – you don’t have to inject a needle into your body when you go for the cream.
It’s that simple. Many people simply don’t like the idea of needles, and honestly, can you blame them?
We do have to place a side-note here though: do bear in mind that if you go to the doctor for your testosterone treatment, you can ask the doctor to inject it for you, so you don’t have to do it yourself!
And what are the other differences? Well, so the cream is easier because you can just apply it yourself, but the downside is that you have to apply it every day. That’s a lot more than the once a week/two weeks with injections!
Secondly, the gel you rub onto your body can actually rub off on others as well! That’s right, if you don’t watch out, you can pass your t-booster over to your kid… But more on that later, when we get to the risks and side effects. First, let’s have a closer look at the benefits.
Benefits of testosterone creams
Here comes the part of the article you’ve been waiting for: the benefits. What exactly can this topical T do for you and your problems?
To make it easier for you, we created this extensive list of benefits that have been associated with the product:
- Treat the signs of hypogonadism
- Stimulate libido and sex drive
- More strength and stamina
- Increase muscle size and growth
- Boost energy and endurance
- Improve general mood, focus, and concentration
- Regulate your sleep pattern better
Quite the impressive list, don’t you think?!
It does all sound really great, but we’ve only discussed the good part so far. Unfortunately, there is also a bad part to consider…
And the bad part is really, really bad… You want to think twice before turning to topical testosterone, so do make sure to be aware of all these risks and side effects first.
So sit back, take a deep breath, and prepare yourself. Here come the testosterone cream risks and side effects…
Risks and side effects
There are many testosterone cream side effects you should consider before resorting to this product. There is a reason why it’s a prescription drug and we advise you to always check with your doctor first! Here is a list of possible side effects:
Skin problems
This is probably the side effect you hear about most, and it’s a nasty one! People can have allergic reactions to the cream, which can result in symptoms like:
- Itching
- Rash
- Acne
- Burning
- Soreness
- Redness
- Blistering
Always be sure to rub it on a clean part of your skin and make sure you don’t have any wounds or existing rash.
Rubbing off on others
This is not a side effect that you will really notice yourself, but it is a truly bad one nonetheless. Since it’s a cream/gel you rub on your skin, you have to be aware of the possibility that it’ll rub off…
This can happen by directly touching someone else’s skin – man, woman, or even a child – or it can happen by others coming in contact with the clothes you’ve been wearing or even sleeping on the same bedding.
Testosterone products can cause many unwanted effects for women and children, so be sure to contact your doctor straight away if you suspect them to have been exposed to the cream.
Changes in your breasts
That’s right, this may affect your breasts!
As you probably know, a lack of testosterone production (hypogonadism) may cause gynecomastia (a.k.a. Man boobs or moobs). Unfortunately, topical testosterone CAN have an adverse effect on your breasts as well.
Sometimes your body changes the testosterone into a type of estrogen – “the female hormone” – which can result in an increased production of breast tissue. You breasts can grow and swell, and feel painful, sore and tender.
Not something you want!
Mood changes
From moob, to mood. Another testosterone cream side effect is a change in a person’s general mood and emotional state. Think of mood swings, depression, anxiety, sudden crying, paranoia, and anger.
Increasing your t-levels with creams can not only cause physical changes, it can also change you mentally!
Trouble urinating
When using topical T, your bathroom trips and blatterly functions can become a lot less comfortable.
People have reported problems from needing to urinate more than usual (and waking up from it at night) to having trouble peeing to feeling the need to urinate when you actually don’t have to. Worst case scenario, you can even start urinating blood… Ouch!
And it doesn’t end there…
The side effects mentioned above are just the most common risks, but unfortunately, it doesn’t end there. Thin hair, baldness, prostate problems, erectile dysfunction or the absolute opposite – too many erections and for too long; all possible side effects of testosterone cream!
What are alternative options?
Ehm, so maybe no testosterone cream then…? Yikes, those side effects sound horrible!
That’s why you should always make an appointment with your doctor first to talk through all these risks and side effects, before you decide to start this treatment.
But if this has put you off trying it in the first place – which we get – let’s have a quick look at some of your alternatives.
As we discussed above, you can also choose testosterone injections, but they come with their own list of side effects and risks. Curious? Here you can read more about testosterone injections for men.
Maybe you’ve looked into hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but again, this comes with similar type of side effects! For more information about that, have a look at this in-depth hormone replacement therapy article!
… so what CAN you do?!
The answer? Go natural!
You can find a lot of foods and herbs in nature that actually help you increase your t-levels in a safe and natural way. No injections, no chemicals, none of the nasty stuff. Instead, some diet changes can already help you more than you could ever imagine! Which ones? Have a look at the diet and testosterone section of our blog, filled with tips for foods you can eat to boost those t-levels!
If this still won’t help, you might want to try natural supplements like TestoGen which naturally increase your testosterone levels.
Conclusion
Conclusion? Yes, testosterone cream might help your problems and it can be helpful for both men and women in their road to higher t-levels. However, make sure that you know what this entails and that you are prepared for all the possible side effects and risks.
Whatever you decide to do, it’s never a bad idea to have a talk with your doctor and discuss your options. Good luck!
