Hey guys I'm M2F, and my boyfriend is F2M, but this time I'm asking a question for him. He was approved for HRT yesterday, and we are wondering what the cost of testosterone gel will be without insurance? I know my hormones are cheap at drugstores, but what about his? Thanks in advance guy! Jazzy

The gel can be a bit cost extensive. Can he get injections instead?

Look into this program called Prescription Hope. If I remember correctly, they have androgel on their list of meds that they cover but you can always check on their website. The way it works is if you qualify under income guidelines, you get your medication for $25 a month

The gels can be very spendy. I'm not sure what the current price is but I was once quoted about $200.

Quote from: LordKAT on May 03, 2015, 05:24:31 AM
The gel can be a bit cost extensive. Can he get injections instead?

Are injections less expensive?

Quote from: Jaz650 on May 03, 2015, 10:07:55 AM
Are injections less expensive?

Absolutely!  And the Subq type of injections are no biggy (to me, at least).

One month of gels can run $200-400+ dollars. Injections on the other hand can be $10 a month. If you don't have insurance, injections are probably the way to go. I'd look into subq shots, I had needle anxiety and subq was the best for me. IM needles were just too damn long, but the short needles don't give me nearly as much anxiety.

The only way t-gel is less expensive, if he wants to go that route is to go for compounded cream/gel. I think this is an option only in the US or Canada (of course, a question re: cost is from the US so...). Anyway, I pay $80 (actually I get a discount, but would pay that) for about 3 months of cream. It's not too bad financially, but I have seen figures all over the place with the cream. Cream/gel is very good if you can absorb, but some people can't. The risk of getting it on others is decreased by using it in the morning and then putting a t-shirt over the area. I have friends with children and spouses, and they are the only ones with beards.
Injections are cheaper, even of the compounded cream. The comparison with say Androgel is something $200-300 so you can see the compounded is quite a lot cheaper.

--Jay

Injectable T is far less costly, usually around $60 or so for 5 to 6 months worth.

I switched from gel to injections due to price. Three months of gel at the beginning of March was roughly $550. And that was for Testim, which I believe is the less costly of the bunch.

Five months of injectable T plus needles costs me $65.

i did 3 months of testim and it was expensive, but there is goodrx.com to help you figure out which location is least costly. all you have to do is show them the coupon and they ring it up at a discounted price

even though it was more on the expensive side, i feel like starting off on gel was good for me. i have severe anxiety (which lessened after starting t) and the mental changes can definitely shake you up a bit. i'm currently 6 months on t (3 months on injections now) and i just went through a bad spell of depression and an increase in anxiety, but i'm doing better again.

if your boyfriend is mentally stable, i think it would be okay to do injections. if not, i do think that the (approximately) $600-800 dollars spent for three months is worth it. transitioning is a big deal, but it's not unmanageable.

good luck to both of you!

The compounded cream is a LOT cheaper. NO reason one would need to do Androgel. The only reason to do that is if you have a prescription.

Compounded cream can be workable, depending on your dose. I feel like $80 for 3 months is worth it, for not having to inject. You don't have to be "mentally unstable". If I couldn't afford the $80/3 months I'd find someone to inject for me.

--Jay

Quote from: palexander on May 04, 2015, 08:47:24 AM
i did 3 months of testim and it was expensive, but there is goodrx.com to help you figure out which location is least costly. all you have to do is show them the coupon and they ring it up at a discounted price

even though it was more on the expensive side, i feel like starting off on gel was good for me. i have severe anxiety (which lessened after starting t) and the mental changes can definitely shake you up a bit. i'm currently 6 months on t (3 months on injections now) and i just went through a bad spell of depression and an increase in anxiety, but i'm doing better again.

if your boyfriend is mentally stable, i think it would be okay to do injections. if not, i do think that the (approximately) $600-800 dollars spent for three months is worth it. transitioning is a big deal, but it's not unmanageable.

good luck to both of you!

Quote from: aleon515 on May 06, 2015, 03:15:43 PM
The compounded cream is a LOT cheaper. NO reason one would need to do Androgel. The only reason to do that is if you have a prescription.

Compounded cream can be workable, depending on your dose. I feel like $80 for 3 months is worth it, for not having to inject. You don't have to be "mentally unstable". If I couldn't afford the $80/3 months I'd find someone to inject for me.

--Jay

Jay, I think you must be in a good market or have found a really good pharmacy. When the price of gel spiked a few months ago, I got a prescription for compounded gel. Unfortunately both compounding pharmacies I went to still weren't able to get the price down. It was right near $400 for 3 months.

Wow, I believe testosterone itself only costs a few cents and the "carrier" cream is actually more expensive than the T. (The reason I say this is that 2.5% cream and 10% cream cost exactly the same. The carrier cream is normally sesame oil based but they can use other oils or carriers such as "versabase". I'd say in "your market" they are scamming you. (I have read what other guys pay and is often similar to what I pay, never read a figure like yours.)

Some people do get the compounded cream from Strohecker's or other mail order.

--Jay

Quote from: ftmax on May 06, 2015, 03:28:18 PM
Jay, I think you must be in a good market or have found a really good pharmacy. When the price of gel spiked a few months ago, I got a prescription for compounded gel. Unfortunately both compounding pharmacies I went to still weren't able to get the price down. It was right near $400 for 3 months.

Quote from: aleon515 on May 07, 2015, 12:15:03 PM
I'd say in "your market" they are scamming you. (I have read what other guys pay and is often similar to what I pay, never read a figure like yours.)

Some people do get the compounded cream from Strohecker's or other mail order.

--Jay

While I wouldn't be surprised, it was 2 different pharmacies that weren't associated with each other, so not sure. Unfortunately I live in one of those states where you can't get it via mail order.

Another compounded cream user here. My last Strohecker's order cost $120 for 3 months.

I know there are a couple states that don't allow mail order.
Perhaps they also tax compounding or something. Too bad, as it is NORMALLY cheaper.

--Jay