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Boost testosterone with personalized treatment plans
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
Key Takeaways:
Testosterone therapy costs vary widely depending on the formulation you use, with injections generally the most affordable and pellets the most expensive.
Even if insurance covers your testosterone therapy, you may pay out of pocket for ongoing monitoring, like labs and provider visits.
Knowing your options — formulation type, generics, and discount programs — can help you save.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a common treatment for low testosterone. However, it’s worth noting that costs can vary widely based on the type of treatment, your dose, where you live, and whether your insurance covers it. Even with insurance, you may still face out-of-pocket expenses for ongoing monitoring, like blood tests and provider visits.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the factors influencing the cost of testosterone therapy, the average monthly price with and without insurance, and practical ways to lower your expenses.
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Before you break out your wallet, you’ll first want to confirm that testosterone therapy is the right fit for your needs in the first place.
Testosterone replacement therapy is a treatment for low testosterone. The American Urological Association (AUA) defines low testosterone, or testosterone deficiency, as a total testosterone level below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) measured on two separate mornings, plus symptoms.
To determine whether you have low testosterone, your healthcare provider will test your testosterone levels and assess your symptoms. To receive an official diagnosis of low testosterone, you’ll have low levels in addition to other symptoms of low T. As a first step, you can use a telehealth platform like Hims to take an at-home testosterone blood test and explore testosterone treatment options. A licensed provider must review results, as lab tests don’t replace medical evaluation or care.
Common signs and symptoms of low testosterone include:
Low sex drive
Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Fatigue
Brain fog
Depressed mood
Loss of lean muscle mass
Increased body fat
Decreased bone density
Less body hair
Hot flashes
Breast growth (gynecomastia)
Low red blood cell count
Low sperm count and quality
The cost of testosterone therapy can vary widely depending on the type of TRT you’re prescribed, whether you choose a brand-name or generic product, where you live, and more.
Here are some factors that can impact the cost of TRT:
Insurance. Your insurance plan may cover some or all of the cost of your TRT treatment if your healthcare provider deems the treatment to be medically necessary. The best way to find out what your plan does and doesn’t cover is to call the number on the back of your insurance card to get more information.
Type of TRT. Some TRT formulations are more expensive than others. For instance, research concludes that injectable testosterone (like testosterone cypionate or enanthate) is one of the most cost-effective formulations. In contrast, long-lasting subcutaneous testosterone pellets are typically the most expensive.
Brand name vs. generic. Though generic medications contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts, generic options tend to cost much less. For instance, generic testosterone cypionate usually costs around $30, while Depo-Testosterone® (which is chemically the same) costs closer to $100. The same goes for brand-name products like AndroGel® versus topical testosterone gel, brand-name Jatenzo® versus oral testosterone undecanoate, brand-name Natesto® versus testosterone nasal gel, etc.
Dose and dosing frequency. Your dose and dosing frequency can also impact price. For example, 10 milliliters (mL) of 100 milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL) testosterone cypionate costs around $25 per unit, while 30 mL of 200mg/mL costs more than $150.
Where you live. TRT costs can vary city to city and pharmacy to pharmacy. State regulations, local insurance coverage, and whether your pharmacy participates in discount programs can also affect what you’ll pay out of pocket.
Monitoring needs. Because testosterone is a controlled substance that requires a prescription, you’ll typically need to jump through a few hoops to access TRT. These hoops may include recurring labs and provider visits, which can add to the total cost of testosterone therapy. Routine monitoring usually includes blood counts, testosterone levels, PSA, and sometimes blood-pressure checks, all of which may add modest recurring costs.
When paying for testosterone treatment out of pocket, the type of TRT you choose can make a big difference in your monthly costs. Injections are generally the cheapest, while gels, patches, and pellets come with a steeper price tag. Here’s what you can expect to pay for testosterone without insurance:
Testosterone injections: $20–$100
Topical gels, creams, and patches: $200–$500
Oral testosterone (capsules): $400-$1,000
Testosterone pellets (implantable): $1,000+ per insertion (every 3–6 months), plus procedure fees
In addition to the medication itself, you’ll likely need to budget for initial and follow-up blood tests, provider visits, and dose adjustments, which can add up to $300 per year depending on your clinic’s fees and how often your provider requires monitoring.
Even though insurance rarely eliminates the cost of TRT completely, coverage can ease the financial impact. If you have coverage, you may still be responsible for copays, deductibles, and potentially higher out-of-pocket costs.
It’s also important to consider your insurance company’s formulary (the list of drugs your insurance covers), which is often divided into cost tiers. Generic options like testosterone cypionate usually fall on lower tiers (meaning lower copays), while brand-name gels like AndroGel may sit higher on the tier ladder (meaning higher copays).
Always ask your insurance carrier about the cost of labs and office visits, which aren’t always fully covered.
Restoring normal hormone levels so you can feel like your best self shouldn’t break the bank.
Here are some strategies that may help you cut costs on your treatment plan:
You already know brand-name drugs cost more than generics, even though they’re chemically the same thing. Tell your healthcare provider you prefer a generic if available.
Some pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies offer discounts on medications, particularly on those that don’t take insurance. Some may also provide payment plans to help you cover the cost of your treatment in installments.
Choosing an alternative treatment to TRT is another way to potentially cut costs. Some men might prefer fertility-preserving alternatives such as clomiphene citrate (an FDA-approved drug for women used off-label in men) or compounded enclomiphene (not FDA-approved for any purpose), which can raise the body’s own testosterone production while generally preserving sperm counts.
These options still require clinician supervision and are not FDA-approved for testosterone replacement. For instance, Hims offers access to enclomiphene citrate starting from $99 per month for a 10-month plan. Unlike TRT, enclomiphene boosts your body’s natural testosterone production rather than replacing it with a synthetic version of the hormone. This makes enclomiphene a fertility-safe treatment, as one of the known side effects of TRT is low sperm count. Find out more about enclomiphene citrate.
Testosterone therapy can be a significant long-term investment, with costs ranging from as little as $20 per month for injections to more than $1,000 per pellet insertion.
While insurance may offset some expenses, it’s not always a free pass. Comparing formulations, asking about generics, and considering alternatives can help make treatment more affordable. At the same time, it’s worth remembering that for men with clinically confirmed low testosterone, restoring hormone balance may improve quality of life and sexual health — but only under medical supervision.
Get medical advice from a healthcare professional today to explore your options.
The average cost of testosterone therapy varies by formulation. Testosterone injections (like testosterone cypionate) may cost $20-$100 per month, while testosterone gels such as AndroGel often run $200-$500 per month. Testosterone pellets can exceed $1,000 per insertion, and oral testosterone capsules usually fall between $400-$1,000 per month.
Some insurance plans (including Medicare) may cover part of the cost if treatment is medically necessary. Even when insurance covers TRT, patients usually have a copay and may need to meet their deductible before the coverage kicks in. TRT for age-related low T without a medical cause is often not covered. Generic options are typically less expensive to the patient than brand-name hormone therapy options.
Without insurance, the out-of-pocket monthly cost depends on the type of TRT you use. Injections are typically the most affordable, while gels, oral testosterone, and pellets can cost several hundred dollars or more. You’ll also need to budget for blood tests, monitoring, and office visits, which can add a few hundred dollars annually.
For many men diagnosed with low testosterone, TRT is a long-term or even lifelong hormone therapy. That means considering the upfront average cost and the ongoing monthly cost of medication, lab testing, and provider monitoring.
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