Testosterone cream considerations

If you’re on the hunt for a testosterone cream, you’ll be searching for a while because there are no mass-manufactured testosterone creams available in the United States—only gels. To get topical testosterone in a cream form, you need to place a custom order through a compounding pharmacy. While several over-the-counter products are marketed as “testosterone creams,” they don’t contain any testosterone. 

Read on to learn more about the importance of testosterone and what to consider when thinking about using testosterone cream. 

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To understand why your healthcare provider may prescribe a topical testosterone product, let’s first talk about what testosterone is and what it does for the body.

Testosterone (often just called “T”) is the primary male sex hormone (androgen), and estrogen is its female counterpart. But we all, male or female, need both hormones. Men manufacture most of their testosterone in the testicles, while women produce a smaller amount in the ovaries.

And it helps regulate many functions. A healthy baseline serum testosterone level is necessary for well-being in both sexes. In addition to sex drive and sexual function, testosterone helps build and maintain muscle mass and bone strength (Tyagi, 2017).But, over time, T levels often dip—especially after a certain age. Researchers estimate that around 40% of men over 45 have clinically low testosterone levels, also called hypogonadism (Sizar, 2021).

Your testosterone levels may also decrease due to medical conditions or as a side effect of some medical treatments. Low T can cause several unpleasant symptoms, but luckily, it’s treatable with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). TRT comes in many forms, including gels, patches, injections, and, sometimes, creams.

One of the most common TRT formulations is testosterone gel, which is applied to and absorbed through the skin. Common brands include Androgel, Testim, and Fortesta. Gels are clear and water-based and typically contain a high percentage of alcohol. 

By contrast, creams are an emulsion of oil and water. Studies have shown medication in gels absorbs faster and more efficiently than those in the form of creams (Seth, 1993). And creams must contain a higher quantity of their active agent to achieve the same effect. In one of the few testosterone-specific studies of creams vs. gels, researchers found a 5% testosterone cream was biologically equivalent to a 1% testosterone gel (Wittert, 2016).

Both creams and gels leave residual testosterone on the skin’s surface. This residue can transfer to other people and cause undesirable effects. Because gels absorb faster and more thoroughly than creams, the risk of transferring residual testosterone to someone else is theoretically lower with a gel than a cream (Petering, 2017).

When to choose testosterone creams over gels

Given the advantages of gels, you may wonder, why use creams at all? 

Gels can be drying and irritating for some people whose skin is dry in the area where the gel is applied. And because of the high alcohol content, gels can be painful to apply to sensitive areas, such as the vagina or scrotum. Most topical T gels are usually applied to the upper arms. However, researchers found intravaginal testosterone cream highly effective at relieving vulvovaginal atrophy and other sexual side effects of breast cancer medication (Davis, 2018).

So, if you have a reaction to a testosterone gel or if your healthcare provider thinks a cream is more suitable to your needs, they may recommend cream-based topical testosterone over gel-based.

Currently, all commercially produced topical testosterone in the United States is gel-based. If your healthcare provider prescribes testosterone cream, you can’t pick it up at a regular local pharmacy. Because there are no FDA-approved commercial testosterone creams, they must be custom-made. You’ll need to go to a compounding pharmacy for this prescription. 

Compounding pharmacies are pharmacies licensed to make custom formulations. For example, they can mix a new pill for a patient with an allergy to a dye used in its commercial form. They can also convert tablets into liquids for people with trouble swallowing. A compounding pharmacy will essentially create the testosterone cream for you.

Testosterone levels play a life-long role in your health. Currently, testosterone therapy is only FDA-approved to treat hypogonadism in men. Low testosterone levels can lead to various symptoms.

Healthcare providers may also prescribe testosterone off-label to treat other conditions. Some providers use it for postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (Parish, 2021). It may also help trans men go through gender affirmation (Costa, 2018).

Symptoms of low testosterone

Testosterone affects many different bodily functions. That’s why people with low testosterone levels may experience a wide range of seemingly unrelated signs and symptoms, such as (Sizar, 2021):

• Decreased libido

• Erectile dysfunction (with loss of morning erections) 

• Fatigue

• Loss of muscle mass

• Increased body fat 

• Anemia

• Loss of bone mass (osteoporosis)

• Depressed mood

• Fertility issues (e.g., low sperm count)

Topical testosterone leaves a residue on the skin, which can transfer to other people. Take care to cover the application site with clothing after drying. After application, you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water (DailyMed, 2021). 

Avoid skin-to-skin contact with the application site. If exposed to topical testosterone, women may experience abnormal body hair growth, irregular periods, voice deepening, and male pattern baldness (de Ronde, 2009). If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, you should not use testosterone and avoid coming into contact with it. Children exposed to transdermal testosterone may develop pubic hair, enlarged genitalia, bone issues, and aggressive behavior (DailyMed, 2021) 

Men with breast cancer and those who have or might have prostate cancer should not use topical testosterone (DailyMed, 2021).

And before using topical testosterone, make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, that you are taking. Let them know about any supplements, including herbal supplements, that you are taking as well. Drug interactions may occur with the following medications and include (DailyMed, n.d.):

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners) including warfarin (brand name Coumadin)

• Insulin

• Corticosteroids, including dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (brand name Medrol), and prednisone

It’s also important to tell your healthcare professional if you have or have had any of the following conditions (DailyMed, n.d.):

• Sleep apnea

• Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate

• Diabetes

• Heart, kidney, liver, or lung disease.

• Hypercalcemia (high blood calcium)

Do not use more than the prescribed amount of topical testosterone. Abuse may cause heart failure, stroke, blood clots, seizures, mania, hallucinations, and delusions, among other adverse effects (DailyMed, 2021).

Even regular testosterone use may cause side effects in some people, including (DailyMed, 2021):

• Loss of sexual desire

• Acne

• Mood changes

• Headache

• Skin irritation, itching, or redness

• Increased prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test levels

• Frequent urination

• Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)

Testosterone replacement therapy may affect your sperm count. It may also increase the risk of prostate cancer.

You may have seen several products in stores called “testosterone creams” available without a prescription. These alleged testosterone products don’t contain a single testosterone molecule. 

Testosterone is only available with a prescription, so nothing sold over-the-counter in the United States contains it. And while vague claims of male enhancement and curing sexual dysfunction adorn the labels, these products are not subjected to clinical trials and have no approval by the FDA. 

These products can’t be banned outright, but the FDA can stop them from misleading you with marketing. Many have changed their names to things that sound like but-aren’t-quite testosterone, like TestroMax and Test-Boost (though the latter sounds more appropriate for increasing your SAT scores). Some claim to have “homeopathic testosterone,” which is another way of saying “no testosterone.” 

Do some of the ingredients work, though? Are they just fancy-sounding placebos? They all have different formulas, and we won’t review them all. But ingredients that keep popping up in these creams are DHEA, saw palmetto, and Tribulus terrestris.

DHEA

DHEA, also known as dehydroepiandrosterone, is a hormone precursor. It’s part of the production team that makes testosterone and the related dihydrotestosterone (DHT).Our bodies produce DHEA naturally and use it to synthesize androgen and estrogen sex hormones. The FDA has approved DHEA as an androgen therapy for postmenopausal women as studies show that it may relieve many genitourinary symptoms associated with menopause (Vegunta, 2020). 

Would a boost in DHEA, in turn, boost testosterone concentrations? Research hasn’t shown that. A meta-analysis of multiple studies found that while DHEA might have some positive effects, it did not appear to raise testosterone levels significantly, if at all (Kovac, 2015).

Saw palmetto

Saw palmetto is a palm tree that grows in the Southeastern United States. Some believe the extract from its fruit can treat lower urinary tract symptoms related to an enlarged prostate. There may be some mild benefits, but the science is somewhat mixed (Grant, 2012). 

First, no study has suggested that testosterone levels increase when taking it. Second, there has been no research into its effectiveness with a topical delivery system like a cream. It may not do anything at all if applied to the skin. 

Tribulus terrestris

Tribulus terrestris is an herb in the caltrop family, long purported to elevate T levels. It’s a popular addition to herbal workout supplements. However, there is limited scientific evidence that this herb boosts testosterone (Pokrywka, 2014). 

Beyond that, as with saw palmetto, there’s nothing to confirm it can even be absorbed through the skin. Whatever potential benefits it might have might not even matter in a cream.

Since creams take longer to dry than gels, you have to be a bit more careful about transferring the testosterone to others. If you’re receiving testosterone replacement therapy and find gels dry your skin or have other irritating effects, a cream might be the easiest solution—just exercise caution.

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Current version

February 11, 2022

Written by

Seth Gordon

Fact checked by

Chimene Richa, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Chimene Richa, MD

Dr. Richa is a board-certified Ophthalmologist and medical writer for Ro.