TRT Injections vs Pellets vs Gels
Which delivery method is right for you?
10 min read
One of the first decisions you'll make when starting TRT is how to take it. Each delivery method has real tradeoffs — in cost, convenience, hormone stability, and lifestyle fit. Here's what you need to know about each option.
Injections
Most popular, most cost-effective
Cost
$100–$200/month
Frequency
Weekly or bi-weekly
✓ Pros
- •Lowest cost option
- •Highly controllable dosing
- •Fast-acting — effects felt within days
- •Can self-administer at home
- •Easy to adjust dose if needed
✗ Cons
- •Requires self-injection (intramuscular or subcutaneous)
- •Hormone levels peak and trough between injections
- •Some men experience mood swings between doses
- •Requires consistent schedule
Best for: Men who are comfortable with self-injection and want the most cost-effective, flexible option.
Pellets
Highest convenience, longest lasting
Cost
$300–$600 per insertion (every 3–6 months)
Frequency
Every 3–6 months
✓ Pros
- •No daily or weekly administration
- •Stable, consistent hormone levels
- •No peaks and troughs
- •Convenient for those who travel or have irregular schedules
✗ Cons
- •Higher upfront cost per visit
- •Minor in-office procedure required
- •Cannot adjust dose once inserted
- •Not available at all clinics
Best for: Men who prioritize convenience and stable levels, and don't mind a higher per-visit cost.
Gels & Creams
Daily topical application
Cost
$100–$300/month
Frequency
Daily
✓ Pros
- •No needles — easy to apply
- •Consistent daily dosing
- •Good for men who can't self-inject
✗ Cons
- •Must be applied daily without missing doses
- •Risk of transfer to partners or children through skin contact
- •Absorption can vary between individuals
- •More expensive than injections
Best for: Men who can't or prefer not to inject, and who can commit to a daily application routine.
Enclomiphene / Clomid
Oral option that preserves fertility
Cost
$50–$150/month
Frequency
Daily oral pill
✓ Pros
- •Oral — no injections or topicals
- •Preserves natural testosterone production
- •Maintains fertility (unlike exogenous TRT)
- •Often less expensive
✗ Cons
- •Not true testosterone replacement — stimulates production instead
- •May not work for all forms of hypogonadism
- •Less established long-term data than traditional TRT
- •Not offered by all clinics
Best for: Younger men concerned about fertility, or those who want to try a less invasive option first.
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