If your testosterone is confirmed to be low, the next question is how to treat it. The most common options are pellets, injections and topical gels or creams. Each can restore testosterone to a healthy range, but they differ in how often you need them, how steady your levels are and what fits your life.
Whatever the method, treatment should only follow a proper evaluation: your symptoms together with laboratory testing, reviewed by a clinician.
Testosterone pellets
Pellets are tiny, rice-sized cylinders of testosterone placed just beneath the skin of the upper hip in a quick in-clinic procedure under local anesthetic. They dissolve slowly, releasing testosterone steadily for approximately 3 to 6 months.
- Convenience: no daily application or self-injecting.
- Steadier levels: a gradual release designed to avoid the peaks and dips some men notice with injections.
- Things to consider: it is a minor procedure, and once pellets are placed the dose can’t be reduced until they dissolve. As with any procedure, there is a small risk of discomfort, infection or a pellet working its way out.
Testosterone injections
Injections are typically given every one to two weeks, either in clinic or at home.
- Flexibility: the dose is easy to adjust from one injection to the next.
- Things to consider: regular injections are a commitment, and levels can rise after an injection and fall before the next, which some men feel as changes in energy or mood.
Gels and creams
Topical testosterone is applied to the skin every day.
- Things to consider: it requires a daily routine, and testosterone can transfer to partners or children through skin contact, so careful handling is important.
Monitoring matters with every option
Whichever method you use, safe treatment includes follow-up visits and lab monitoring, such as testosterone levels and red blood cell counts, so your clinician can confirm treatment is working and adjust it when needed.
Which is right for you?
There is no single best option. The right choice depends on your lab results, health history, lifestyle and preferences. At Nordic Clinic, testosterone therapy is offered with pellets for men who are clinically eligible, and every plan starts with a clinician-led evaluation.
This article is for general education and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. Testosterone therapy isn’t right for everyone and is offered only when clinically indicated. Individual results vary.