The good news is that TRT does not need to be costly. Most insurance companies will cover all forms of testosterone replacement medication, so you’ll only have to pay a co-pay. Depending on your region, treatment procedure, and insurance coverage, co-pays might range from $30 to $100 per month. Generic alternatives will also help to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
Injections are the least expensive sort of testosterone replacement therapy if you don’t have insurance, and they can cost anywhere from $40 to $100 each month. Pellets, which are slow-release drugs implanted beneath the skin, cost around $500 each month on average, but this might vary depending on your dose. Monthly costs for gels, creams, and patches can range from $200 to $500.
TRT is a critical component of regaining your total health, wellness, and sense of well-being. It’s crucial to remember, though, that expenses might fluctuate from month to month or week to week as your doctor fine-tunes your treatment.
Is testosterone replacement therapy safe?
TRT can help those with low testosterone levels, but it also has a lot of short-term adverse effects. It may also increase the risk of liver and cardiac problems in persons who use TRT for a long time.
How much does a shot of testosterone cost?
These figures only include the cost of the medicine, not the whole cost of treatment. For example, if you get your injections from your doctor, you’ll have to pay for the office appointments. This is in addition to the cost of office visits for monitoring, as your doctor will most likely keep a close eye on your condition to look for adverse effects and ensure the injections are working properly. You may need to purchase needles and syringes if you administer the shots yourself.
Testosterone therapy does not treat the underlying cause of low testosterone; it only restores testosterone levels to normal levels. As a result, if you require injections in the future, they may be a lifelong treatment.
Some insurance companies will pay some of the charges, but you should double-check your coverage ahead of time. Consult your doctor if you have any questions about the prices.
How much does FtM testosterone cost without insurance?
You should consider the following factors when calculating the cost of hormone therapy:
- If your insurance will assist cover the cost of hormones, including any copay amounts. Many hormone treatment prescriptions include generic forms, which are generally covered by your insurance at the lowest copay, but some do not. If your insurance covers these prescriptions, you should disregard the costs listed below, which have been calculated without taking insurance coverage into account.
- For many patients, the cost of medical visits and blood tests that are required as part of hormone therapy. Request that your doctor charge hormone blood tests as a prophylactic measure if at all possible. They are more likely to be covered by insurance and at a lower cost this way.
- The prices listed below are based on GoodRX reports from September 2018. Keep in mind that the cost of medication varies based on availability, the pharmacy from which you purchase it, and the location in which you live.
FtM Hormone Therapy
- Testosterone cypionate: Without insurance, a 10 ml vial of 200 mg/ml solution of this common injectable type of testosterone costs between $40 and $90. Keep in mind that, depending on the dosage advised by your doctor, a single 10 ml bottle can last you several months. Needles and syringes can be purchased at a drugstore or online for a very low price.
- Androgel: Without insurance, a packet of six patches of the generic equivalent of this topical form of testosterone can cost between $30 and $80 for a month’s supply, depending on your dosage. For comparable numbers, brand-name patches will cost upwards of $130.
MtF Hormone Therapy
- Estradiol Tablet: Many transgender women take generic estradiol, which is a very inexpensive pill type of estradiol. The Walmart pharmacy sells a bottle of 30 2-mg tablets for $4. Other merchants may charge up to $40 for generic estrace, however insurance generally covers it at moderate rates.
- Estradiol Patches: Estradiol patches transfer hormones to your skin and can be worn for up to a week. Patches are more handy than tablets because you only have to apply them once a week, but they are also more expensive. Between $30 and $60 will get you four generic estradiol patches that deliver 0.1 mg of estradiol every day.
- Estradiol Injectable: Hormone injections are the most convenient way to deliver the drug for some people. Unlike patches, they don’t leave visible signs of the hormones you’re taking on your body, and if you don’t mind injecting yourself or having a nurse or trusted friend do it for you, administration is a simple process that takes 10 to 15 minutes every one or two weeks, depending on your doctor’s recommended dosage. Injectable estradiol, on the other hand, is more expensive than other kinds. There have been supply shortages of generic injectable estradiol (estradiol valerate) in the past, yet a 5 ml vial can cost anywhere from $40 to $100. A single vial can last up to a month depending on your dosage. Non-generic injectable estradiol (estradiol cypionate) has a longer half-life within the body than valerate, allowing you to go longer between injections. However, it is more expensive. The cost of estradiol cypionate (also known as depo-estradiol) is estimated to be around $120.
- Spironolactone is the most often prescribed anti-androgen in the United States, owing to its low cost and ease of availability. Spironolactone might cost between $4 and $12 per month if you don’t have insurance.
- Cyproterone is another anti-androgen that is widely used. It is, however, more expensive than its counterpart, Spironolactone, with a monthly supply costing ranging from $12 to $35.
How can I buy testosterone?
Purchasing testosterone online is completely legal as long as you have a prescription. Do not purchase from a website that implies that you do not need a prescription or proof of a diagnosed medical condition. They’re not following DEA requirements, and it’s likely that they’re doing business illegally.
What exactly do those rules entail? It’s actually fairly straightforward. Online pharmacies need that you have a properly diagnosed medical problem from a physician with whom you have a legitimate doctor-patient relationship. Once a basic blood panel, a history, and a physical exam have been established, online physicians can prescribe testosterone. It must also be noted that the doctor and the patient addressed the risks and advantages of testosterone therapy based on the patient’s lab results, medical history, and symptom profile.
Online pharmacies and physicians must both be based and licensed in the United States. Many states, in fact, demand that the online physician be licensed in the same state as the patient. Do not engage with pharmacies that do not disclose an actual US address or claim to be able to provide testosterone prescriptions online after a patient fills out a brief form. Filling out a short form does not entitle you to a valid and legal prescription.
This technique may appear to have a large number of steps. However, they are required and solely for your benefit and well-being. Testosterone is a steroid hormone produced by males. It has been sold for causes other than treating clinically significant inadequate hormone levels in males in the years since it was initially produced in the 1930s. (Improving athletic or sexual performance, testosterone decline with age, and so on.)
To address the issue, Congress passed the Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990, which classified testosterone and other anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) as Schedule III substances under the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule III drugs, substances, or compounds, according to the DEA’s website, are classified as narcotics with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. If any pharmacy or physician tells you otherwise, they are either lying to you or not providing you with genuine testosterone.
Do I need a prescription for testosterone?
Testosterone is available as a skin patch, skin gel, pill, or cream, as well as an injection, a solution given to the armpit, or a patch or a buccal system applied to the upper gum or inner cheek.
While many testosterone products require a prescription, they are available over the counter at some drug stores and health food stores. Several of these items claim to be all-natural.
Gels (Androgel and Testim)
Testosterone gel is a prescription drug that is applied to the skin of a man’s shoulders, upper arms, and/or belly, depending on the brand. Testosterone gel can be accidentally transferred from your body to others, causing major health problems. Apply testosterone gel on clean, dry, intact skin that will be covered by garments to avoid such contact. After applying, immediately wash your hands with soap and water. Cover the area with clothing once the gel has dried and keep it covered until you have cleaned it thoroughly or showered.
Injections (Depo-Testosterone)
Depo-testosterone is one of the oldest medications on the market, having been licensed in 1979. It’s a liquid that’s meant to be injected into the gluteal muscle. Testosterone cypionate, the active ingredient, is a white or creamy white powder that is blended with other substances to produce a solution. The medicine comes in two different strengths: 100 mg and 200 mg.
Patches (Androderm)
Androderm and other testosterone transdermal patches are patches that are applied to the skin. Patches work best if they’re put on at the same time every night and left on for 24 hours. Testosterone patches should be worn at all times until they need to be replaced. Every 24 hours, androderm patches should be changed. Before applying the new patch, the old one should be deleted. Each night, apply the patches to a separate area, and wait at least seven days before reusing a spot.
Capsules (Methyltestosterone and Android)
Capsules of testosterone Methyltestosterone and Android were used to treat diseases caused by a shortage of hormone, such as delayed puberty, in men and boys, and in women to treat breast cancer that has progressed to other sections of the body. Methyltestosterone is a testosterone derivative created by humans. When boys are treated for delayed puberty, it can impact their bone growth.
Boosters (Testofen)
Manufacturers of testosterone boosters, such as Testofen, have marketed their medications as a way for men to gain muscular bulk, strength, and sex drive. Products containing tribulus terrestris, DHEA, zinc, and d-aspartic acid are among the most popular testosterone boosters. Aggression, breast enlargement, cholesterol abnormalities, prostate difficulties, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease have all been linked to these components.
How do I get approved for HRT?
Transgender-specific guidelines have been developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and the Endocrine Society to serve as a framework for doctors caring for gender minority patients. The majority of these recommendations are based on clinical experience from professionals in the field. Hormone therapy for transgender males is primarily extrapolated from existing recommendations for the treatment of hypogonadal natal men, while estrogen therapy for transgender women is loosely based on postmenopausal women’s therapies.
In the past, the guidelines for commencing hormone therapy advised that all patients do a “real life test” before beginning treatment. Before initiating cross-sex hormones, patients had to live full-time as their self-affirmed gender for a certain period of time (typically 12 months). The suggestion was made to aid sufferers in their social adjustment. However, both organisations have recognized that this step is impractical for many patients because social transition can be difficult if an individual’s self-identified gender and physical appearance are incompatible. As a result, the new guidelines no longer need this phase, and instead propose that people transition socially while also receiving medical treatment (7,8).
WPATH recommends commencing hormone therapy after completing a psychosocial assessment, determining that the patient is an appropriate candidate for therapy, and obtaining informed consent after discussing the risks and benefits of starting therapy. Unless the prescribing provider is skilled in this type of assessment, WPATH requires a recommendation from a qualified mental health expert. Gender dysphoria (a condition in which one’s emotional and psychological identity as male or female is opposite to one’s biological sex) diagnosed by a mental health professional well versed in the field; (II) capacity to make a fully informed decision and consent to treatment; (III) age of majority; and (IV) good control of significant medical and/or mental comorbid conditions are among the criteria for therapy.
This fourth criterion can be the most difficult to discern at times. Many patients with gender dysphoria may have associated mood disorders, and expert physicians may be able to reduce the intensity of these symptoms by letting the patient to begin the medical transition process. I’ll go over the effects of hormones on quality of life and personal well-being later in this review. This is an important idea to remember when evaluating patients for hormone therapy beginning. Patients with concomitant psychiatric disorders should be constantly watched, and mental health support is essential for them.
How much is a transition?
Starting with some of the costs of social transitioning, a name change in the United States can cost anywhere from $150 to $436, depending on the state or county where you live. The cost of the birth certificate and a certified copy, as well as any fees related to the documentation of your name change, are included in that price range. The cost of changing your name on your driver’s license is usually around $20.
There may be little costs associated with acquiring tangible goods that can improve a person’s gender experience. Chest binders cost roughly $30, while packers can cost anywhere from $10 to $20.
Hormone replacement treatment is one method that some people who want to transition medically consider to be a vital step in their gender affirmation. Prescriptions and regular check-ups can cost upwards of $1,500 each year. Testosterone injections normally cost roughly $80 per month, whereas testosterone patches cost more than $300 per month for transgender males.
The cost of sexual reassignment surgery (SRS, or GRS for âgenderâ) for trans women and trans femme persons is roughly $30,000, which many people will find prohibitively expensive, but the advantages will far surpass the expenditures. Other procedures, like as top surgery, would set you back between $9000 and $10,000.
Many of the expenditures associated with surgery-related alterations will vary based on the procedure’s intricacy, which is a personal choice. A metoidioplasty, for example, can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $60,000, while facial feminization operations (FFS) can cost anywhere from $40,000 to $3000, depending on the set of procedures you pick.
Because trans people are more likely to be affected by anxiety and depression, physical health problems related to transitioning must be examined alongside psychological therapy. From a bird’s-eye view, it appears that the bills are starting to pile up.