Current treatment options include oral tablets or capsules, injections, plantable long-acting slow release pellets, and transdermal (through the skin) patches and gels. However, at this point, the vast majority of testosterone replacement is done through the skin. This method has a number of advantages:
- It is easy to apply.
- It is relatively safe with low incidence of side effects.
- It more closely mimics the natural daily rhythm, with higher levels of testosterone delivered in the morning and decreasing levels delivered as the day progresses.