Testim for Hypogonadism, Male User Reviews (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• February 19, 2011

"I'll finish my first week of use in two days. I appreciate the postings here, so I'll keep you updated with my progress. 45 yrs. old. I was just diagnosed with Low-T. Dr. didn't share the number, but said it was on the floor. He prescribed two tubes a day. Haven't noticed any changes yet, but staying hopeful. The alcohol scent dissipates quickly, but then I am left with what I describe as a sanitizer/soapy scent that can't be masked with cologne. This may become a problem in the long term. I'm using gloves after two days to apply the gel in order to avoid the smelly hands. The stickiness is annoying rather than problematic. Thanks for all the prior info. I'll check back."

• Tho...
• January 13, 2009

"I've been using Testim for just 6 days now, based on low free-T and low sex drive. One 50 mg tube of the 1% cream a day. Can't say I notice anything about it except a very strong smell. It is very possible, however, that my wife likes the smell - she seems to be much more 'interested' in me just since I've been applying the stuff."

• Sun...
• September 7, 2011

"I rated this an 8 - short of a 10 because of the cost. The renewed vigor and energy are enough to score a 10. To remedy the sticky feel after application and when the Testim is dry, apply cornstarch (unscented baby powder) to a washcloth and dust your shoulders. The Testim scent is noticeable, but hardly unbearable and is often complimented on."

• Anonymous
• December 31, 2011

"Suspected for months, if not a couple of years, low levels of testosterone (I am 46). Anyway, was tested a couple of times, and levels were slightly below minimum. Got started on 12/30/11 with Testim. I am pretty self-conscious of the scent. Anyway, I found myself wanting intimacy for the first time in months, and we were both home! This took place a few hours after my first application. Could it be a placebo effect? Anyway, managed to feel good the remainder of the day and into the evening. Had a big meal and found myself polishing off a dish that previously I would not have finished (interesting). I woke up two times after falling asleep to empty my bladder, which is a rare event but noted side effect. So far, so good!"

• Sti...
• September 10, 2019

"Used Androgel for low testosterone levels, but insurance no longer covers it, so left with Testim instead. Did they even test this product? It goes on like rubber cement and stays sticky. I literally have to peel my shirt off every few minutes. The real winner, though, is that it smells like a third-world bathroom spray. I sell wine and absolutely cannot make a living wearing this awful-smelling stuff. What in the world were they thinking? My guess is that it's a failed product and thus available cheaply, so insurers will approve."

• Mik...
• December 7, 2016

"I don't understand how any man cannot like Testim. Absorbs better than any other gel I have tried. Women LOVE the smell. I can be grocery shopping and a woman will pass by and say, 'What is the cologne you have on!' and her eyes are bugging out of her head. The smell turns them on! Men don't notice. I like that!"

• Geo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2023

"The smell is absolutely nauseating! I’ve had a headache all day since starting it this morning (Androgel is back-ordered). And I can’t wash it out of my clothes, even washing twice with very hot water and a lot of detergent, my towels and t-shirt still stink! Trying to contact the company for answers. What a BAD product - I can’t believe the marketing department hasn’t done anything about it - I can’t be the only one who had such a bad reaction to it."

• CHa...
• March 3, 2021

"My insurance company requires me to use this product vs. my previous brand. I don’t like Testim’s sticky feel vs. the other brand. It remains on the surface of the skin, and when you perspire or you get it wet, it turns sticky all over again. Sadly, I don’t have much of a choice."

• mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2017

"I was prescribed Testim once in error and now again for a second time. The first time it had a moderate effect on my T levels; unfortunately, my prescription plan considers 2 tubes/day adequate. In addition, it is very difficult to apply and difficult to bear on your skin. Goes on sticky and stays sticky; your clothes will stick to your body. The metal tubes make it difficult, if not impossible, to apply all of the gel. Worse, it is difficult to remove even the next day in the shower. I actually had to use dishwashing liquid."

• 44...
• January 15, 2010

"I like the small tubes, easy to carry around if I am out of town. To stop the sticky, you have to rub it in until it's dry. I can't smell anything either, must be me. It works so well I only use it every other day. Testim also gives you a year of free co-pays! Now if they could only add a drug into it to keep my 21-year-old girlfriend's mouth shut for a while, my life would be perfect."

• Anonymous
• January 10, 2012

"Been on Testim for around 3 weeks now. Have noticed slight changes in libido, but not much in the way of anything else. My T levels were on the floor, so it may take a couple of months to get them sorted out. I suspect I have had low testosterone levels for a while now, but it was only when things got tough and I felt down, depressed, and thoroughly miserable at the age of 48 that I decided to see a doctor. I suggested to the GP that it was an androgen problem, and she told me that 99 percent of guys who come in and tell her that don't actually have low T. I persuaded her to run the test, and it came back low, 144 I think. Did a confirmation level, then I was referred to an endocrine consultant. Hopefully, I'll feel much better soon."

• Tes...
• January 10, 2012

"Five years ago, as a 48-year-old male, I was tested and diagnosed with low testosterone levels (263 mg). I was put on 5 mg daily and tested over 900 in three weeks. I was recently bumped to 10 mg daily as my symptoms began to return. I'm guessing my natural production has declined further. Been on 10 mg for three days and waiting for improvement."

• Mat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 4, 2019

"I had double-digit levels. Androgel worked fine, but I got a new job and the insurance would only pay for name brand Testim. It worked just fine. I had none of the problems others had. No smell and no problem applying it. For me, I find it is just as good as the Androgel. I just wish it came in the pump."

• Coo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 20, 2018

"My test results were in the single digits (it was bad). I was put on Axiron for about 18 months, it worked great as my numbers were way up, and I was back in the gym feeling good about myself. Then my insurance changed, and Testim is all they cover. Within three months of using one tube daily, my numbers are back down in the single digits, and I am once again feeling like garbage, not going to the gym, and my mood hitting rock bottom. I would swear this stuff is nothing more than a placebo. Also, what most hate about Testim rings true for me also: the stuff is so sticky and a pain to apply. I use sandwich bags and rub it in until the bag won't move anymore, wait an hour, then put on a shirt that constantly sticks to me throughout the day. Being a flavors and fragrance chemist myself, I just cannot understand who made this stuff and approved it for use with the odor and traits it has."

• ds4...
• April 7, 2013

"I am a 59-year-old male, HIV, and have used Androgel successfully for years to help with energy, depression, and libido. My insurance company forced me to switch to Testim in January, and I really dislike this. It's hard to wash off my hands after application to my chest and shoulders; it has a distinctive odor that clashes with colognes and causes allergic reactions in scent-sensitive friends; it only dries to a sticky, tacky surface that sticks to my shirts, stains my clothes, and the tubes it comes in are harder to use than Androgel packets or the pump."

• tes...
• March 13, 2010

"Been using for some months after being diagnosed with low testosterone. Noticed a big improvement in mood, but have not seen the T numbers move up significantly or had a big improvement in sex drive. Wish it were the case."

• Fre...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 3, 2017

"Was diagnosed in May 2015 with low T (195) and high cholesterol, age 56. Dr. thought testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) would help cholesterol. Maybe it did (I credit a statin more), but the difference is libido and alertness--I feel stronger. My insurance would cover Testim only, and it's fine (wife loves smell). It took 2 months for real differences in libido and other positive sexual aspects. I didn't think I had sexual issues. But after, libido and turgidity are way up--and still, 2 years later (sleep erections like teen years!). Wife happy. T is now in the 400s, 1 tube/day. Dr. tests each 3-6 months for side effects such as PSA, estradiol, hematocrit. Androgel is easy to put on, but Testim is OK; I rub it into skin hard, and I use plastic bags as gloves. I give blood to keep hematocrit down."

• JER...
• June 12, 2010

"I gave this medicine a 5, but not sure how fair I'm being! I started out on the patch with limited results, and then after a month, I began the gel. So far, the only good part about this is the women love the smell! I have gained muscle mass, but I've been hitting the gym. There has been no change in my sex drive, it's still very low! My appetite has not increased like I was hoping. It's been a month on the gel now, and I don't know if it's too soon to comment on this particular medication, but if I see significant improvements, I'll be sure to update."

• Nor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2014

"I have been using this for about three weeks now. There was a big initial 'boost' in my energy levels, mood, work performance, and all across the board things seemed to get better, and depression seemed to lift quite a bit. It does not stick for me if I delay putting on my shirt for 10-15 minutes and letting it dry. If you're sweating it wildly, I noticed the smell at first, but now I don't smell it anymore. The only person who noticed was a woman who said she liked the smell. Hmmm. The initial 'boost' phase seems to be wearing off now. I am a bit out of shape and am exercising hard - it could be that, or the common issue with the body lowering T in response to an external source increasing it."

• Edd...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 23, 2016

"I've done well on Testim. Energy and mood levels up. Really helps in the gym, too. Lifting weights enhances the effect, probably because lifting helps augment T. Many women love the smell. I get lots of comments about it. In fact, it's pretty funny."

• Don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2016

"AndroGel gave me a rash, and my doctor prescribed this to me. I am supposed to apply 2 tubes, but this is simply disgusting. It has a very strong sweet odor that never leaves your body. I absolutely hate it, everywhere I go, I reek of this smell. Not sure what genius thought of this idea that something that has to be applied by millions of people is supposed to have a fragrance. Secondly, and this is bad too, it's disgusting to put on compared to AndroGel. It's more sticky/oily and never fully gets into the skin. I keep rubbing it for 10 minutes, and still the outer layer of my skin is greasy, and it never dries. It will probably work, but I am going back on injections as I can't get over the smell/substance issues."

• Wil...
• April 5, 2016

"The stinking smell! Ugh. After I apply this gel (which for me dries quickly), I smell like I have women's perfume on all day. The smell does not diminish. I mean, what are they thinking? You make a product for men with low T, and then some genius in the lab decides to add a feminine scent to it? I am sure they are having a good laugh over that one. That said, besides the Chanel No. 5 scent, I do feel better after taking it now for two weeks. I have not had labs done yet, but I have noticed a change. I am going to try and change to something else, however, my insurance company made me jump through hoops to get it, but I just can't stand the smell."

• Bea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 24, 2020

"Testim worked for me until I got on Medicare, and insurance would not cover it. The smell was unnoticeable to me, but every woman really liked it. Some men also. Wish I could get a bottle of the fragrance."

• Anonymous
• June 16, 2010

"Was diagnosed through a blood test at 231. After a month and a half, I was at 900, still feel weak and tired. I have a better mood and don't get upset easily anymore. My insurance leaves me paying $200 a month, so I'm switching to the needle. I like the smell personally, and people seem to like the smell of it too."

• jbr...
• April 10, 2016

"Started using this less than a week ago. I've done test injections in the past and worked out and got dramatic results. Now that I'm older (48), my test is low, 208. My doctor prescribed Androgel, but insurance only covers Testim. Personally, I think it smells like Lysol. I am feeling better but hate the application process and the stickiness of my skin afterward. If my levels don't bump up on my next round of blood tests, I'm going to go to a urologist and see about getting the pellets put in."