Testim for Hypogonadism, Male User Reviews (Page 4)

• too...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2013

"I'm 44 and recently asked my doctor to test for testosterone levels. It turned out that I was 218 on a 338 to 1,000 scale. My urologist started me on a Testim trial pack, but insurance only covered Androgel and Foresta. I switched to Androgel halfway through the trial pack. I could tell a dip in energy when I switched to Androgel. At 2 pumps per day for a month, T-level 238 - feel better but not as good as Testim. From what I can tell, it depends on the person's absorption level. Some people are better with one medicine over another. I'm going to try Foresta at my next doctor's visit since I'm not seeing a difference with 3 pumps."

• Hor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2016

"I tried Testim samples and found its fragrance revolting, and it did not dissipate through the day. I cannot imagine smelling as if I applied cologne every day of my life. And I really ripped into the manufacturer's stupidity on their website. One thing any man with hypogonadism wants is for no one but his doctor and lover to know he has hypogonadism. Walking around with the same strong scent every day would be odd in an office environment, and no doubt someone would ask what the cologne name is. It is so thoughtless."

• Yay...
• July 4, 2016

"I have been using Testim for 6 years now due to endocrine-induced low testosterone count. Overall, it has increased my libido, and the smell is great to women. I take half a tube per day (about 25 mg). However, I experience joint pain all the time, notably in my fingers, obviously used to rub the stuff on my shoulders. I also feel pain under my feet. Getting up and trying to walk in the morning is a struggle. The symptoms disappear after 15-20 minutes, and the joint pain is less noticeable in summer when it's warmer. Last year, I slipped and fell on my shoulder, resulting in a comminuted fracture. I'm worried Testim might be causing osteoporosis. My endocrinologist and doctor are aware of my symptoms but haven't offered any explanation to date."

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2011

"I find the smell of this medicine intolerable. If I wanted to wear a fragrance, it certainly wouldn't be this. I expected little or no odor, but instead found that this stuff can't be washed off completely and the smell can now be found all over my house and continuously is wafting up from my skin and overwhelming my sense of smell. Based on my experience, I could now identify any male that is wearing this, as it is like waving a banner that says 'guess what fragrance I have on today?'. I was on Androgel for 4 years, and now my healthcare provider has only this 1 option for a testosterone gel. I really can't speak of its effectiveness yet, but I will probably find another method to dispense the testosterone!"

• Stu...
• December 20, 2010

"Well, I've been on the 5 g daily tube of Testim for a week now, and I'm beginning to wonder when/if I'll see an impact. The doctor didn't share my T number, except to comment that it was low. The pharmacist didn't have a lot of instruction on how to use it, except to rub it into my forearm... WRONG: Shoulders, according to a DVD mini disc that I found... very helpful. I'm not sure what the value of washing off the gel or showering after two hours is. I do smell it initially and have read all the warnings to keep it off others, women, kids, towels, etc... but why would I want to wash off the medicine? It may just be my imagination, but I find I am thinking of sex more (fantasizing) but have not touched my wife since starting this yet."

• J47...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 10, 2017

"My insurance company had me switch from AndroGel to Testim. AndroGel has no odor and dries quickly, whereas Testim has a stinky odor and my clothes stick to it. The odor smells like old man cologne and stinks up my clothes closet. With both products, I have used food service gloves so that I don't have to wash it off my hands, and neither product seems to stick to the gloves. The gloves are cheap. Both products have copay programs that eliminate your copay. I may eventually switch to shots as those are cheap even without insurance covering them."

• Mik...
• November 23, 2016

"34 YOM began 1 tube of generic Testim 6 months ago for T levels around 100, insurance would not cover the pump. After approximately 1 week, I broke out in a rash, however, I kept using it, and after 1-2 weeks, the rash cleared up. Yes, it is a process to apply it in the morning, albeit a maybe 5-minute process. The best advice is to use rubber medical gloves to apply, otherwise, it is a complete mess to clean up, and use a metal tube key to get the last 25% out of the tube. Rub it on until it begins drying (30 seconds maybe), wait a couple of minutes to put a t-shirt on, and do your thing. I haven't noticed really any smell at all, certainly not bothersome. I do not have recent lab results, so I will not attest to its efficacy, I just want to share my tips."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 22, 2016

"I had abnormally high T readings, 199, 225, and 249, went on Androgel brand name therapy. Within a month, subsequent readings were over 400, the last reading was 76, and the only difference is that I was switched to a generic brand, Perrigo, from Israel."

• Mr ...
• March 27, 2017

"Tried Nebido, but I felt sick from it, so I moved back to Testim and got stable levels, makes me feel fantastic. It's sticky for a few minutes, but keep on rubbing and you will be okay. Have in mind how much work women have to do with makeup and everything will feel better. The smell is not great to men, but fertile women love it, their estrogen will attract to the pheromone included in Testim called Pentadecalactone. I get so many women from the smell alone. I use one Testim per day and one Testogel, the Pentadecalactone will help to absorb it, but the smell of two is a bit much, so I use one of each."

• JBe...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 2, 2019

"I used Testim years back, and hopefully I can get some again. Testim helped me 100%. I'd apply just a finger drop on each shoulder, and results were amazing. No more fatigue, clear thoughts, no more emotional roller coaster highs or lows. I was very pleased with how it worked for me. That was about 5 years ago. I am now 59 and feeling run down again. Trying shots for now, but if that does not help, I will ask my doctor for Testim."

• cit...
• October 17, 2010

"I was put on Testim because there is apparently a link between people taking opioid pain medications and a loss of testosterone production. I didn't wash my arms before I applied it and used 5g a day, and I was right in the target zone. I didn't like my shrunken testicles, nor did I like the stickiness, nor having to rub it in. So I stopped using it and was fine for a bit, but again dropped below the target. So I started again but washed my arms prior to applying and found that it shot my way over the range. I didn't initially make the connection between the two, so now I am trialing using 1/2 tub a day, which eliminates the sticky feeling, is easier to rub in, and the non-decaying 1/2 life is a huge plus, and I only smell it when I apply it."

• Rha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2017

"I'm an athletic male in my 40s. Was prescribed Testim for low testosterone (50 mg tube). Use 1 tube in the morning. Wet, it smells like rubbing alcohol with some baby powder. I can't notice the smell after it dries. At times, it does feel sticky when it's hot outside and feels like I have a sheet of saran wrap on my back, causing sweating. It has increased my libido. The first 2-3 weeks made me more volatile (took 2 Hyland Calms pills daily, and that helped chill me out), but that has subsided. About week 5, some days my libido had a real high for my wife. That's calmed, but libido is higher than pre-Testim. My wife loves the smell, especially when she's ovulating. Has been great for our sex life. Helps calm hunger too."

• OD0...
• August 29, 2011

"It's been 2 weeks only. I will give it the 2 months most give it for any positive impacts. Here's what I've noticed: - muscular soreness at the application site (shoulders/back are sore) - increased nose hair - annoyed off easily"

• Ske...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2016

"Just 3 days in on using Testim and with all the negative reviews, I was worried. The application process is not a big deal to me, and while sticky, it dries quickly, and my shirts don't stick. My wife noticed the smell but thought it smelled manly, and no one else has commented yet. I barely notice it, even having asthma. Really, no apparent changes yet, but today I had an itch on the side of my penis and started scratching it, and almost in no time, I was semi-erect, so I guess that's a good first step. My urologist told me to expect changes after 5-6 days, so we'll see."

• sti...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 6, 2016

"Was forced to use Testim gel as my new insurance would not cover Fortesta or Androgel. This stuff is disgusting. NEVER completely dries... If I apply in the morning, even after an hour wait, my shirt sticks to me like glue. If I apply at night, MY SHEETS STICK TO ME. Smells terrible, extremely difficult to apply (comes in small metal tubes and nearly impossible to get it all out) and worst of all, did not raise my testosterone levels significantly. I dreaded applying this."

• Anonymous
• October 16, 2011

"I've been on Testim for 3 days. I have no idea if it will increase my T levels or not, but the smell is almost too much for me to even care. I think it smells like an old folks' home. My kids don't want to be around me because I smell funny."

• Fer...
• June 4, 2008

"After 3 weeks of applying Testim daily, I went from 140 (LOW!) up to 985 on my Free Testosterone blood test. Felt 90% better, leaner, and interested in things again."

• Dut...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 23, 2013

"Only positive experiences to report. Testim has changed my life! If you need it, do not hesitate."

• Anonymous
• October 11, 2009

"Although Testim works well, the smell is something fierce. I liked the smell at first but realized it's an entity in itself and was with me and the family 24/7. I switched to Androgel."

• new...
• October 22, 2008

"Far better than the patch."

• Anonymous
• August 16, 2015

"Was good for me, but not good enough. I switched to Nebido, which is great."

• Low...
• January 26, 2012

"Doctor did blood work and found I had low T, started today with two tubes 1%. The smell is clean and barely noticeable. Maybe different for different people. Anyway, I will post back."

• MCS...
• September 16, 2013

"Smells terrible and wife complains even 8-10 hours afterward."

• Myr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2017

"My husband was prescribed this medication since insurance won't cover Androgel. It literally smells like a dead animal. Anyone who says women love this stuff is delusional. It makes both of us gag."

• Jan...
• December 1, 2020

"Been using Testim for almost a month, and I feel no difference at all. I take 1 tube a day and don't feel anything. The injections worked way better, but I don't like to take an injection every week."