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AndroGel (testosterone) 1% is a topical androgen replacement therapy indicated for testosterone replacement in adult males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone, known as male hypogonadism. It works by delivering exogenous testosterone through the skin, restoring circulating testosterone concentrations to the normal physiological range. Adequate serum testosterone levels are essential for maintaining secondary sexual characteristics, libido, erectile function, muscle mass and strength, bone density, and overall mood and well-being. Before initiating treatment, hypogonadism must be confirmed by clinical features and confirmed by two separate morning serum testosterone measurements below the normal range.
Usual adult dose: The recommended starting dose is 5 g of gel (delivering 50 mg of testosterone) applied once daily, preferably in the morning. Based on pre-dose morning serum testosterone levels measured approximately 14 days after initiation, the dose may be titrated in increments of 2.5 g of gel up to a maximum of 10 g of gel per day (delivering 100 mg of testosterone). The minimum effective dose should be maintained. The gel should be applied to clean, dry, intact skin of the shoulders, upper arms, or abdomen. It should not be applied to the genitals. Hands must be washed thoroughly with soap and water after application, and the application site should be covered with clothing once the gel has dried, typically within 3 to 5 minutes.
Dosage form: Transdermal gel, 1% (10 mg testosterone per 1 g of gel). Available in a metered-dose pump or as unit-dose sachets. The pump delivers 1.25 g of gel per actuation, equivalent to 12.5 mg testosterone. Unit-dose sachets contain either 2.5 g (25 mg testosterone) or 5 g (50 mg testosterone) of gel.
Onset of action: Serum testosterone concentrations rise within 30 minutes of application, reach physiological levels within hours, and achieve steady-state by the end of the first day of treatment. Symptomatic improvement in libido and mood may be observed within 3 to 6 weeks. Improvements in muscle mass, strength, and bone mineral density are slower and may take 3 to 6 months or longer to become clinically evident.
Duration of action: AndroGel provides sustained testosterone delivery over 24 hours, supporting once-daily application. Normal diurnal variation in serum testosterone levels is approximated, with peak concentrations occurring 2 to 6 hours after morning application and a gradual decline thereafter. After discontinuation, serum testosterone levels return to baseline within 48 to 72 hours.
Alcohol recommendation: There is no known direct pharmacokinetic interaction between topical testosterone and alcohol. However, excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided. Chronic heavy alcohol intake can suppress endogenous testosterone production, impair liver function, increase the risk of hepatotoxicity during androgen therapy, and exacerbate potential adverse effects such as polycythaemia, hypertension, and mood disturbances. Moderate alcohol consumption is advised.
Most common side effects: Skin reactions at the application site are the most frequently reported adverse effects, including erythema, pruritus, and dryness. Other common side effects include headache, increased haematocrit and haemoglobin (polycythaemia), hypertension, acne, and prostatic disorders such as increased prostate-specific antigen and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Gynaecomastia, alopecia, and alterations in mood including aggression and irritability may also occur. Virilisation is a risk in the event of secondary transfer of testosterone gel to women or children through skin-to-skin contact; strict hygiene measures must be followed to prevent this.
Would you like to try AndroGel (Testosterone) without a prescription?
| Country | Shipping method | Delivery time | Price | |
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 Delivery |
14-21 days | 10$ | Tracking# available in 4 days |
 Delivery |
9-14 days | 30$ | Tracking# available in 2 days |
At our pharmacy, you can buy Androgel without a prescription, with discreet and anonymous packaging delivered within 5-14 days across the UK.
Androgel is a topical testosterone replacement therapy. It is a clear, alcohol-based gel that delivers testosterone through the skin and into the bloodstream. The 1% formulation means each gram of gel contains 10 mg of testosterone. A standard starting dose is 5 g of gel applied once daily, which delivers 50 mg of testosterone. Some men need less, 2.5 g daily, and others require up to 10 g daily based on serum testosterone levels measured a couple of weeks after starting.
It is used for male hypogonadism, a condition where the body does not produce enough testosterone on its own. That can result from testicular failure, pituitary problems, or certain genetic conditions. Symptoms that bring men to a clinic include low libido, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, depressed mood, and sometimes difficulty concentrating. Not every tired middle-aged man needs testosterone, and chasing a number on a lab report without corresponding symptoms leads to overtreatment. The diagnosis requires two separate morning testosterone measurements below the reference range plus consistent clinical symptoms.
Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone. It binds to androgen receptors in target tissues, muscles, bones, the brain, the testes themselves, and from there regulates gene expression involved in protein synthesis, erythropoiesis, bone mineral density, and libido. Some of its effects are direct, others happen after it is converted to dihydrotestosterone by 5-alpha-reductase or to oestradiol by aromatase. That oestradiol conversion matters more than most people realise. It is not just a side product. It is essential for bone health and modulates libido and cognitive function in ways that pure androgen receptor activation does not fully replicate.
Androgel delivers testosterone in a steady, physiological pattern. Unlike intramuscular injections that produce a spike in the first few days followed by a trough before the next dose, the gel maintains relatively stable levels across 24 hours when applied daily. The transdermal route avoids first-pass liver metabolism. Peak serum concentrations are reached about 2 to 6 hours after application, and the half-life of the absorbed testosterone is roughly 1 to 3 hours once it clears from the skin. Steady state is achieved within the first day or two of dosing, which makes it possible to check levels and adjust the dose fairly quickly compared to long-acting injectable esters.
Apply it in the morning. The diurnal rhythm of endogenous testosterone peaks in the early hours and declines through the day, so morning application mimics that pattern. Spread the gel over clean, dry, unbroken skin on the shoulders, upper arms, or abdomen. Do not rub it in aggressively. A thin, even layer left to air-dry for a few minutes is enough. Most men find it dries within 3 to 5 minutes.
Wash your hands immediately with soap and water after applying. The testosterone on your hands will transfer to anything you touch, door handles, phones, other people. Cover the application area with clothing once dry. If someone else touches the application site, particularly women or children, they can absorb enough testosterone to cause virilisation over time. This is not a theoretical risk. There are case reports of premature puberty in children from transfer of topical testosterone. The gel is invisible after drying. That is its convenience and its hazard.
Do not shower, swim, or wash the application site for at least 5 to 6 hours after applying. Doing so will wash off a significant portion of the dose before it has fully absorbed. If you exercise and sweat heavily within that window, the same applies. If you forget a dose in the morning, apply it when you remember. If it is already late afternoon or evening, skip it and resume the next morning. Applying testosterone at night can interfere with sleep for some men.
The most common one is skin irritation at the application site. Redness, itching, or a mild burning sensation affects about 5% to 10% of users. Switching application sites daily and making sure the skin is fully dry before applying helps. If it persists, switching to a different testosterone formulation, a patch or an injection, may be necessary.
Acne and oily skin result from increased sebum production driven by androgens. It tends to appear on the back, shoulders, and face, sometimes for the first time since adolescence. Most cases are mild and manageable with over-the-counter acne washes. Gynecomastia, breast tissue enlargement, occurs if testosterone levels run too high and excess aromatisation to oestradiol occurs. It is a sign to check levels and possibly reduce the dose. Once glandular tissue forms, it does not always regress fully even after dose adjustment.
Polycythaemia, an increase in red blood cell mass, is a more serious concern. Testosterone stimulates erythropoiesis. Haematocrit can rise above the normal range, especially in older men or those using higher doses. A haematocrit above 54% increases the risk of thromboembolic events, stroke, myocardial infarction. Haematocrit needs monitoring before starting, at 3 to 6 months, and then annually. If it climbs too high, the dose is reduced, the formulation is changed, or therapeutic phlebotomy is considered.
Testosterone also suppresses spermatogenesis by inhibiting the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. FSH and LH drop. For a man who wants to preserve fertility, testosterone replacement is counterproductive. This needs to be discussed before starting. Many younger men with hypogonadism are caught off guard by this. If fertility is a priority, alternatives like hCG or selective oestrogen receptor modulators may be more appropriate than exogenous testosterone.
Prostate changes are a long-standing concern. Testosterone does not cause prostate cancer, but it can fuel an existing, undiagnosed tumour. PSA levels should be checked before starting and periodically during treatment. A rise in PSA or a change on digital rectal examination warrants urological referral. The risk of de novo prostate cancer on testosterone therapy does not appear elevated in the available data, but the follow-up periods in most studies are relatively short.
Men with prostate cancer or breast cancer should not use Androgel. Testosterone can accelerate the growth of androgen-sensitive tumours. The same applies to men with an elevated PSA or abnormal rectal exam that has not been fully investigated. A baseline PSA above 4 ng/mL or a suspicious nodule on examination means a urology workup first, testosterone later.
Severe cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease requires caution. Testosterone can cause fluid retention and worsen heart failure or hypertension. Men with a history of myocardial infarction or stroke within the last six months should generally avoid testosterone unless the hypogonadism is severe and the cardiovascular situation is fully stable. The data on cardiovascular risk with testosterone therapy are conflicting, but prudence dictates caution in men with established disease.
Obstructive sleep apnoea can worsen on testosterone. The mechanism is not fully understood, but it may relate to changes in neuromuscular control of the upper airway or increased metabolic rate. Men with severe, untreated sleep apnoea should have that addressed before starting testosterone. If a man on stable CPAP therapy starts testosterone, his sleep physician should be informed.
Older men metabolise testosterone more slowly and are more sensitive to its side effects, particularly polycythaemia and prostate stimulation. Starting doses should be at the lower end, 2.5 g to 5 g daily, with haematocrit and PSA checked more frequently in the first year. The decline of testosterone with age is physiological, not necessarily pathological. Treating age-related low-normal testosterone without clear symptoms is not supported by UK guidelines.
Testosterone gel does not impair alertness or coordination. Driving is not affected. The practical concern is transfer risk. If you apply the gel and then spend the day in close contact with a partner in a car, the risk of skin-to-skin transfer is not trivial. Wear a shirt that covers the application site. Do not apply it to your hands and then grip the steering wheel without washing them first.
Alcohol does not interact directly with topical testosterone. Heavy, chronic alcohol use lowers endogenous testosterone through direct toxicity to Leydig cells and disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. If you are applying testosterone and drinking heavily, you are working against yourself. Moderate drinking, a few units per week, is not a concern.
Testosterone potentiates the effect of warfarin and other coumarin anticoagulants. It increases the synthesis of clotting factors, which sounds paradoxical, but it also reduces the concentration of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors that warfarin inhibits. The net effect is an enhanced anticoagulant response. INR should be monitored closely when starting, adjusting, or stopping testosterone in a patient on warfarin.
Corticosteroids and ACTH can compound the fluid retention that testosterone sometimes causes. This is relevant for men with heart failure or hypertension who are already on fludrocortisone or prednisolone. The combination can push oedema from mild ankle swelling into something more problematic.
Insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents may need dose reduction. Testosterone improves insulin sensitivity in men with low testosterone. Blood glucose should be monitored more frequently in the first weeks after starting testosterone if the patient is diabetic. Hypoglycaemic episodes can occur if the insulin dose is not adjusted in parallel.
Propranolol and other lipophilic beta-blockers can have altered pharmacokinetics when testosterone is introduced, though the clinical significance is modest. More relevant is that testosterone reduces SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) levels, which can affect the free fraction of other hormones and some drugs that are highly protein-bound. This is a minor interaction but worth noting in patients on multiple medications where free drug concentrations matter.
Intramuscular testosterone injections are the most widely used alternative in the UK. Testosterone enanthate or Sustanon 250 are given every 2 to 4 weeks. They are cheaper than gel and avoid the transfer risk. The downside is the rollercoaster of levels. A peak a day or two after injection, then a gradual slide into trough territory before the next dose. Some men feel the fluctuation acutely, with mood and energy dipping in the final days of the cycle. More frequent, smaller doses can smooth this out, but that means more injections.
Testosterone undecanoate injections (Nebido) are a long-acting option given every 10 to 14 weeks after an initial loading phase. They provide very stable levels once steady state is reached. The catch is the injection volume, 4 mL into the gluteal muscle, which is painful, and the commitment. Once injected, you cannot remove it. If side effects develop, you wait weeks for the level to decline.
Transdermal patches provide another topical route with a lower transfer risk than gel because the testosterone is contained within the patch. Application site reactions are more common. Patches can be visible and are less discreet than gel. They are rarely prescribed first-line in the UK now.
Testosterone pellets (Testopel) are implanted under the skin every 3 to 6 months. They require a minor procedure and are not reversible once inserted. They are not widely used in the UK outside a few specialist centres.
Alternatives to testosterone itself include human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for men who want to preserve fertility. hCG stimulates the testes to produce testosterone endogenously rather than shutting down the axis. Selective oestrogen receptor modulators like clomiphene citrate are used off-label for the same purpose. Aromatase inhibitors like anastrozole are sometimes used in men with low testosterone and high oestradiol, particularly if obesity is a factor, but the evidence base is thin. These are all specialist-prescriber territory, not something a GP would typically initiate.
INN (International Nonproprietary Name): Testosterone
Available brand names in the UK: Androgel, Testogel, Tostran, Testim
ATC code: G03BA03
Forms and strengths: Gel: 1% (10 mg testosterone per gram of gel) in 2.5 g and 5 g sachets or metered-dose pump (1.25 g per actuation); Gel: 1.62% and 2% formulations are also available for different brands
Manufacturers: Besins Healthcare (Androgel, Testogel), Kyowa Kirin (Tostran), Ferring (Testim), and diverse generic manufacturers
Registration status in the UK: Registered as a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) and a Schedule 4 Controlled Drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Possession without a prescription is illegal.
Classification: Prescription Only Medicine (POM), Controlled Drug Schedule 4
The 1% gel in sachets gives you control over the exact dose. The pump delivers a metered amount, usually 1.25 g per pump, so a 5 g dose is four pumps. Pumps are more convenient for most men, but the first few doses from a new canister can be inconsistent unless primed properly. Sachets eliminate that variable.
Androgel 1% and Testogel 1% are essentially interchangeable. Both are made by Besins Healthcare and contain the same gel base. Tostran is a 2% formulation that requires a smaller volume of gel. Testim is a 1% gel with a different base that some men find less irritating to the skin. The choice between them is largely about tolerability and personal preference for application volume. A man on 10 g daily of the 1% gel is covering a large surface area. Switching to a 2% formulation cuts that in half.
Gel gives the most physiological pharmacokinetic profile. Injections are simpler and cheaper but produce peaks and troughs. The right choice depends on lifestyle and tolerance for fluctuation. Some men start on gel, find the daily routine tedious or worry about transfer, and switch to injections. Others do the reverse. There is no hierarchy of superiority, only what fits the individual.
How long does it take to feel the effects?
Libido and mood can start to improve within 3 to 6 weeks. Erectile function and energy take longer, often 2 to 3 months. Muscle mass and bone density changes are measured in months to years. Not every symptom responds equally, and some men with long-standing hypogonadism never fully recover their baseline sense of wellbeing. Setting realistic expectations early prevents disappointment.
What if my partner or child comes into contact with the gel?
Wash the area immediately with soap and water. A single, brief contact is unlikely to cause harm, but repeated exposure over time can transfer enough testosterone to cause problems. Virilisation in women includes acne, deepened voice, and clitoral enlargement. In children, it can trigger precocious puberty. Cover the application site with clothing. Do not let anyone touch it until you have showered or washed the area. If transfer happens and the person develops symptoms, they need to see a GP and explain the exposure.
Can I swim or shower after applying Androgel?
Wait at least 5 to 6 hours. The gel needs that time to absorb fully. Swimming, showering, or heavy sweating that washes the application site within that window reduces the dose you receive. If you swim in the morning, apply the gel after swimming, not before.
Will Androgel affect my fertility?
Yes. Testosterone suppresses FSH and LH, which are the hormones that drive sperm production. Over weeks to months, sperm count drops, sometimes to zero. This is often reversible when testosterone is stopped, but not always. Recovery can take 6 to 18 months. If preserving fertility matters, discuss this with your doctor before starting. hCG or clomiphene may be more appropriate options in that scenario.
Do I need regular blood tests?
Yes. Serum testosterone, haematocrit, and PSA should be checked at baseline, 3 to 6 months after starting, and at least annually once stable. Lipid profile and liver function are also monitored, though testosterone rarely causes significant changes in these. The goal is to keep testosterone in the mid-normal physiological range and catch polycythaemia or PSA changes early. Skipping blood tests is how manageable side effects turn into serious ones.
We ship Androgel to all parts of the United Kingdom. Delivery times depend on your location:
All shipments are packed discreetly with no branding or indication of contents on the outside. At our pharmacy, you can purchase Androgel without a prescription, with delivery across the UK.
