madman
Super Moderator
SUBCUTANEOUS TESTOSTERONE INJECTIONS IN HYPOGONADAL MEN (2022)
Rodney L Dennis MD
Testosterone Therapy may be administered in various ways. But, one delivery route not often considered is a subcutaneous injection. Some reasons for this may include a lack of familiarity with the technique, a lack of understanding of the benefits, or a particular preference for other techniques.
Based mainly on prior use in transgender (female to male ) patients, our presumption was that use of subcutaneous testosterone therapy in hypogonadal patients might provide greater patient satisfaction based on the ease of self-administration, less pain with smaller needles, less need for interruption of therapy or therapeutic blood donations for elevated Testosterone or Hematocrit (Hct.) levels and, less Estradiol elevations, compared to reported statistics of intramuscular Testosterone therapy.
Methods: A total of 60 patients using subcutaneous Testosterone Cypionate therapy were chosen randomly from a larger population of patients based mainly on their time for prescription renewal or lab review. Each patient had to have been on Subcutaneous therapy for more than three months for consideration. Primary lab values evaluated were total Testosterone, Estradiol, and Hematocrit. Most patients use 100mg/week, self-delivered.
Results: The mean Testosterone level in these 60 patients was 576.45 ng/dl. The mean Estradiol level was 26.7 pg/ml. The mean Hematocrit level was 48.95%. Seventeen patients, 31%, had Hematocrit levels greater than 50%, compared to published data of 66.7% of men on Intramuscular Testosterone therapy. Eleven patients (18%), had Hct greater than 52%, compared to 43.8% of IM patients. Four patients, 6.%, had Hct greater than 54%. Only four patients (6%) had Estradiol levels greater than 42.6 pg/ml, compared to 20.2% of patients on IM injections.
Conclusion: Subcutaneous Testosterone replacement therapy in hypogonadal men seems to be well-tolerated, more physiologic, and potentially less costly for patients who qualify, compared to intramuscular testosterone therapy.
Rodney L Dennis MD
Testosterone Therapy may be administered in various ways. But, one delivery route not often considered is a subcutaneous injection. Some reasons for this may include a lack of familiarity with the technique, a lack of understanding of the benefits, or a particular preference for other techniques.
Based mainly on prior use in transgender (female to male ) patients, our presumption was that use of subcutaneous testosterone therapy in hypogonadal patients might provide greater patient satisfaction based on the ease of self-administration, less pain with smaller needles, less need for interruption of therapy or therapeutic blood donations for elevated Testosterone or Hematocrit (Hct.) levels and, less Estradiol elevations, compared to reported statistics of intramuscular Testosterone therapy.
Methods: A total of 60 patients using subcutaneous Testosterone Cypionate therapy were chosen randomly from a larger population of patients based mainly on their time for prescription renewal or lab review. Each patient had to have been on Subcutaneous therapy for more than three months for consideration. Primary lab values evaluated were total Testosterone, Estradiol, and Hematocrit. Most patients use 100mg/week, self-delivered.
Results: The mean Testosterone level in these 60 patients was 576.45 ng/dl. The mean Estradiol level was 26.7 pg/ml. The mean Hematocrit level was 48.95%. Seventeen patients, 31%, had Hematocrit levels greater than 50%, compared to published data of 66.7% of men on Intramuscular Testosterone therapy. Eleven patients (18%), had Hct greater than 52%, compared to 43.8% of IM patients. Four patients, 6.%, had Hct greater than 54%. Only four patients (6%) had Estradiol levels greater than 42.6 pg/ml, compared to 20.2% of patients on IM injections.
Conclusion: Subcutaneous Testosterone replacement therapy in hypogonadal men seems to be well-tolerated, more physiologic, and potentially less costly for patients who qualify, compared to intramuscular testosterone therapy.
