Andy Peloquin
New Member
Have you ever wondered how many others are undergoing testosterone replacement therapy? Or what about the preferred methods of application—injection vs. gel vs. pellets? To that end, early in 2016, Excel Male took a closer look at our members, documenting not only their use of testosterone, but their experience with the hormone replacement therapy. We discovered some pretty fascinating results. See for yourself:
Participants
Of the 345 men who completed the survey:
- 30% were between the ages of 56 and 65
- 44% were between the ages of 46 and 55
- 16% were between the ages of 36 and 45
- 6% were older than 65
- 3.5% were between the ages of 26 and 35
- 0.5% were between the ages of 16 and 25
To ensure we got the maximum range of participants, we looked outside of Excel Male’s members.
Only 69% of the men surveyed were members of the site, but the other 31% were visitors or outside participants.
We found one very interesting statistic: almost 86% of the men surveyed stated they had been diagnosed with low blood levels of testosterone. The other 14% either hadn’t visited their doctor or hadn’t been diagnosed with Low T.
TRT Usage
Of the 345 men evaluated in the survey:
- 4% had never used testosterone
- 12.5 % had used it in the past, but weren’t undergoing HRT at the time of the survey
- 83.5% were undergoing TRT at the time of the survey
Only a handful (46) of the men responded when asked whether they were using HCG with TRT as a means of treating, preventing, or reversing testicular shrinkage. Of those men:
- 48% were using it and found it worked well for them, or they liked the effects of the combined treatment
- 35% were undergoing TRT treatment, but their doctors did not recommend the usage of HCG
- 15% stopped for reasons NOT related to the efficacy of the treatment
- Only 2% had used it, but stopped because they didn’t see any effects of the treatment
Reasons for Stopping/Usage
Of the 345 participants, only 49 were not currently undergoing TRT. When asked why they had stopped using it, they responded:
- No visible benefits (22%)
- Moodiness (20%)
- Increase in hemoglobin or hematocrit (20%)
- The gel was too messy (12%)
- Their doctor told them it was bad for them (12%)
- The cost was too high (12%)
- They broke out in acne (10%)
- Their breast tissue grew enlarged or tender (8%)
- They lost their insurance or coverage (8%)
- Their PSA levels increased, or their prostate grew enlarged (8%)
- They kept forgetting to use it (6%)
- They disliked the smell of the gel (4%)
Methods of Application
When asked what methods of delivery they used, the men responded:
- 63% used testosterone gels (Axiron, Androgel, etc.) or injections (Nebido, Aveed, etc.)
- 15% used a testosterone patch
- 7% used a compounded testosterone gel
- 4% used testosterone boosting supplements
- 2.5% used oral testosterone undecanoate
- 2% used testosterone pellets
- 0.5% used a striant testosterone buccal strip
Only 35 men responded to the question about the use of testosterone injection. Of those men:
- 34% of them received 100 mg of testosterone on a weekly basis
- 29% of them received 50-100 mg of testosterone twice a week
- 20% of them received 200 mg of testosterone every week
- 6% of them received more than 300 mg per week
- 6% of them received 200 mg injections of testosterone every two weeks
- 3% of them received 300 mg of testosterone per week
- 3% Of them received more than 300 mg of testosterone every two weeks
When asked about their preferences for the testosterone applications, the results were fascinating:
- 27% would prefer a daily gel
- 25% would prefer an injection on a weekly or bi-weekly basis
- 18% would prefer a sublingual product (under the tongue)
- 11% would prefer a pellet to be inserted under the skin every 3-4 months
- 9% would prefer an injection on a monthly or bi-monthly basis
- 5% would prefer an injection twice a week
- 3% would prefer a daily skin patch
- 1% would prefer other methods of application
The “Why” of it All
The survey also looked at the reasons why the men began to use the testosterone therapy in the first place. It asked participants what their doctors evaluated to determine whether or not TRT was necessary. Of the 56 participants who responded:
- Doctors checked total and free testosterone in 91% of cases
- Doctors checked PSA (prostate specific antigen) in 70% of cases
- Doctors checked thyroid hormones (both T3 and T4) in 63% of cases
- Doctors checked estradiol levels in 52% of cases
- Doctors checked prolactin in 34% of cases
- Doctors checked DHEA levels in 32% of cases
- Patients underwent a digital rectal exam to analyze prostate size in 32% of cases
Some pretty interesting findings, aren’t they? It gives you a clearer idea of why men are using testosterone, what caused them to begin using it in the first place, and how well it’s working for them.
Granted, this is just one study (involving a fairly small group of people compared to most nationwide medical surveys), but it helps you to understand the why and how of testosterone usage in the country.
Participants
Of the 345 men who completed the survey:
- 30% were between the ages of 56 and 65
- 44% were between the ages of 46 and 55
- 16% were between the ages of 36 and 45
- 6% were older than 65
- 3.5% were between the ages of 26 and 35
- 0.5% were between the ages of 16 and 25
To ensure we got the maximum range of participants, we looked outside of Excel Male’s members.
Only 69% of the men surveyed were members of the site, but the other 31% were visitors or outside participants.
We found one very interesting statistic: almost 86% of the men surveyed stated they had been diagnosed with low blood levels of testosterone. The other 14% either hadn’t visited their doctor or hadn’t been diagnosed with Low T.
TRT Usage
Of the 345 men evaluated in the survey:
- 4% had never used testosterone
- 12.5 % had used it in the past, but weren’t undergoing HRT at the time of the survey
- 83.5% were undergoing TRT at the time of the survey
Only a handful (46) of the men responded when asked whether they were using HCG with TRT as a means of treating, preventing, or reversing testicular shrinkage. Of those men:
- 48% were using it and found it worked well for them, or they liked the effects of the combined treatment
- 35% were undergoing TRT treatment, but their doctors did not recommend the usage of HCG
- 15% stopped for reasons NOT related to the efficacy of the treatment
- Only 2% had used it, but stopped because they didn’t see any effects of the treatment
Reasons for Stopping/Usage
Of the 345 participants, only 49 were not currently undergoing TRT. When asked why they had stopped using it, they responded:
- No visible benefits (22%)
- Moodiness (20%)
- Increase in hemoglobin or hematocrit (20%)
- The gel was too messy (12%)
- Their doctor told them it was bad for them (12%)
- The cost was too high (12%)
- They broke out in acne (10%)
- Their breast tissue grew enlarged or tender (8%)
- They lost their insurance or coverage (8%)
- Their PSA levels increased, or their prostate grew enlarged (8%)
- They kept forgetting to use it (6%)
- They disliked the smell of the gel (4%)
Methods of Application
When asked what methods of delivery they used, the men responded:
- 63% used testosterone gels (Axiron, Androgel, etc.) or injections (Nebido, Aveed, etc.)
- 15% used a testosterone patch
- 7% used a compounded testosterone gel
- 4% used testosterone boosting supplements
- 2.5% used oral testosterone undecanoate
- 2% used testosterone pellets
- 0.5% used a striant testosterone buccal strip
Only 35 men responded to the question about the use of testosterone injection. Of those men:
- 34% of them received 100 mg of testosterone on a weekly basis
- 29% of them received 50-100 mg of testosterone twice a week
- 20% of them received 200 mg of testosterone every week
- 6% of them received more than 300 mg per week
- 6% of them received 200 mg injections of testosterone every two weeks
- 3% of them received 300 mg of testosterone per week
- 3% Of them received more than 300 mg of testosterone every two weeks
When asked about their preferences for the testosterone applications, the results were fascinating:
- 27% would prefer a daily gel
- 25% would prefer an injection on a weekly or bi-weekly basis
- 18% would prefer a sublingual product (under the tongue)
- 11% would prefer a pellet to be inserted under the skin every 3-4 months
- 9% would prefer an injection on a monthly or bi-monthly basis
- 5% would prefer an injection twice a week
- 3% would prefer a daily skin patch
- 1% would prefer other methods of application
The “Why” of it All
The survey also looked at the reasons why the men began to use the testosterone therapy in the first place. It asked participants what their doctors evaluated to determine whether or not TRT was necessary. Of the 56 participants who responded:
- Doctors checked total and free testosterone in 91% of cases
- Doctors checked PSA (prostate specific antigen) in 70% of cases
- Doctors checked thyroid hormones (both T3 and T4) in 63% of cases
- Doctors checked estradiol levels in 52% of cases
- Doctors checked prolactin in 34% of cases
- Doctors checked DHEA levels in 32% of cases
- Patients underwent a digital rectal exam to analyze prostate size in 32% of cases
Some pretty interesting findings, aren’t they? It gives you a clearer idea of why men are using testosterone, what caused them to begin using it in the first place, and how well it’s working for them.
Granted, this is just one study (involving a fairly small group of people compared to most nationwide medical surveys), but it helps you to understand the why and how of testosterone usage in the country.
