TRT Dosage: What's a Normal Weekly Testosterone Dose?

There's no single normal TRT dosage. For testosterone cypionate or enanthate injected into muscle, the Endocrine Society lists starting schedules of 75–100 mg weekly or 150–200 mg every two weeks. Your prescription depends on the product, symptoms, properly timed blood tests, and safety monitoring; a dosage chart cannot choose it for you.

Here's the number most people miss: 200 mg a week is twice the upper end of that guideline's weekly starting range. It is not an FDA-labeled weekly ceiling: the cypionate label gives doses every two to four weeks. We'll show you how the products covered here differ, and what to ask about your prescription. (Endocrine Society; Depo-Testosterone label)

By TRT Provider Guide · Last verified: October 2026 · Editorial research using public sources; not clinically reviewed · Educational information, not medical advice.

Last updated: October 28, 2026.

Best for: adults checking a prescription or preparing questions for a prescriber. Not for you if: you're using a chart to diagnose low testosterone, choose your own dose, or plan performance use.

This page covers adult men treated for low testosterone (male hypogonadism). Testosterone care for women, adolescents, and transgender or gender-diverse patients requires population-specific guidance; this chart does not cover those care plans. For new or unexplained chest pain or pressure, sudden trouble breathing, or stroke symptoms, call 911. A new painful swollen leg needs urgent medical assessment; call 911 if chest pain or trouble breathing occurs with it. Don't use a chart to decide what to do. (MedlinePlus: emergencies; blood clots)

Find your answer fast:

Quick dosage chart (the big ones):

These are label references, not instructions to select or change a dose. The listed windows guide a prescriber's decisions at the stated blood-draw time; they are not interchangeable targets.

See the full product chart ↓

TRT Provider Guide is the independent decision resource for testosterone replacement therapy — helping U.S. adults understand how low testosterone is evaluated, compare online and local care models and providers, and choose the next step that fits their health needs, fertility plans, budget, state, and care preferences, with every material claim verified and dated.

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What is a normal weekly testosterone dose?

For testosterone cypionate or enanthate injected into muscle, guideline starting doses are 75–100 mg once a week or 150–200 mg every two weeks. That averages 75–100 mg a week, but equal averages do not make schedules interchangeable. Whether a dose is appropriate depends on correctly timed blood levels, symptom response, side effects, and monitoring.

Ask three sources what a normal TRT dose is and you'll get three answers. That's not because two of them are wrong. They're answering different questions.

We lined them up side by side so you can see exactly where the conflicting numbers come from:

"Arithmetic weekly average" is our own calculation, not a labeled weekly schedule. Equal averages do not make different injection schedules clinically interchangeable. Sources checked October 28, 2026.

What does the FDA label actually say?

The Depo-Testosterone label says the dose depends on the person's age, diagnosis, and response, and gives a range of 50–400 mg every two to four weeks. It's a wide range on purpose. The label also says the diagnosis should be confirmed first, with testosterone measured in the morning on at least two separate days. (Pfizer prescribing information) Guidelines also require compatible symptoms or signs and consistently low results, with repeat morning fasting testing and an evaluation of the cause. Symptoms, one result, or one cutoff alone do not diagnose low testosterone. (Endocrine Society)

What do the medical guidelines say?

The Endocrine Society suggests starting intramuscular cypionate or enanthate at 75–100 mg weekly or 150–200 mg every two weeks. Then it advises your clinician to check your level and adjust treatment so your testosterone sits in the mid-normal range. That's the middle of the normal range for healthy young men, not the top. (Endocrine Society)

The VA's January 2026 guidance lands in the same place, listing 50–100 mg weekly or 100–200 mg every two weeks as typical intramuscular doses. (VA)

Why do some online clinics quote higher numbers?

Some online programs have set high testosterone goals. In a 2022 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, a researcher posing as a patient contacted seven direct-to-consumer testosterone companies. Six offered testosterone treatment, and three of those six stated a total testosterone goal of 1,000 ng/dL or more. This small study does not establish how all online clinics prescribe today. (Original study)

That doesn't make a 150 mg or 200 mg prescription automatically wrong. It means the number needs a lab plan behind it.

What number actually defines "normal" for you?

Your blood level is one part of the answer. Two men on the identical dose can have very different testosterone levels, because bodies absorb and clear testosterone differently. So the real question isn't "is my dose normal?" It's "is my level in the target range, measured at the right time, are my symptoms improving, and is monitoring showing any problems?"

A few terms you'll see from here on:

• Total testosterone: all the testosterone in your blood. It's reported in ng/dL (nanograms per deciliter).
• Free testosterone: the small slice that isn't attached to proteins and is ready for your body to use.
• SHBG (sex hormone–binding globulin): a protein that holds onto testosterone. High or low SHBG changes how much of your total is free.
• Hematocrit: the percentage of your blood made up of red blood cells. Testosterone can raise it. Too high raises clot concerns.
• Trough: your lowest level, right before your next dose.

Planning to have a child? A lower dose does not guarantee preserved sperm production. Discuss fertility with a urologist or reproductive urologist before choosing a testosterone program. (Endocrine Society)

The right TRT provider is not the same for every person — it depends on whether low testosterone has been properly evaluated, your symptoms and health history, your fertility plans, your state, your insurance or cash-pay preference, your treatment-format preference, your budget, and whether online or in-person care is the better starting point. Some situations belong with primary care, urology, endocrinology, reproductive urology, or urgent or emergency care when the symptoms warrant it. Because a general answer cannot resolve those for you, use TRT Provider Guide's Find My TRT Path tool to map your situation to the right care route and the questions to ask before you pay.

Not sure your current setup is the right one? Map the care route that fits your situation with Find My TRT Path → It's free and helps you explore care routes and questions for your next appointment. It's educational: it doesn't diagnose low testosterone, pick a dose, or guarantee a prescription.

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TRT dosage chart: selected FDA-approved testosterone products

Testosterone products differ in their labeled doses and monitoring instructions; some have fixed doses rather than an adjustment range. The milligrams can't be compared across products: a gel is labeled by the amount you put on your skin, and only a fraction is absorbed. Find your exact product, then compare your prescription to that product's label, not to an injection chart.

This is the chart we wished existed. We pulled the dosing section from each listed product's prescribing label and put its adjustment or continuation criteria and test timing next to the dose. Those criteria belong to the exact product and sampling time; they are not instructions to change treatment.

Sources: prescribing information for Depo-Testosterone, Xyosted, Aveed, AndroGel 1.62%, Natesto, Jatenzo, Kyzatrex, Tlando, and Testopel; Endocrine Society and VA for the guideline advice identified in the chart. All checked October 28, 2026. This chart is a reference for adult men with diagnosed hypogonadism. It is not an instruction to start, stop, or change any dose.

The timing column covers initial or post-change checks where specified; monitoring continues during treatment. A blank label schedule does not mean no monitoring is needed. Topical gels can transfer testosterone to other people; follow the exact product's precautions.

What does this chart show?

Two things jump out once these labels sit on one page.

First, the labels use different criteria for adjusting or continuing treatment. These numbers must be read with their product and sampling time. For example, Xyosted's no-change criterion is a trough of 350 to under 650 ng/dL. Combining all the windows into a single "normal TRT range" would be misleading.

Second, timing changes everything. Jatenzo is checked 6 hours after the morning dose. Kyzatrex is checked at 3–5 hours after the morning dose. AndroGel 1.62% is checked before you apply it. Xyosted is checked at its lowest point. A result of 500 ng/dL can mean something completely different depending on when your blood was drawn. Before you compare your lab number to anyone else's, check that it was drawn at the time your product's label calls for.

Why can't you convert a gel dose into an injection dose?

Because the milligram numbers measure different things. A gel's dose is the amount you rub on your skin. The older AndroGel 1% label says only about 10% of the applied testosterone is absorbed into the blood. (AndroGel 1% label) Pills are absorbed differently again, and Kyzatrex and Tlando explicitly say they are not substitutable with other oral testosterone undecanoate products.

So "40.5 mg of gel" and "40 mg of injection" are not the same amount of testosterone reaching your body. If you switch products, your prescriber uses the new product's label and your clinical history to plan the switch and retesting.

What about compounded testosterone creams and troches?

Compounded drugs can be mixed by a pharmacy for an individual patient. The FDA does not approve them and does not review their safety, effectiveness, or quality before they're sold. (FDA) That means no FDA-reviewed dose range exists for them, and you can't borrow AndroGel's label to judge a compounded cream. The American Urological Association recommends commercially manufactured testosterone over compounded testosterone when possible. (AUA)

If you're on a compounded product, ask your prescriber and pharmacist to write down three things: the strength, the daily amount, and when your blood should be drawn.

Want to discuss this chart with your prescriber? Jump to the Dose Conversation Card ↓. Fill in your product and dose, and take it to your next appointment.

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What testosterone level should your dose be aiming for?

The Endocrine Society recommends aiming for a blood level in the middle of the normal range. The VA's 2026 guidance advises clinicians to adjust treatment if total testosterone goes above 900 ng/dL. Higher exposure can increase adverse effects; a higher blood level does not by itself show better symptom control.

A higher dose isn't "more optimized."

What does the research say about dose and blood level?

The cleanest look at this comes from controlled studies led by Dr. Shalender Bhasin. Researchers used a drug called a GnRH agonist to suppress testosterone production in 61 healthy men aged 18–35, then gave them fixed weekly intramuscular doses of testosterone enanthate for 20 weeks. These are the mean lowest (nadir) levels reported in the study's abstract:

Source: Bhasin et al., 2001. Volunteers were healthy young men, not TRT patients. Treat this as a picture of the trend, not a prediction of your own number.

Lean mass, strength, and hemoglobin all rose with the dose. The follow-up study in men aged 60–75 matters most for older readers. They had bigger jumps in hemoglobin and numerically more adverse events than younger men, and the researchers found the best trade-off among the doses tested at 125 mg a week in that experiment. The older volunteers also started with normal testosterone; this was not a trial establishing the best starting TRT dose for older patients. (Bhasin et al., 2005)

How do safety labs set the ceiling on your dose?

The VA's January 2026 guidance gives clear checkpoints for clinicians: adjust the dose if testosterone falls outside the lab's normal limits or rises above 900 ng/dL, or if hematocrit goes above 51%; stop therapy if hematocrit goes above 54%. (VA) The Endocrine Society also advises clinicians to hold therapy above 54%, investigate hypoxia (low oxygen) and sleep apnea, and restart at a lower dose once hematocrit has fallen to a safe level. Contact your prescriber promptly about an abnormal result; these are clinical decisions, not self-adjustment rules. (Endocrine Society)

So in practice, your prescriber considers your testosterone level and hematocrit alongside symptoms, other side effects, and the rest of your monitoring. More on that in our guide to high hematocrit on TRT.

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Is 200 mg of testosterone a week too much?

200 mg a week is twice the upper end of the Endocrine Society's usual weekly starting range, but it isn't automatically wrong. The cited dose-response trials did not test 200 mg weekly, and the cypionate label does not list it as a weekly ceiling. Whether it is too much for you depends on correctly timed levels, symptom response, side effects, and safety monitoring.

If you're holding a brand-new prescription and a Reddit thread full of arguments, here's the straight version.

Where does 200 mg sit on the label?

The cypionate label's largest listed dose at its shortest listed interval is 400 mg every two weeks. That averages 200 mg a week, but it does not specify 200 mg every week. An average is not a labeled weekly schedule or a safety ceiling. Guidelines suggest starting at 75–100 mg a week, about half that.

The VA's 2026 guidance goes further. In a section on spotting steroid misuse, it describes intramuscular cypionate or enanthate above 100 mg a week as a supraphysiologic (above-natural) dose. (VA) That doesn't mean everyone above 100 mg is misusing testosterone. This is a screening flag in that VA document, not a universal cutoff proving misuse.

What tends to happen at higher doses?

Higher doses can increase hematocrit and estradiol (a form of estrogen your body makes from testosterone); acne and fluid retention are also possible. The Bhasin research showed hemoglobin rising with dose, and older men were more sensitive. (Bhasin 2005)

The FDA now requires a blood pressure warning on testosterone products across the board, after required studies confirmed testosterone raises blood pressure. (FDA)

For more, see estradiol in TRT bloodwork and TRT side effects, including fluid retention.

Can some men legitimately need more than average?

Yes. Absorption, body size, SHBG, and how fast your body clears testosterone all vary. Some men need more to reach a mid-normal level, and labels and guidelines allow for that. The point isn't that 200 mg is forbidden. The point is that a higher dose needs a documented clinical reason and follow-up, not an assumption on day one.

What should you ask if you were started at 200 mg?

• When is my first blood test, and at what point between doses should it be drawn?
• What testosterone level are we aiming for?
• At what hematocrit number would we lower the dose or pause?

If nobody can answer those, the problem isn't really the 200. It's the missing plan around it.

If your current prescriber can't tell you when your labs are or what you're aiming for, that's a care-route problem, not a dosing one. Use Find My TRT Path to see which care route fits you and what to ask before you switch →

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What is low-dose TRT, and does it work?

"Low-dose TRT" has no universal cutoff in the cited labels or guidelines; the VA lists 50–100 mg weekly as a typical intramuscular range. A lower dose isn't automatically safer: testosterone can suppress your own production, so a small dose cannot be assumed to produce an adequate blood level. A lower dose does not guarantee preserved fertility.

Is 50 mg a week considered a low dose?

Compared with guideline starting doses of 75–100 mg a week, yes. The VA's typical range starts at 50 mg weekly, so it's a dose some men are prescribed. (VA) Xyosted's lowest labeled dose is also 50 mg a week. (Xyosted label)

Why can a low dose backfire?

The catch is easy to miss. When you take testosterone, it can turn down the brain signals that support testicular function. LH (luteinizing hormone) stimulates testicular testosterone production, and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) supports sperm production. Your own testosterone and sperm production can fall.

So don't assume a "low" dose is simply being added on top of unchanged natural production. In the Bhasin study, healthy men's production was suppressed with a GnRH agonist; they ended up with average trough levels of 253 ng/dL on 25 mg a week and 306 ng/dL on 50 mg a week. (Bhasin 2001) That's right around common low-testosterone cutoffs, but those study means cannot diagnose an individual or predict a patient's response.

Those results show why a small dose cannot be assumed to produce an adequate blood level. They do not predict how a patient will feel, and "start low" still needs follow-up, not just patience.

When does a lower dose make sense?

There are real reasons a prescriber might keep a dose on the lower side:

• An older patient (hemoglobin tends to rise more with age)
• A higher hematocrit before starting, which may require investigation or delaying TRT rather than simply using a lower dose
• A first follow-up level that's already mid-normal

The Bhasin experiment in healthy older men found 125 mg a week gave the best balance among the doses tested; it did not establish an ideal starting dose for older TRT patients. (Bhasin 2005) A lower dose is assessed by symptoms, correctly timed labs, and side effects, not by whether it sounds gentler.

Is "microdosing" the same as low-dose TRT?

No. Microdosing usually means splitting the same weekly amount into smaller, more frequent doses, often daily. It changes how often you dose, not necessarily how much. Calling 140 mg a week "microdosing" doesn't change its total weekly amount. More on frequency in the next section.

Does a lower dose protect fertility?

A lower dose does not guarantee preserved fertility. Testosterone treatment can lower sperm production, sometimes to zero, by turning down LH and FSH. The Endocrine Society recommends against testosterone therapy for men planning to have children soon. The AUA says men who want fertility should have a reproductive health evaluation before treatment. (Endocrine Society; AUA)

If having a child matters to you now or in the next few years, start with a urologist or reproductive urologist before any testosterone program. Clomiphene, enclomiphene, and hCG are sometimes used in that situation. They are not testosterone and not "natural TRT." Clomiphene use for male hypogonadism is off-label (outside its FDA-approved use); there is no FDA-approved standalone enclomiphene drug. Some hCG products are approved for selected cases of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in males—low testosterone caused by insufficient hormonal signals—but that is not a blanket approval to preserve fertility during TRT. None guarantees fertility. (FDA on clomiphene; FDA on enclomiphene; Pregnyl label) See hCG with TRT and enclomiphene and TRT.

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How often should testosterone be injected?

The cypionate label lists injections every two to four weeks, while the Endocrine Society lists weekly or every-two-week starting schedules. In one retrospective multi-center review, 200 mg every other week was associated with more hematocrit results above 54% in a subgroup than 100 mg weekly. The schedule is a prescriber decision, judged by your labs and how you feel across the week.

What are peaks and troughs?

After an injection, testosterone rises over the next few days (the peak), then slowly falls until the next shot (the trough). For short-acting cypionate or enanthate, larger doses given less often can produce wider peaks and troughs than smaller doses totaling the same amount over time.

That's the roller coaster behind the complaint: great for a week, then everything comes back before the next shot. The VA notes that every-2-to-4-week injections can cause above-normal peaks and dips with fluctuating symptoms. (VA)

Every two weeks vs. weekly: what does the evidence show?

The published six-month report found no significant between-group differences in increases in total or free testosterone, PSA, or estradiol. Smaller, more frequent doses can reduce peaks and troughs, and this retrospective comparison found more hematocrit results above 54% with the every-other-week schedule. It does not establish that one schedule is safer for every patient. Your prescriber considers these limited studies alongside your symptoms and monitoring.

What about daily "microdosing"?

Some programs build their protocol around small daily injections or a daily cream. For injections, the idea is to reduce peaks and troughs with smaller, more frequent doses; topical treatment is a different absorption question. The studies cited here do not establish that daily injections improve clinical outcomes compared with once- or twice-weekly injections. And it's not how the cypionate label is written. Daily cypionate injections under the skin use an off-label route and schedule chosen by the prescriber.

That doesn't make it wrong. It means it's a protocol choice, not an established standard.

Under the skin or into the muscle?

The Depo-Testosterone label says it's for intramuscular use (into the muscle) only. Xyosted is the FDA-approved product designed for under-the-skin (subcutaneous) use. Cypionate vials are also used under the skin off-label; the small weekly study above found stable levels in transgender men.

Your prescriber and pharmacist set the route, volume, and technique. Don't use internet calculators to change what you draw up.

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What do mg, mL, and mg/mL mean on a testosterone label?

These numbers measure different things: milligrams (mg) are the amount of medicine, milliliters (mL) are the amount of liquid, and milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL) is the strength of the vial. Your dose is the mg amount on your prescription. The mL is just how much liquid carries it, and that depends on your vial's strength.

This is where real mix-ups happen. The same mL of liquid holds twice as much testosterone in a 200 mg/mL vial as in a 100 mg/mL vial. If your pharmacy switches your vial strength, the right volume changes too. (Pfizer)

The safe move: ask your pharmacist to write your dose on the label in both mg and mL for the exact vial you have. Do this every time the vial strength changes. If anything doesn't match, call the pharmacy before your next dose. Don't work it out from a forum post.

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When is your TRT dose checked and changed?

Your first dose is a starting point. The VA lists testosterone, hematocrit, and PSA checks at 3–6 months and again at 12 months, but the first testosterone check depends on the product, and prostate monitoring depends on age, risk, and the plan agreed with your clinician. Your prescriber reviews symptoms, side effects, and labs together, with earlier testing when the product or clinical situation calls for it.

When is the first follow-up test for each product?

Sources: product labels linked in the chart above; VA and Endocrine Society and AUA for injectable timing. Checked October 28, 2026.

Once therapeutic levels are established, the AUA says to measure testosterone every 6–12 months while on therapy. (AUA) For the full schedule, see how often to get bloodwork on TRT. Product-specific safety monitoring may be more frequent; follow the plan for your exact medicine.

What gets checked besides testosterone?

• Hematocrit and hemoglobin: the red blood cell checks
• PSA (prostate-specific antigen): a prostate blood test, when prostate monitoring is appropriate. The VA recommends urology referral for a rise above 1.4 ng/mL within 12 months or a PSA above 4 ng/mL; the Endocrine Society specifies a confirmed rise of more than 1.4 ng/mL above baseline within the first 12 months or a confirmed PSA above 4 ng/mL. These findings need evaluation, not a self-diagnosis. (VA; Endocrine Society)
• Blood pressure: now a labeled warning for testosterone products (FDA)
• Estradiol, sometimes

What signs might mean your dose needs a review?

Tell your prescriber if you notice:

• Acne or oily skin that's new
• Swelling in your ankles or feet
• Breast tenderness
• Headaches, or a high blood pressure reading at home
• Symptoms that come back late in each injection cycle

None of these tells you the right change on its own. A late-cycle crash can mean too long between doses, not too little testosterone. A high hematocrit can have causes other than the dose, including low oxygen related to sleep apnea. That's what your clinician evaluates alongside the labs.

The VA also sets a useful reality check. It advises clinicians to discontinue treatment if symptoms haven't clearly improved after 6–12 months despite levels in range. (VA) More testosterone isn't the answer to every leftover symptom.

Can you change your TRT dose yourself?

No. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance in the U.S. and requires a valid prescription. Your dose is part of that prescription, and changing it needs your prescriber's review. If your dose feels wrong, message your prescriber and ask about a lab check and treatment review. (DEA scheduling; Depo-Testosterone prescribing information)

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What changes the dose you need?

Two men on the same dose can land at very different blood levels. Body size, SHBG, age, the product and route you use, how consistently you take it, and conditions like sleep apnea affect how treatment is assessed and monitored. That's why the starting number alone cannot tell you whether a dose is right.

• SHBG. High SHBG can reduce the free fraction of testosterone; low SHBG can increase it. Obesity, diabetes, thyroid disease, and liver disease can all change SHBG, and the VA recommends measuring free testosterone when they're present. (VA) See SHBG in TRT bloodwork.
• Age. In the Bhasin experiment, older men had larger hemoglobin increases than younger men. (Bhasin 2005)
• Product and route. Gel, oral, and injection milligrams aren't interchangeable (see the chart above).
• Sleep apnea. Severe untreated sleep apnea raises the risk of high hematocrit and is listed as a reason not to start TRT. (VA) See TRT and sleep apnea.
• Weight change. The VA notes that big weight gain or loss can be a reason to recheck labs early.
• Lab timing and assay. A blood draw at the wrong point in your cycle, or a less accurate lab test, can make a fine dose look wrong.

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Who sets your dose, and how do online TRT programs dose differently?

Your prescriber sets and adjusts your dose, so the program you choose shapes how dosing works in practice: the format, the schedule, whether the product is FDA-approved or compounded, and how often labs are rechecked. Programs differ a lot on all four. Compare those before the monthly price.

If you're reading this because your current setup doesn't give you clear answers, this is the section for you. If you're happy with your prescriber and your labs, you can skip it.

TRT Provider Guide has affiliate relationships with some providers discussed here. That doesn't change what we report. How affiliate links work.

What we actually verified, October 28, 2026

Sources checked: Male Excel's TRT page, pricing, FAQ, Terms, and refund policy; Taurus Meds' offer page and Terms; Hone Health's plan comparison, Plus, Premium, state chart, and membership FAQ. FDA labels and guidelines are cited throughout this article.

Confirmed as published, not independently confirmed in patient care: formats offered; membership and starting-price structure; stated lab or review cadence where published; Male Excel's daily-injection model and compounded cream; Taurus Meds' weekly-injection description and conflicting fee language; Hone Health's three plans, of which Plus and Premium provide access to TRT.

Company-stated: service areas, included services, review and lab schedules, shipping policies, and named pharmacy relationships. None establishes which clinician, finished product, or pharmacy an individual patient will receive.

Cost check: the amounts below are published components, not complete patient quotes. We rechecked them on October 28, 2026; missing medication quantities, extra fees, and testing details prevent a like-for-like full-year total.

Not verified: the exact finished product and pharmacy any patient receives; clinician availability, response times, and individual credentials; patient-specific refill timing, full charges, or actual doses prescribed. We did not enroll, order, or receive treatment. This is a public-source comparison, not a hands-on review. Our process is described in How We Review TRT Providers.

How do the main programs compare on dosing?

Sources: current Male Excel pricing and FAQ; Taurus offer and Terms; Hone's Plus, Premium, and state availability pages. Checked October 28, 2026. These figures are arithmetic, not quotes.

How we did the first-year math: Male Excel: $99 + 12 × ($99 + $120) = $2,727; the $120/month figure is the advertised monthly equivalent for a starting medication bundle billed by 60-day supply, not an injection-only price. Taurus: $49 + 12 × $149 = $1,837 before resolving its fee clause. Hone Plus: $45 + $45–$80 for confirmatory testing + 12 × $135 = $1,710–$1,745 before medication; Premium: $65 + $25 + 12 × $155 = $1,950 before medication. The calculations assume 12 months at the published monthly rates, with no optional add-ons or price changes; they are not statements about minimum commitments.

Before paying, ask for one written total covering repeat diagnostic tests, medication quantity and refill interval, follow-up labs and visits, supplies, shipping, taxes, and any minimum commitment. Also ask how cancellation, unused medication, refunds, and access to your records work. Male Excel's refund policy makes prescription orders final; Taurus's Terms exclude refunds for shipped medication and blood tests; Hone's FAQ says cancellation takes effect at the end of the billing period through Support. A cheaper starting price does not answer those questions.

Male Excel: built around small daily doses and frequent check-ins

Here's the honest catch first. Male Excel does not dose the way the testosterone cypionate label is written. The label says injections into the muscle every two to four weeks. Male Excel advertises small daily injections and a separate compounded cream, which has not been through FDA approval. If you want insurance billing or control over a local pharmacy, compare a local or insurance-based prescriber and confirm those options before enrolling. If an FDA-approved injection is your priority, ask Male Excel for the exact product first.

But skipping the big every-two-week shot is exactly the point. Male Excel says daily dosing avoids the peaks and dips of weekly injections; the studies cited here do not establish better clinical outcomes from daily injections. Then it pairs the daily protocol with a check-in every 60 days and labs every six months, both included in the membership according to the company. If you've been riding the "great for a week, crash before the next shot" cycle and want someone reviewing your dose regularly, that structure is worth asking about. Get the first follow-up date in writing: a stated six-month lab schedule does not answer when a new prescription will first be checked.

Not for you if: you haven't had low testosterone evaluated with symptoms or signs and repeat morning blood tests, you're trying to conceive, or you live in a state it doesn't serve. Male Excel's site emphasizes symptoms rather than lab numbers alone; guidelines require both symptoms or signs and consistently low results. Ask how repeat diagnostic testing is handled before treatment. Its FAQ lists these 11 excluded states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. (Male Excel FAQ; Endocrine Society)

Does that sound like your situation — low T confirmed, and you want small daily doses reviewed every 60 days? Read our Male Excel cost breakdown → The $99 start includes an at-home test and a provider consultation. A clinician decides whether treatment is appropriate. Medication is billed on top of the $99 monthly membership.

Taurus Meds: a weekly-injection model with a low entry price

Taurus Meds advertises a $49 blood test and consultation through LabCorp or Quest, then $149 a month for medication if a clinician prescribes it. It calls that price all-inclusive and says there are no membership fees. Two things to settle before paying. Its current Terms still contain a $17.99 recurring membership clause, without defining the billing period or clearly resolving whether it applies to this offer. And its offer page describes its hormones as compounded, in wording that names another company's program. Ask which exact product and pharmacy you'd get, and whether any membership fee applies to your order. (Offer; Terms, checked October 28, 2026.)

Considering Taurus Meds? Review Taurus Meds' $49 lab-and-consult offer → Ask about the membership-fee clause and the exact product in writing before you pay.

Hone Health: medication priced separately from a membership

Hone Health's current help pages list testosterone injections from $28 per vial, not a fixed monthly medication price. You also need a TRT-capable membership: Plus is $135 a month and Premium is $155 a month, with labs and consultations included as described in each plan. Basic is $25 a month but does not include access to hormone replacement therapy. Plus lists a $45 initial test and a separate $45 at-lab or $80 at-home confirmatory test; Premium lists a $65 initial test and a $25 confirmatory test for TRT. Hone's cream and troches are compounded. Ask whether your injection is an FDA-approved product, how long the quoted vial lasts, and which tier covers the testing your dose plan needs. (Plan comparison; Plus; Premium)

Want to compare Hone's TRT membership options? Compare Hone Health's membership tiers and medication prices →

When is none of these the right route?

• You want an FDA-approved product billed to insurance: see TRT providers that take insurance.
• You're trying to conceive: start with a reproductive urologist (see below).
• You haven't had symptoms and repeat morning tests assessed: read what testosterone level qualifies for TRT first.
• You're still not sure: use Find My TRT Path.

One timing note for online care. As of October 28, 2026, the fourth federal temporary extension allows eligible DEA-authorized prescribers to prescribe Schedule II–V controlled substances through qualifying telemedicine without a prior in-person exam, through December 31, 2026. For testosterone, this includes real-time audio-video care and compliance with federal and state law; it is not permission for every questionnaire or online program to prescribe. State requirements and the clinician's judgment may still require in-person care. Ask any online program what happens to your care if the rules change. (DEA; Federal Register)

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When should a dose question go to a specialist?

Some dose questions need a clinician's assessment rather than a chart: fertility plans, high hematocrit, a concerning PSA result, a prostate or breast cancer history, severe untreated sleep apnea, a recent heart attack or stroke, or very low testosterone without an explained cause. Contact your treating clinician promptly about hematocrit above 54%; a urologist, endocrinologist, or reproductive urologist may be the right next stop for the concerns below.

The VA's 2026 guidance lists several situations where testosterone shouldn't be started, or needs specialist input. (VA)

• Wanting a child now or later: testosterone can suppress sperm production. Talk to a reproductive urologist first.
• Hematocrit above 54% on TRT, or above 48% before starting: this needs a plan, not a guess.
• Confirmed PSA above 4 ng/mL, or a confirmed rise of more than 1.4 ng/mL above baseline in the first 12 months: urology evaluation.
• Total testosterone below 150 ng/dL with normal or low LH and FSH: endocrinology, to check for a pituitary problem.
• A heart attack, stroke, or coronary revascularization procedure (to restore blood flow to the heart) in the last 4 months; a history of unexplained blood clots; poorly controlled heart failure.
• Severe untreated sleep apnea or severe urinary symptoms.

A note on changing FDA labels. In February 2025, the FDA announced removal of boxed-warning language about increased cardiovascular risk from testosterone labels, citing the TRAVERSE trial, while requiring blood pressure warnings. That did not declare testosterone risk-free. (FDA) In June 2026, the FDA requested further label changes, including narrowing the prostate cancer contraindication to metastatic prostate cancer. (HHS) Requested isn't the same as final. Ask your prescriber how the current label and clinical guidance apply to your history.

Who this page doesn't cover: women, transgender and gender-diverse patients, and teenagers need population-specific evidence and care plans. Bodybuilding or performance use isn't replacement therapy, and we don't cover it. Testosterone misuse can cause serious harm to the heart, blood, fertility, and mental health. (Prescribing information)

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What should you ask your prescriber about your dose?

Bring your exact product, dose, and schedule, plus a short list of questions: why this dose, what level you're aiming for, when to draw blood, and what would trigger a change. A prepared conversation helps your prescriber answer the personal questions a chart cannot.

The Dose Conversation Card

Copy this, fill in the blanks, and bring it to your next visit or send it through your patient portal.

My prescription

• Product name and strength (for example, "testosterone cypionate 200 mg/mL"): ________
• Dose in mg: ________ How often: ________
• Same dose in mL for my current vial (ask your pharmacist): ________
• FDA-approved or compounded? Which pharmacy? ________

What my product's label says (from the chart above)

• Labeled dose range: ________
• When the label says to test my level: ________
• Label criteria at the specified blood-draw time: ________

My questions

1. Why was this dose and schedule chosen for me?
2. What testosterone level are we aiming for, and when exactly should my blood be drawn?
3. When is my first follow-up test, and what will it include (testosterone, hematocrit, PSA, blood pressure)?
4. At what hematocrit or testosterone number would we lower the dose, pause, or switch formats?
5. How do my plans for having children affect this treatment?
6. Who do I contact between visits about a side effect, a missed dose, or unclear vial instructions?

Still not sure your care route is the right one? Explore care routes with Find My TRT Path → It helps you explore care routes and questions to ask before paying. It doesn't diagnose low testosterone, determine eligibility, or choose a dose.

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How we built this page

We pulled dosing, test timing, and adjustment or continuation criteria from the listed FDA-approved products' prescribing labels, then compared them against the Endocrine Society, AUA, and VA guidelines and dose-response research. We calculated weekly averages and published cost components ourselves, without treating averages as equivalent prescriptions or subtotals as complete quotes. Label facts, guideline recommendations, company claims, and our own conclusions are labeled as different things, and every check is dated.

What we checked, October 28, 2026:

• FDA labels: Depo-Testosterone, Xyosted, Aveed, AndroGel 1.62% (plus AndroGel 1% for absorption), Natesto, Jatenzo, Kyzatrex, Tlando, and Testopel
• Guidelines: Endocrine Society (2018), American Urological Association (2018, validity confirmed 2024), and VA clinical recommendations (January 2026)
• Research: the original abstracts of Bhasin et al. (2001, 2005) and El-Khatib et al. (2021 online publication); McFarland et al. (2017) and Dubin et al. (JAMA Internal Medicine, 2022)
• Regulatory: FDA class-wide labeling changes (February 2025); FDA/HHS requested label updates (June 2026); DEA telemedicine extension through December 31, 2026; FDA guidance on compounded drugs
• Providers: the official offer, pricing, help, state, and policy pages identified in the verification block for Male Excel, Taurus Meds, and Hone Health

What we did ourselves: calculated arithmetic weekly averages of labeled injection ranges; lined up the listed labels' test timing and adjustment or continuation criteria; calculated known first-year cost components while identifying what prevents a complete total.

What we didn't do: we didn't enroll in any program or receive treatment, and no clinician reviewed this version of the page. This page doesn't diagnose low testosterone, interpret anyone's labs, or recommend a dose.

Our process is described in How We Review TRT Providers. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.

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TRT dosage FAQ

TRT dosage depends on the exact product, properly timed blood tests, symptoms, and safety checks. These answers explain common questions to discuss with your prescriber; they do not choose or change a dose.

What is the most common TRT dose? For cypionate or enanthate injected into muscle, the Endocrine Society suggests starting at 75–100 mg weekly or 150–200 mg every two weeks. Those are guideline starting ranges, not a survey of the most commonly prescribed dose. Your prescriber adjusts from there based on correctly timed labs, response, and safety monitoring.

Is 100 mg of testosterone a week enough? It can be. It's at the top of the guideline's weekly starting range for intramuscular cypionate or enanthate. In the healthy young-volunteer experiment above, 125 mg weekly produced a mean nadir level of 542 ng/dL; that does not predict an individual patient's result. Whether 100 mg is enough for you depends on your follow-up level, symptoms, and safety monitoring.

Is 200 mg of testosterone a week too much? It is twice the upper end of the guideline's usual weekly starting range, but the cypionate label does not establish a weekly ceiling. It isn't automatically wrong. Your prescriber assesses correctly timed testosterone levels, symptoms, side effects, and safety monitoring.

What is a low dose of testosterone for men? There is no universal cutoff in the cited labels or guidelines. Testosterone can suppress natural production, so a small amount still needs follow-up to establish whether it is adequate.

How much testosterone gel is a normal dose? For AndroGel 1.62%, the label starts at 40.5 mg a day (two pumps or one 40.5 mg packet) and allows adjustment between 20.25 and 81 mg a day. Its no-change criterion is a morning pre-dose level of 350–750 ng/dL. Gel milligrams can't be compared with injection milligrams.

What is the starting dose for oral testosterone? Jatenzo starts at 237 mg twice daily. Kyzatrex starts at 200 mg twice daily. Tlando is a fixed 225 mg twice daily. All three are taken with food, and each has its own blood-test timing.

How often should testosterone cypionate be injected? The label says every two to four weeks. The Endocrine Society lists weekly or every-two-week starting schedules for intramuscular cypionate or enanthate. A prescriber may choose another schedule to reduce peaks and troughs; the choice needs an individual monitoring plan.

What should my testosterone level be on TRT? The Endocrine Society recommends the middle of the normal range. Product labels use different adjustment or continuation criteria at specific blood-draw times; those windows cannot be combined into one target. The VA's guidance advises clinicians to adjust treatment above 900 ng/dL. Your target, and when to test, depend on your product and clinical plan.

When should I get blood work after a dose change? It depends on the product, from at least 7 days for Jatenzo to 6 weeks for Xyosted. The guideline interval of 3–6 months refers to follow-up after starting therapy, not a universal wait after every dose change. Ask your prescriber for a written date and time.

Can I increase my TRT dose myself? No. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance, and your dose is part of a prescription. Ask your prescriber for a lab check and a review instead.

Does a lower TRT dose protect fertility? A lower dose does not guarantee preserved sperm production. Testosterone treatment can reduce sperm production, sometimes to zero. If you want children, see a urologist or reproductive urologist before starting.

Is daily microdosing better than weekly injections? Smaller, more frequent injections may reduce peaks and troughs, but the studies cited here do not establish better clinical outcomes with daily injections. Daily subcutaneous cypionate is an off-label route and schedule that needs an individual prescribing and monitoring plan.

Are compounded testosterone doses the same as FDA-approved ones? No. Compounded products aren't FDA-approved, and there's no FDA-reviewed dose range for them. Ask for the exact strength, daily amount, and test timing in writing.

What if I miss a dose? Ask your prescriber or pharmacist what to do for your exact product. The chart on this page isn't a catch-up schedule.

Can I use this chart when switching products? Use it to prepare questions, not to calculate a replacement dose. This chart does not establish equivalent doses between products or formats. Your prescriber uses the new product's label and your clinical history to plan the switch and retesting.

Is there a TRT dosage chart for women? Not on this page. Testosterone care for women uses a different evidence base and clinical framework; this adult-male hypogonadism chart does not apply. Talk with a clinician who treats women's hormone health.

Can Find My TRT Path tell me what dose I need? No. It's an educational tool that maps your situation to a care route and the questions to ask. It doesn't diagnose, determine eligibility, or choose a dose.

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The bottom line: a normal TRT dose isn't a number you look up. It's a dose assessed by symptom response, correctly timed testosterone levels, side effects, and safety monitoring. Know your label, know your target, and get a written lab plan.

Still not sure which TRT care route fits you? Use our free Find My TRT Path tool.

This page is educational information, not medical advice, and not a substitute for care from a licensed clinician. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance and requires a valid prescription. We don't diagnose low testosterone, interpret lab results, or recommend a dose. Labels, prices, and telemedicine rules change. Sources were last checked October 28, 2026.