Testosterone Cream

Route: Transdermal. No ester. An oil-in-water cream rather than an alcohol gel, so it absorbs more slowly, does not flash-dry, and leaves less surface residue. The standard TRT option in Australia alongside injectables.

Dosage (applied testosterone, not absorbed dose):

• AndroForte 5 (50 mg/mL): 1-2 mL/day = 50-100 mg/day
• Compounded 5% cream: 50-100 mg/day; 10% cream: 100-200 mg/day
• Scrotal application absorbs roughly 5x better than arm or thigh skin, so a scrotal dose is a fraction of a non-scrotal one. Do not carry a dose across from one site to the other without retesting.

Application Protocol:

• Once daily, morning, to clean dry skin
• Non-scrotal sites: upper arms, shoulders, thighs. Rotate sites
• Scrotal application is the higher-absorption route and is what most Australian prescribers intend with AndroForte
• Rub in fully, then wash hands with soap and water
• Avoid showering for 2-3 hours after application

Transfer Risk:

• Lower than alcohol gels because cream absorbs into the skin rather than drying on the surface, but not zero
• Scrotal application effectively removes transfer risk in normal daily contact
• Still wash hands and cover non-scrotal sites

Bloodwork Timing:

• Test after at least 14 days on a stable dose
• Peak is roughly 2-4 hours after application; pre-dose gives the trough
• Record the application-to-draw interval every single time, otherwise results across visits cannot be compared
• Check DHT: scrotal cream routinely drives DHT above the reference range, which is expected pharmacology rather than an error

How compounded cream is prescribed, dosed and monitored in Australia: Starting TRT in Australia.

Key Notes:

• Preferred over gel by many users for less skin residue, less alcohol irritation, and lower transfer risk
• Lower erythrocytosis risk than IM testosterone, a common reason to switch when haematocrit runs high
• The DHT rise is the main trade-off: relevant for androgenic alopecia and prostate symptoms
• Compounded cream strength varies between pharmacies. Retest after any change of compounder
• Same HPTA suppression as any exogenous testosterone