Compounded Testosterone for Men: Why It Comes as a Cream, an Oil or a Gel

The short answer

If your prescriber has written a compounded testosterone prescription, it will be a topical: something you apply to the skin rather than swallow. Testosterone is poorly absorbed when it is taken by mouth, so what we prepare is a hypoallergenic cream, an olive oil base topical or a topical gel, at the strength your prescriber specifies.

This article walks through those three forms in plain terms, what to tell us when your prescription arrives, and how filling works from start to finish.

The three forms we prepare

Your prescriber chooses the form. Here is what each one is.

• Hypoallergenic cream. Testosterone compounded into a cream base. If you have a sensitivity to a dye, filler or base, tell us when you call, and a pharmacist will review the formulation with that in mind.
• Olive oil base topical. Testosterone prepared in an olive oil base and applied to the skin.
• Topical gel. Testosterone prepared as a gel.

Each one is made to order for you, not pulled from a shelf. A pharmacist reviews the formulation on every prescription before it is prepared. Which form fits you is a conversation for you and your prescriber. Our men's health compounding pharmacy page lists the other men's prescriptions we fill.

Your prescriber sets the strength

We prepare the medication exactly as your prescriber writes it. If your prescriber adjusts the strength after a follow-up visit, they send us the new prescription and we prepare it to match. You do not need to request a change from us; the new prescription is the instruction.

It is a controlled medication, so the path matters

Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance. It means the rules for sending and transferring the prescription are stricter than for most medications.

• The simplest route is for your prescriber to send the prescription to us directly. Tell them you would like it sent to ProCompounding Pharmacy in Johnson City, Tennessee, phone 423-975-0597. Prescribers can set up e-prescribing or ask about a formulation on our page for prescribers.
• Moving a prescription you already have? Call us first at 423-975-0597 and we will tell you what is possible for your prescription before you start.

From prescription to your door

Once your prescription reaches us, a team member calls to confirm your shipping address, any sensitivities, and the cost. That happens before anything is processed, made, or shipped, and there is always a cash option. A pharmacist then reviews the formulation and we compound it. Most preparations take about 48 hours to compound; shipping time is additional and varies by destination. When your next fill is due, the refill request page is the quickest route.

Because we ship from Johnson City, the pharmacy's license in your state is what counts, not its distance from you. ProCompounding is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. We are also PCAB accredited, and our quality page explains the periodic third-party potency testing and USP 795 and USP 800 compliance behind every preparation. To check any pharmacy's license yourself, use our guide to verifying a compounding pharmacy's license.

Common questions

Can testosterone be compounded as a pill or capsule?

Testosterone is poorly absorbed when it is taken by mouth. We do not compound it as a tablet or an oral capsule. We prepare it as a hypoallergenic cream, an olive oil base topical or a topical gel.

What forms of compounded testosterone do you prepare for men?

Three topical forms: a hypoallergenic cream, an olive oil base topical and a topical gel, each at the strength your prescriber specifies. Your prescriber chooses the form.

Do I need a prescription for compounded testosterone?

Yes. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance, and every compounded preparation requires a prescription from a licensed prescriber. The simplest route is for your prescriber to send it to us directly.

Can you fill a testosterone prescription if I live outside Tennessee?

ProCompounding is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Call 423-975-0597 and we will confirm the details for your prescription and your state.

Who decides the strength of my testosterone prescription?

Your prescriber. We do not prescribe; we prepare what your prescriber writes, and a new prescription from them is all it takes to change the strength.

Call 423-975-0597 for current pricing and shipping options for your state.

Compounded preparations are not reviewed or approved by the FDA for safety or efficacy. This article is for education only and is not medical advice. Decisions about your care rest with you and your prescriber, who also orders and interprets any lab work.