Testosterone and Sweating: What Users Say

• maj...
• February 29, 2012

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "I am a 54-year-old male and experienced erectile dysfunction for many years. T levels were about 80, although I work out regularly and carry a fair amount of muscle. The doctor put me on Testim for about a year, and my levels went up to about 400, but the gel smells terrible, takes a long time to dry, and is sticky when dry. The doctor then recommended I try Fortesta. It comes in a pressurized pump that is easy to apply on your thighs. It dries within seconds and has no smell at all! Within a few days, I started to feel stronger during weight training and experienced more vivid dreams. After 6 weeks, T levels were almost 800! I had also tried the T implant, called Testopel, but I like Fortesta better. I do shower before bed to avoid transmitting to my wife."

• cen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2013

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "45-year-old, healthcare professional, low testosterone for about 3 years and have tried injections and Androgel with limited success. Started Testim in May and my numbers have actually been so high that I had to cut down the dose or dose every other day. Huge muscle mass gain and weight loss, >35 lbs in 3 months with diet and exercise (I'm sure the Testim helped), no after-work naps anymore. Be sure to check T and E2 levels regularly, but this is the best topical testosterone you can get as far as absorption. Smell is a complete non-issue, and most who even smell it, love it. A bit sticky but easily, easily manageable. First T levels were 1100 with a free T of 250 (both too high)."

• J12...
• October 12, 2013

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "I'm 51. My testosterone level had dropped to about 150. I hadn't been to a doc in a few years and have been gaining weight and feeling more fatigued and less motivated. Doc offered Testim and others, but said Testim seemed to absorb better than others. He mentioned the possible smell and stickiness, but I gave it a try. Today was my fourth day, and it really seems to already be helping with fatigue and overall motivation. I'm going over to the gym and working out this morning, and I'm going to get the house cleaned up too. Perhaps just psychological this early. Regardless, I feel MUCH better already. I really don't see the smell or sticky issues, seems about like hand sanitizer. Rub it in a minute or so, no smell or stickiness. Happy!"

• Anonymous
• July 24, 2009

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "Used Testim for 30 days, worked well. Total testosterone increased from 298 to 631, with 5G. My family could not stand the smell of Testim. The smell was so poor I wouldn't apply it if I was going out in public. Testim would remain very sticky for an extended time. Would have to keep pulling my shirt off my stuck skin throughout the day."

• Anonymous
• December 1, 2011

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "Started 5g tube once per day 6 weeks ago. 38 yo male. Initial T was 234 and on retest 312 ng/dl. Free T was mildly low as well. Feeling great now. Energy and libido are up. Strength at the gym is improving. Morning wood is back! Focus, concentration are improving. I don't feel so cloudy and down. Tested this week and T was 629! I am very happy. Testim is a bit sticky, but rub it in well and put a bit of baby powder on shoulders. Get tested if you have symptoms and get your mojo back, men."

• Anonymous
• January 1, 2012

Testosterone "48 yo using for 1 month. Was falling asleep after dinner, agitated, and unable to focus at work with no perceived sexual problems. Now I'm staying awake after dinner, no agitation, and focus is back. Erections are more rigid, and the quality of sex is much improved. Wife is happy, so daddy is happy. Didn't realize I was losing some 'game' in the bedroom. Thought it was normal for my age. Stickiness is a bit of a problem on some days. I am a professional and have to wear dress shirts. I rub the gel in, wash hands, shave, and then go over with my hands again and wash hands prior to putting on a shirt. Some days are more sticky than others. Called the company, and they have no plans to correct it. Smell is not bad. I like the results!"

• Anonymous
• February 19, 2011

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "I'll finish my first week of use in two days. I appreciate the postings here, so I'll keep you updated with my progress. 45 yrs. old. I was just diagnosed with Low-T. Dr. didn't share the number, but said it was on the floor. He prescribed two tubes a day. Haven't noticed any changes yet, but staying hopeful. The alcohol scent dissipates quickly, but then I am left with what I describe as a sanitizer/soapy scent that can't be masked with cologne. This may become a problem in the long term. I'm using gloves after two days to apply the gel in order to avoid the smelly hands. The stickiness is annoying rather than problematic. Thanks for all the prior info. I'll check back."

• 44...
• January 15, 2010

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "I like the small tubes, easy to carry around if I am out of town. To stop the sticky, you have to rub it in until it's dry. I can't smell anything either, must be me. It works so well I only use it every other day. Testim also gives you a year of free co-pays! Now if they could only add a drug into it to keep my 21-year-old girlfriend's mouth shut for a while, my life would be perfect."

• Coo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 20, 2018

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "My test results were in the single digits (it was bad). I was put on Axiron for about 18 months, it worked great as my numbers were way up, and I was back in the gym feeling good about myself. Then my insurance changed, and Testim is all they cover. Within three months of using one tube daily, my numbers are back down in the single digits, and I am once again feeling like garbage, not going to the gym, and my mood hitting rock bottom. I would swear this stuff is nothing more than a placebo. Also, what most hate about Testim rings true for me also: the stuff is so sticky and a pain to apply. I use sandwich bags and rub it in until the bag won't move anymore, wait an hour, then put on a shirt that constantly sticks to me throughout the day. Being a flavors and fragrance chemist myself, I just cannot understand who made this stuff and approved it for use with the odor and traits it has."

• ds4...
• April 7, 2013

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "I am a 59-year-old male, HIV, and have used Androgel successfully for years to help with energy, depression, and libido. My insurance company forced me to switch to Testim in January, and I really dislike this. It's hard to wash off my hands after application to my chest and shoulders; it has a distinctive odor that clashes with colognes and causes allergic reactions in scent-sensitive friends; it only dries to a sticky, tacky surface that sticks to my shirts, stains my clothes, and the tubes it comes in are harder to use than Androgel packets or the pump."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2016

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "Received my first shot yesterday. In terms of effectiveness, I'm not sure yet, however, I did have some severe side effects following the injection: dizziness, sweating, and I fainted, however, it passed in about 10 minutes."

• jbr...
• April 10, 2016

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "Started using this less than a week ago. I've done test injections in the past and worked out and got dramatic results. Now that I'm older (48), my test is low, 208. My doctor prescribed Androgel, but insurance only covers Testim. Personally, I think it smells like Lysol. I am feeling better but hate the application process and the stickiness of my skin afterward. If my levels don't bump up on my next round of blood tests, I'm going to go to a urologist and see about getting the pellets put in."

• cit...
• October 17, 2010

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "I was put on Testim because there is apparently a link between people taking opioid pain medications and a loss of testosterone production. I didn't wash my arms before I applied it and used 5g a day, and I was right in the target zone. I didn't like my shrunken testicles, nor did I like the stickiness, nor having to rub it in. So I stopped using it and was fine for a bit, but again dropped below the target. So I started again but washed my arms prior to applying and found that it shot my way over the range. I didn't initially make the connection between the two, so now I am trialing using 1/2 tub a day, which eliminates the sticky feeling, is easier to rub in, and the non-decaying 1/2 life is a huge plus, and I only smell it when I apply it."

• she...
• September 23, 2012

For Hypogonadism, Male "My mom is bipolar, and for the longest time, I thought I had it too. Lack of energy, restlessness, cold sweats, pain in my back from osteoporosis from low testosterone. This went on for years. I went to my doctor a month ago, and my T level was 90 out of 1,080, and I'm only 27 years old. The difference really is night and day once you build up a good amount of testosterone in your system. I feel ten years younger, and I want to be physically active again, been playing more sports in the last month and a half than several years combined, prior to the shots. I'm supposed to start taking Androgel soon, I hope that is pretty effective also."

• Rha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2017

Testosterone for Hypogonadism, Male "I'm an athletic male in my 40s. Was prescribed Testim for low testosterone (50 mg tube). Use 1 tube in the morning. Wet, it smells like rubbing alcohol with some baby powder. I can't notice the smell after it dries. At times, it does feel sticky when it's hot outside and feels like I have a sheet of saran wrap on my back, causing sweating. It has increased my libido. The first 2-3 weeks made me more volatile (took 2 Hyland Calms pills daily, and that helped chill me out), but that has subsided. About week 5, some days my libido had a real high for my wife. That's calmed, but libido is higher than pre-Testim. My wife loves the smell, especially when she's ovulating. Has been great for our sex life. Helps calm hunger too."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2019

Testosterone "I have a terrible sense of smell. I used to work happily in a molecular biology research lab that everyone else complained smelled like an outhouse because of all the E. coli they used. Couldn't smell a thing in the lab. I've come inches from stepping on a freshly dead skunk that I had no idea was there. So when I tell you that Testim reeks to high heaven, you'd better believe it's serious. It's nasty to apply, and the smell lingers for hours in the room as well as on you and anything that touches it. The comments about it being sticky for a long time are also true, but that problem pales in comparison to the smell. (Use is for transgender)"