Being an American, the first thing I worried about when my doctor said I needed to be on TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) for the rest of my life was: How is this going to affect my health insurance costs?

I do have health insurance, but they wont cover testosterone injections unless the doctor gives them to me. Sound familiar? Since I cant afford to take time off work every week to visit my doctors office, Im stuck taking either Testim or Androgel or getting my testosterone by other means.

If I had to do it over again, as I said, Id just contact a mail order compounding pharmacy, get some independent lab tests done, and have a phone consultation with one of their doctors. At least then I wouldnt have a pre-existing condition on my medical records.

The Nuts and Bolts of DIY Testosterone Injections If you think you might need TRT and havent been officially diagnosed as hypogonadal by a doctor yet there is an option that doesnt involve the record-hungry healthcare system: Get the test done privately and pay in cash. You dont need a doctor to read the test results. If youre testosterone is low, contact a compounding pharmacy or hormone replacement / anti-aging clinic that doesnt take health insurance. You can take the shots yourself in the privacy and comfort of your own home; it wont be on your medical records; and you wont end up spending much more than you would with co-pays to the doctor and pharmacy if youd gone the traditional route.

This is a gray area. Testosterone is a schedule III drug and is illegal to obtain without a prescription. The compounding pharmacies and male HRT clinics (also many anti-aging clinics) often have a doctor in-house that will interpret your test results and have a phone consultation with you. That doctor, who you never see in person, will prescribe your testosterone (as well as growth hormone, which is an even grayer area) and any other ancillary drugs (such as Nolvadex or Arimidex to prevent side effects like gynecomastia). They usually dont accept insurance and will ship your HRT drugs out by mail within one week. SO technically, youre getting your drugs from a legal pharmacy, which also happens to have a doctor on staff to provide the prescription. I dont think youd have anything to worry about in court. The HRT or Anti-Aging clinic, on the other hand, might have some legal questions to answer should the DA or DEA ever decide to pay them a visit, which has happened in the past.

Tips on Ordering Testosterone Online If you order testosterone online, follow these tips to stay as close as you can to being legitimate in the eyes of the American court system

Please read this disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I am not an attorney. I am not qualified to dispense legal or medical advice. The information above are only my opinions and should not be taken as legal or medical advice. Always speak to a qualified attorney when you have legal questions. Always see a qualified health professional when you have medical questions.

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Mail Order Testosterone: Legal TRT? - Testosterone ...