How Much Does It Cost For Hormone Replacement Therapy: Key Facts
Are you interested in finding the reply to the question ‘how much does it cost for hormone replacement therapy?’ Then stay with us and learn!
The proper production of hormones in the human body is a blessing as it maintains our life as well as supports our mental and physical health.
However, our hormones naturally decline with age while unbalancing other body systems. For men, testosterone is the major sex hormone that increases the production of sperms and brings many health benefits like building muscle mass, maintaining bone health, improving sex performance, and more.
Proper testosterone levels provide some long-term advantages like delayed aging, diabetes prevention, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Testosterone begins to drop by 1% each year at the age of 30 and sometimes this drop becomes the reason for other health disorders.
Thanks to modern science and the achievements of medicine no man has to live with the decreased production of testosterone because this tendency is possible to be stopped. Taking bioidentical hormone within the replacement cycle is aimed to eliminate possible disorders and improve life in all of its aspects.
Be certain that your well-being and wellness can be improved because we are here to help you get rid of an unhealthy situation and guide you through the methods of treatment. You will learn the pros and cons of the testosterone replacement treatment, insurance benefits, and the overall cost of hormone replacement therapy.
Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in men is carried out to eliminate the disorders brought by the lowered level of male sex hormone – testosterone. We can say that it is more beneficial for older men to gain the advantages of hormone replacement therapy. However, if younger men experience the symptoms of low T or hypogonadism, they can also try the therapy cycle.
The goal of hormone replacement therapy for men is to keep the normal level of testosterone which is decreased due to many factors like a high level of cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart diseases, etc.
Symptoms of a low T
It is required to start therapy on receiving bioidentical hormone to prevent plenty of low T related disorders like:
- diabetes;
- cardiovascular diseases;
- osteoporosis;
- sleep disturbance;
- aging;
- mood swings;
- increase in body fat;
- the decrease in muscle mass;
- poor bone strength;
- depression;
- mucosal tunic dryness;
- hot flashes;
- low sex drive;
- fatigue;
- anemia;
- joint and muscle pain;
- issues with bladder;
- immune system dysfunction;
- and more.
So, how to get started?
If you are feeling the symptoms of the low level of sex hormone and want to feel the relief and increase your life quality, consider learning all details on the hormone replacement therapy for men to be informed about its pros and cons, its cost, diagnostics, and more aspects.
We have made our best to give you a complete insight into all details concerning hormone replacement therapy at our clinic. Our key mission is to provide personalized care to every patient and give every patient the ability to choose their priorities when it comes to treatment. So let’s start!
Firstly, you have to attend a thyroid specialist for getting a consultation about your symptoms and receiving further instructions and prescriptions.
Describe all your symptoms to the doctor and share illness history, if any. You will be asked about chronic diseases, allergic responses, previous surgery, and other factors that affect the way of customizing your individual treatment plan.
The dosage of bioidentical hormone medication is prescribed individually based on the severity of the patient’s symptoms, patient’s weight, age, and more factors.
We are a team of the best well-trained experts that will guide you through the whole treatment cycle after you undergo all required lab evaluations and get a prescription for hormone replacement therapy.
There are possible side effects that can be observed during the therapy, but they usually go away as the body’s got used to the new levels of the hormone.
HRT usually takes up to 6 months but in some cases, it should be provided for 12 months or more. If the low T symptoms of a patient are severe and if a patient requires the full cycle, then the dosage of bioidentical hormone medication, additional lab tests, and other aspects are discussed individually with a thyroid specialist.
If you feel some discomfort or experience unwanted effects during the therapy, be sure to inform a doctor.
Methods of HRT
There are numerous methods of taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and each method has its own benefits and cost. Let’s review some of the most common types of treatment before you choose the most beneficial one for your health.
Intramuscular Injections
This therapy is considered to be a good way to cure the low levels of testosterone because it supposes that medication is brought directly to the bloodstream while bypassing the liver.
This method is most suitable for patients who need a quick recovery. Testosterone injections are administered into different sites of the body (muscles) once a week or two to three times a month and the first results can be observed in a week.
Pills
Pills are the most common types of hormone replacement therapy as they are easy to get and suppose no painful administration as with injections.
Always follow a doctor’s instructions before selecting the dosage of a bioidentical hormone to be received during the cycle. Some pills are taken once a day while others are taken weekly either with or without food.
Whenever a single dose is missed it may cause some slight side effects. So, if it happens to you, consult a doctor about the dosage.
Skin Patches
Skin patches are another common way of taking hormone replacement therapy. These patches are placed on the abdomen area of the body and are replaced with new ones the next day depending on the dosage prescribed per daily cycle.
Skin patches are beneficial for those who have difficulty with taking the medication orally or for those who suffer from blood clots being the contraindications for testosterone shots.
The hormone is absorbed through the skin but the effectiveness of such therapy is less than others because some part of bioidentical hormone is dissolved before reaching the target.
Topical Creams or Gels
Topical testosterone is available in the form of gels, creams, and sprays. These topicals are rubbed onto the skin until they get absorbed. The procedure is made once or twice a day or as prescribed by the doctor.
The purpose of these gels or creams is to bring the medications directly into the bloodstream. The rate of absorption varies from patient to patient.
This is the most cost-effective but labor-consuming method as you have to apply it without missing a single dose.
Pellets
The pellets come in the form of implants that are inserted under the skin of a tummy after giving some local anesthesia. These pellets release the bioidentical hormone very slowly (in months) then they are replaced with other ones when needed.
Like gels, these implants are also convenient for those who would not take medications daily or weekly. These implants can survive for up to 3 or 5 years. Pellets are also available for treating multiple disorders.
Cost of Hormone Replacement Therapy
The cost for hormone replacement therapy is the top question for patients who want to take HRT for treating their low T-based disorders or hypogonadism.
There are many factors that influence the overall cost of hormone replacement therapy for men. The insurance companies sometimes cover definite expenses for HRT but it is not that easy to receive the coverage.
No matter the cost, hormone replacement therapy is one of the most essential therapies in terms of investing your money. Type of receiving the treatment you choose, doctor visits, lab tests, co-pays, and other factors affect the overall HRT therapy cost.
The average cost for hormone replacement therapy is estimated to be between $30 and $90 per month but this is not the fixed price. The amount may vary depending on the term of the cycle, type of treatment, and dosage. Let’s review the cost of testosterone in different medication forms:
Pills
The overall cost of pills for hormone replacement therapy is estimated to be about $1.500 to $2.400 per year and $130 to $240 per month. But if you have insurance coverage this cost will be up to $360 per year and $30 per month respectively.
Injectable Drugs
Injectable therapy is considered to be one of the most expensive methods among others. The injections are made 2 to 3 times a week and you can make them either by yourself or visit a doctor. The annual average cost of the therapy is estimated to be $288-$1.440 with insurance and $480-$4.800 without insurance and including the co-pays.
Pellets
This kind of therapy is usually non-insured so you will have to pay all the amount of the treatment including the doctors’ visits, co-pay, and lab tests. But its price is surprisingly low compared to other methods with valuable benefits. The annual average cost of the pellets is around $1.050 to $1.400 for women and $1.400 to $2.100 for men.
Creams, Gels, & Patches
This form of medication for hormone replacement therapy has the same price as others but, considering the side effects, this form of medication is not as popular. The average cost of creams, patches, and gels is estimated to be from $120 to $1.020 without insurance and from $60 to $360 with insurance coverage.
Doctor Visits and Blood Tests
Doctor visits are also sometimes paid-for ones, however, they are also sometimes covered with insurance. When you visit a doctor you would probably have to undergo regular blood tests that are usually prescribed to be made from time to time during the whole cycle of your therapy. This is required for evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment. The estimated cost for the doctor visits and blood tests is from $80 to $500.
Advantages of Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men
There are numerous advantages of HRT in men as it improves the quality of life and enhances overall physical and mental health.
Untreated low testosterone causes sexual dysfunction and decreased sexual drive, so HRT therapy cost should be a good investment for returning your sexual health and erectile function.
The low level of testosterone is associated with many diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, and osteoporosis. Hormone replacement therapy is the solution to improve health and get benefits like:
- improved quality of hair, skin, and nails;
- weight loss;
- decreased fat mass;
- reduced excess adipose tissues;
- increased muscle mass;
- better bone density;
- improved metabolism;
- better mood;
- eliminated signs of depression;
- quiet sleep;
and many more ones.
After the hormone replacement therapy cycle is completed, patients often admit that their sports training now brings long-expected effects resulting in better body shape. They feel less tired after the working day and they report the disappeared signs of fatigue.
HRT eliminates sleep disturbance and mood swings, so people feel happier and become more sociable. HRT is a great way to improve the psychological and neurological health of men.
Side Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy in Men
The side effects are not compulsory and they don’t appear in all men receiving the therapy, so we can say they are mostly occasional and appear in case if a person takes the bioidentical hormone by themselves and without the proper prescription.
The occurrence of side effects is quite individual, so this means that certain patients may experience unwanted reactions during the cycle while others may feel quite good and comfortable.
Sometimes it’s required to ask a doctor to correct the dosage of your medication as well as make additional tests to learn the cause of your discomfort.
If hormone replacement therapy is provided in the form of injections then side effects may include slight pain at the injection site but this is eliminated after some time when the injection is made. Some patients may also experience swelling and redness after the injection but these side effects are also temporary ones.
If the therapy is taken in the form of pills, this may cause some liver disorders, so it is highly recommended to consult a doctor before you choose the type of your HRT cycle.
How long does HRT last?
Each method of hormone replacement therapy for men has its own time period. Whenever you start the treatment with hormones it takes time until they build up in your body and start changing the work of its systems for the better.
Each method of therapy may take days, weeks, months, or even years to bring stable changes and make them fixed. Depending on the individual results, the cost of hormone therapy may also vary because the terms of treatment may be different for each patient.
Pills usually bring some visible effects within a few days and are possible to be taken within a few months without visible side effects. Patches show the first results within several days, while injections bring the first results within a few weeks after the start of the therapy. Pellets show the effects within 3 months or so.
More visible effects of hormone replacement therapy are usually seen after the full cycle is completed. The full cycle usually lasts from 6 months and up to 1 year.
The Bottom Line
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is considered to be one of the most beneficial treatments and acceptable options for both men and women. However, if it comes to testosterone, its decline affects men the most, so replacement therapy is often indicated to them at any age.
If the therapy seems to be a costly service for your financial capacity, it is great if you receive insurance coverage for your hormone replacement therapy and save expenses for lab tests and doctor visits.
Be healthy!