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Peptides for low testosterone, explained simply

By Ellum EditorialUpdated AI use

The short answer

Testosterone is a hormone the male body needs to grow and develop. Some men have low levels of it.[4] One of the 15 we list is FDA-approved for low testosterone from a medical cause in men: Testosterone. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is also FDA-approved, but only in a narrower way: for some males with one cause of low testosterone. In them, the brain's signal to the testes is too low. All 15 options people try for low testosterone are in the Sex hormones group.

  • What studies found

    We have not yet summarized what studies found for these options, so this page does not compare how well they work.

  • How you get them

    • Prescription from a doctor: 2
    • A prescription medicine, approved for other uses: 9
    • No FDA-approved product for people in the US: 1
    • No FDA-approved product in the US: 2
    • Sold without a prescription: 1

    An FDA compounding panel has had 2 of them on its agenda for a vote on pharmacy compounding.

See all 15 options

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FDA-approved for low testosterone from a medical cause in men: 2 of 15

One square for each of the 15 options, grouped by its status for this goal.

  • 1FDA-approved for low testosterone from a medical cause in men
  • 1FDA-approved for some men with one cause of low testosterone
  • 9Approved for other uses
  • 1FDA-approved, discontinued
  • 2Not FDA-approved
  • 1Supplement
See the numbers as a table
The 15 options by status
StatusOptions
FDA-approved for low testosterone from a medical cause in men1
FDA-approved for some men with one cause of low testosterone1
Approved for other uses9
FDA-approved, discontinued1
Not FDA-approved2
Supplement1
  1. Ellum Peptide Access Index

Status as of

What people try

Each group is one kind of option. An option can be in more than one group.

  • Sex hormones (15)

Warnings on the label

This list is from the label of one form, the generic testosterone enanthate shot. Other forms have their own labels. Some carry a boxed warning, FDA's strongest warning. Testosterone skin gels have one because children who touch skin where the gel was put on have developed male traits. The long-acting undecanoate shot has one for serious breathing and allergic reactions during or right after a shot.

From the Testosterone enanthate injection (generic) prescribing information (FDA label):[2]

  • high blood calcium in people with breast cancer or who cannot move about
  • with long use of high doses: blood-filled spaces in the liver, which can be life-threatening, and liver tumors, including liver cancer
  • liver inflammation with yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) or abnormal liver tests, which mean stopping the drug
  • in older men, a possible higher risk of an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer
  • blood clots in the legs (DVT) or lungs (PE)
  • studies have not settled whether it raises the risk of heart attack, stroke or death from heart disease; some, but not all, found a higher risk
  • higher blood pressure, which can raise heart risk over time; not recommended for people with uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • misuse, usually at high doses, which can cause serious heart and mental health problems
  • swelling from salt and water build-up, sometimes with heart failure, in people with heart, kidney or liver disease
  • breast growth in males, which is common and sometimes lasts
  • in children, bones can mature too early without extra growth, which can lower adult height
  • in women, male-type changes such as a deeper voice, more body hair, acne and period changes, which can become permanent
  • changes in cholesterol, so it is used with caution in people who have had a heart attack or have heart artery disease
  • too many red blood cells (polycythemia) in people on high doses, so blood counts are checked regularly

In 2025, FDA asked the makers to add a large study, TRAVERSE, to every testosterone label. It tested a testosterone gel in men aged 45 to 80 with low testosterone and heart or blood vessel disease, or several heart risks. Heart attacks, strokes and heart deaths were about as common as in men on a placebo (a look-alike with no medicine in it). Men on the gel had more uneven heartbeats, sudden kidney injury, broken bones and blood clots in the lungs. This generic label does not show those results yet.[4–5]

From the Novarel prescribing information (FDA label):[3]

  • in women given it with other fertility drugs to help them ovulate: overstimulated, swollen ovaries, enlarged or burst ovarian cysts with internal bleeding, multiple births and blood clots in arteries
  • the liquid used to mix it contains benzyl alcohol, which has been linked to a deadly reaction (gasping syndrome) in premature babies
  • serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)
  • early puberty in boys treated for undescended testicles
  • fluid build-up, so it is used with caution in people with heart or kidney disease, epilepsy, migraine or asthma
  • occasional reports of testicular tumors in otherwise healthy young men given it for infertility; it has not been shown that hCG caused them

How to get them

One of the 15 we list is FDA-approved for low testosterone from a medical cause in men: Testosterone. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is also FDA-approved, but only in a narrower way: for some males with one cause of low testosterone. In them, the brain's signal to the testes is too low.

  • FDA-approved for low testosterone from a medical cause in men (1): Prescription from a doctor
  • FDA-approved for some men with one cause of low testosterone (1): Prescription from a doctor
  • Approved for other uses (9): A prescription medicine, approved for other uses
  • FDA-approved, discontinued (1): No FDA-approved product for people in the US
  • Not FDA-approved (2): No FDA-approved product in the US
  • Supplement (1): Sold without a prescription

An FDA compounding panel has had Enclomiphene (enclomiphene citrate) and Kisspeptin-10 on its agenda for a vote on pharmacy compounding. This is not a review for approval.

The panel voted against adding Enclomiphene (enclomiphene citrate) and Kisspeptin-10 to the list of ingredients that pharmacies can use to compound drugs.[6–7]

Cost

No price shown for Testosterone and Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on this page. This page shows no seller prices or seller links.

All options

Every option, one card each

Testosterone

Replaces the main male sex hormone.

FDA-approved for low testosterone from a medical cause in men: Yes

For males whose testosterone is low from a medical cause: the testes have failed (for example after undescended testes, twisting of both testicles, inflammation or removal), or the brain's signal to the testes is too low (for example after a tumor, injury or radiation); not shown to be safe and effective for low testosterone from aging alone. This label is for the generic testosterone enanthate injection

How you get it: Prescription from a doctor

Read the FDA label

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

Mimics LH to stimulate testes/ovaries.

FDA-approved for low testosterone from a medical cause in men: only in a narrower way

For some males with one cause of low testosterone. In them, the brain's signal to the testes is too low

How you get it: Prescription from a doctor

Read the FDA label

FDA-approved, discontinued (1)

FDA-approved for low testosterone from a medical cause in men: No

How you get it: No FDA-approved product for people in the US

Supplement (1)

FDA-approved for low testosterone from a medical cause in men: No

How you get it: Sold without a prescription

The research

What this doesn’t establish

Nothing on this page shows that any option helps low testosterone in a way FDA has not approved.

A status shows where something stands with FDA, not whether it works or is safe for you. Being listed here isn’t a recommendation.

Stacks that include these options

References

  1. Ellum Peptide Access Index
  2. Testosterone enanthate injection (generic) prescribing information (FDA label)
  3. Novarel prescribing information (FDA label)
  4. FDA: class-wide labeling changes for testosterone products
  5. AndroGel prescribing information (FDA label)
  6. FDA: Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee summary minutes, June 8, 2022
  7. FDA: Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee summary minutes, October 29, 2024