Testosterone is one of the most misunderstood and poorly managed hormones in medicine. Men are out there struggling every day with low energy, brain fog, decreased drive, weight gain, irritability, and loss of strength — and they’re told things like:
“Your numbers are normal. It’s just stress.”
Meanwhile, they don’t feel normal.
They feel like a dimmed-down version of themselves.
When men finally start exploring testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), two common options show up:
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Topical creams/gels
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Injectable testosterone
So which one is actually better?
This is the straight-forward, clinical, no-bullshit breakdown based on real patient outcomes — not pharmaceutical marketing.
Testosterone Gels and Creams
On the surface, gels and creams sound appealing:
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No needles
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Quick daily application
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Easy to travel with
And for a small percentage of men, they work well enough — especially those with very mild testosterone deficiency or extremely gradual symptom onset.
But for most men, here’s where things break down:
1. Absorption Is All Over the Place
Skin is not a controlled delivery system.
Absorption changes based on:
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Shower timing
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Sweat
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Soap residue
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Hydration
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Where it’s applied
Two men can use the exact same gel and get completely different results, and the same man can even get different results day-to-day.
2. Levels Tend to Be Flat
Gels produce slow changes — sometimes so slow that men feel like nothing is happening for weeks or months.
3. Transfer Risk Is Real
If you:
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Have kids
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Have pets
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Sleep next to someone
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Sweat
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Train
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Work outdoors
There is always a risk of testosterone transferring to someone else if the application site isn’t fully isolated and washed before skin contact.
And yes — we’ve absolutely seen that happen in the real world.
Because of this, gels and creams are rarely our first recommendation.
Injectable Testosterone
This is where most men feel the most consistent, noticeable improvement.
At Equivalence Wellness, we prefer injections because:
1. Absorption is Stable and Predictable
When you inject testosterone, we know exactly how much you’re getting — and how your body will utilize it.
2. We Can Fine-Tune Your Dose
We do not chase arbitrary “target numbers.”
There is no “perfect testosterone number.”
One guy may feel great at 500 ng/dL, another may feel great at 850 ng/dL.
The goal is:
How do you feel? How do you function? How do you recover?
3. We Start Low and Adjust Gradually
This approach:
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Reduces the risk of erythrocytosis/polycythemia
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Maintains stable mood and energy
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Helps your body adapt smoothly
Slow → controlled → sustainable
Not “blast → crash → repeat.”
4. No Risk of Passing Hormones to Your Partner or Kids
This is a big one for dads, husbands, and anyone who works physically with other people.
What About Fertility?
Most clinics don’t talk about this until it’s already a problem.
By then, sperm production may already be suppressed.
We address fertility before we start therapy.
If you want children now or in the future, we build that into your plan using:
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hCG
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Clomid or Enclomiphene
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Sperm preservation strategies when needed
You should never have to choose between:
feeling good now
and
being able to start a family later.
We create plans that support both.
So What’s the Bottom Line?
Gels/Creams:
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Convenient, but absorption is unpredictable
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Risk of accidental transfer to others
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Harder to optimize and adjust precisely
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Often results in slower or inconsistent symptom improvement
Injections:
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Consistent and reliable dosing
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Easy to customize to your individual response
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No contamination risk
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Typically results in stronger and more stable symptom relief
Most men simply feel better on injections — mentally, physically, emotionally, and sexually — because their hormone levels stay consistent.
And consistent hormones = consistent performance in life, not just the gym.
Who We Serve
We work with men who are tired of feeling burnt out, foggy, sluggish, frustrated, and disconnected from the strongest version of themselves — including:
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First responders managing sleep debt and cortisol stress
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Men in their 30s–50s who “just don’t feel like themselves anymore”
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Husbands and fathers who want energy and patience back
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High performers who are tired of feeling flat or unmotivated
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Men who tried pellets or low-T clinics and were disappointed
Low testosterone is far more common than people think, and the stigma around treating it has held men back for far too long.
Where We Serve
We support men throughout the South Denver Metro region, including:
Parker • Castle Rock • Elizabeth • Kiowa • Highlands Ranch • Lone Tree
We also work with patients in surrounding communities such as Franktown, Ponderosa, Castle Pines, Sedalia, Centennial, South Aurora, and all greater Douglas & Elbert County areas.
What You Get With Equivalence Wellness
Telehealth consultations
Medications shipped directly to your home
In-person injection training
Full lab monitoring
Gradual, controlled dose titration
Fertility planning and preservation
Membership pricing with transparent costs
Discounts for first responders, teachers, and veterans
No pellets.
No one-size-fits-all dosing.
No “Low-T clinic assembly line care.”
Just evidence-based, individualized hormone optimization.
Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again?
Call, Text, or Email to Get Started:
Text or Call: (303) 725-0474
Email: admin@equivalencewellness.com
Contact Form: https://equivalencewellness.com/contact
We’ll answer your questions, review your goals, and walk you through exactly what the process looks like — clearly, simply, and without pressure.
Steve Dillenbeck
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