These tablets must, of course, go through the liver in their absorptive pass and thus lose some of their potency. There is, however, a sublingual testosterone tablet that, lodged under the tongue, releases the male hormone directly into the circulation.
Injectable testosterone is available, with or without balancing amounts of estrogen.
Testosterone pellets are now available for implantation under the skin in a manner similar to that used for estrogen pellets. Androgens, the male hormones, seem to affect lipids and sexual responsiveness. There is some evidence that this is particularly true for women who have had surgical menopause. Testosterone is sometimes prescribed to treat loss of libido. This positive effect needs to be considered with the potential negative side effects, including facial hair growth, mood changes, clitoral enlargement and acne.