Scrotal Testosterone Cream Increases DHT Disproportionately
BJU International (2020)
Scrotal application resulted in DHT:testosterone ratios 4 to 5 times above those seen with injectable formulations.
How it works
Marek's Guided Optimization® Program combines advanced lab testing, a dedicated health coach and medical provider, and a personalized treatment plan, all built around your data.
Resources
The process
1
Start your assessment
Complete your 45-min intake assessment
2
Get your labs drawn
4,000 partnered lab locations nationwide
3
Review with your coach
Screen-by-screen lab review
4
Receive your protocol
Treatment delivered to your door
Why Marek
The only program pairing you with a dedicated health coach and medical provider, built on precision diagnostics, with no subscription required.
Resources
Meet our co-founder
Derek
Co-Founder · MPMD Podcast
"Over time, I found it incredibly difficult to get medical oversight for myself and my family that reflected the latest research, and that was preventative. That's why I started Marek Health."
Excellent on Trustpilot
What we test
Every client's lab panel is hand-selected from 1,000+ available biomarkers, built around their specific goals.
Panel categories
Resources
Treatments
700+ medical provider-prescribed therapies built from your labs. Browse by category or explore the full formulary.
Testosterone Cream (Topical)
Topical cream (100 to 300mg/mL male; 4 to 50mg/mL female)Not available in all statesMarketing purposes only. Actual medications, if prescribed, are dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.
hormones
Testosterone Cream (Topical)Testosterone Cream (Topical)
Testosterone cream applied to skin daily for transdermal absorption. Application to highly vascular, thin-skinned areas (scrotum, inner wrist) significantly increases bioavailability. Widely used for both men and women in hormone optimization.
Non-injectable administration
Flexible dosing and easy titration
Scrotal application provides high DHT levels
Preferred route for women due to low dose requirements
No commitment · HSA/FSA eligibleNo commitment · HSA/FSA eligible
How it works
Mechanism of action
Testosterone diffuses through the stratum corneum into systemic circulation. Scrotal application enhances absorption up to 5-fold and increases DHT conversion via local 5-alpha reductase activity. Marek offers Androgen Sensitivity Genetic Testing (AR CAG repeat length) to determine how sensitive you are to testosterone. Men who are less sensitive often do better with a DHT-favoring route like scrotal cream, and your provider uses this data to decide whether cream, injections, or a combination fits your receptor biology.
The baseline panel.
Every Marek client receives this baseline panel before a provider review. Your provider may add additional biomarkers based on your health history, symptoms, and goals, pulling from 1,000+ available markers. See more biomarkers →
Hormone Profile
12 markers
Sex hormones
- Total TestosteroneLC/MS
- Free TestosteroneEquilibrium Dialysis
- Estradiol, Sensitive / UltrasensitiveLC/MS
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
- ProgesteroneLC/MSFemale panel
- Prolactin
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- hCG, Total, QuantitativeFemale panel, pre-menopause
Adrenals & neurosteroids
- Cortisol
- DHEA-S
Growth hormone / IGF-1
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-1)
Thyroid Status
3 markers
Thyroid hormones
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Free T4
- Free T3
Heart Health
9 markers
Cardiovascular health
- Total Cholesterol
- HDL Cholesterol
- LDL Cholesterol
- LDL:HDL Ratio
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Apolipoprotein-B (ApoB)
- C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity (hsCRP)
- Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a))
Metabolism
3 markers
Insulin sensitivity
- Blood Glucose
- Fasting Insulin
- HbA1c
Organ Function
26 markers
Liver & pancreas
- AST
- ALT
- Bilirubin, Total
- γ-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
Kidney function
- BUN
- Creatinine w/ eGFR
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
- Glucose
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
- Creatinine
- eGFR
- BUN/Creatinine Ratio
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
- Carbon Dioxide, Total
- Calcium
- Protein, Total
- Albumin
- Globulin, Total
- Albumin/Globulin (A/G) Ratio
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
- AST
- ALT
Prostate health
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)Male panel
- Free PSAMale panel
- % Free PSAMale panel
Nutrient Status
31 markers
Vitamins & minerals
- Vitamin D, 25-OHD (25-Hydroxy)
- Magnesium, RBC
Iron status
- Iron
- Iron Saturation
- TIBC
- UIBC
- Ferritin
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- White Blood Count (WBC)
- Red Blood Count (RBC)
- Hemoglobin (Hgb)
- Hematocrit (HCT)
- MCV
- MCH
- MCHC
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)
- Platelets
- Neutrophils
- Neutrophils (Absolute)
- Lymphocytes
- Lymphocytes (Absolute)
- Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio
- Monocytes
- Monocytes (Absolute)
- Eosinophils
- Eosinophils (Absolute)
- Basophils
- Basophils (Absolute)
- Immature Cells
- Immature Granulocytes
- Immature Granulocytes (Absolute)
- NRBC, w/ Reflex for Immature Cells
Clinical evidence
The research behind Testosterone Cream (Topical).
Transdermal Testosterone for Women with HSDD
New England Journal of Medicine (2000)
Transdermal testosterone at 300 mcg/day significantly improved sexual desire and activity in postmenopausal women.
Safety profile
Monitoring & safety information.
Commonly reported side effects
- Skin irritation at application site
- Transfer risk to partners/children
- Acne
- Variable absorption
Less common but serious risks
- Secondary exposure, virilization of female partners and children
- Elevated DHT with scrotal application (androgenic effects)
Generally not appropriate for
- Prostate or breast cancer in men
- Pregnancy
- Household with children if transfer risk not managed
Typical monitoring
- Total and free testosterone
- DHT (especially scrotal application)
- Estradiol
- Hematocrit/CBC
- PSA (men)
FAQ
Quick answers.
Compounded testosterone cream applied to skin daily for transdermal absorption. Application to highly vascular, thin-skinned areas (scrotum, inner wrist) significantly increases bioavailability. Widely used for both men and women in hormone optimization.
Non-injectable administration. Flexible dosing and easy titration. Scrotal application provides high DHT levels. Preferred route for women due to low dose requirements.
Common side effects include: skin irritation at application site, transfer risk to partners/children, acne, variable absorption. Most side effects are dose-dependent and may resolve with continued use or dose adjustment.
Compounded testosterone cream applied to skin daily for transdermal absorption. Application to highly vascular, thin-skinned areas (scrotum, inner wrist) significantly increases bioavailability. Widely used for both men and women in hormone optimization.
Treatments are dependent on licensed clinical prescription. Client costs vary based on individual labs and panel in treatments and services.