Cernos Gel (Testogel)

What is Cernos Gel (Testogel) by Sun Pharmaceuticals?

Cernos Gel (Testogel) is a testosterone gel made by Sun Pharmaceuticals. It comes in single-use sachets, 14 sachets per box, and is applied to the skin once a day. Testogel, the name in brackets, is a long-established brand of testosterone gel and is mentioned to show what this product compares with: a clear, alcohol-based gel that carries testosterone through the skin.

The active ingredient is testosterone itself, the same hormone the testes produce, without an ester attached. After the gel is spread on the skin, the alcohol evaporates and testosterone moves into the outer layers of the skin, which act as a reservoir. From there the hormone passes into the bloodstream gradually over the following day. With daily use this gives fairly even testosterone levels, without the peaks and troughs that come with injections.

What is it used for?

Testosterone gels were developed for testosterone replacement therapy in men with hypogonadism, where the body produces too little of the hormone. Restoring normal levels can bring:

• better libido and sexual function;
• more energy and an improved mood;
• preservation of muscle mass and strength;
• support for bone density;
• less body fat in men whose low testosterone has led to weight gain.

Among athletes, a gel is used in a more modest way than injectable testosterone. Its levels stay close to the physiological range, so it is chosen for keeping testosterone normal between cycles or during a cruise, and by men who prefer to avoid needles. It is not a practical way to reach the high levels of a mass-gaining cycle.

How is it applied?

A sachet is opened and the gel is spread once a day, usually in the morning, on clean, dry, intact skin of the shoulders, upper arms or abdomen, as the leaflet specifies. It is never applied to the genitals. The gel should dry for a few minutes before dressing, and the treated area should not be washed for several hours. Clinical treatment with testosterone gels commonly starts at around 50 mg of testosterone a day and is adjusted by blood tests to keep levels within the normal range. The amount of testosterone in each sachet is printed on the box and should be checked before calculating a daily amount; at one sachet a day, a box lasts two weeks.

The dose and the length of treatment must be agreed with a qualified medical professional, who should also monitor testosterone, hematocrit and PSA.

Possible side effects

The most common local reaction is redness, dryness or itching where the gel is applied. Systemic effects are those of testosterone: acne, oily skin, an increase in red blood cells, fluid retention, breast tenderness from conversion to estradiol, and suppression of the body's own testosterone and sperm production. Women and children who touch treated skin can absorb testosterone, which in children may cause early virilization; washing hands after use and covering the area with clothing reduce this risk. Men with prostate or breast cancer should not use the gel, and it is not for women.

Package

Each box contains 14 sachets of testosterone gel made by Sun Pharmaceuticals. Cernos Gel (Testogel) can be ordered on MaxLabs.co, together with other products in the gel category.