Milton Administrator Sep 25, 2025 #1 Testosterone, by itself, cannot be given orally because the liver breaks it down (hepatic metabolism) substantially and thus causing very slight androgenic effects. However, alkylated forms of oral testosterone, which are much more resistant to hepatic metabolism, can exert a positive clinical effect when ingested, even though alkylated forms of testosterone are weaker than testosterone by itself.
Testosterone, by itself, cannot be given orally because the liver breaks it down (hepatic metabolism) substantially and thus causing very slight androgenic effects. However, alkylated forms of oral testosterone, which are much more resistant to hepatic metabolism, can exert a positive clinical effect when ingested, even though alkylated forms of testosterone are weaker than testosterone by itself.
