I haven't used Androgel, but I am taking something similiar. Its transdermal test except in a patch. I have been taking this for 3 months now- my test levels are still low, but higher than when I was taking the shots. I get labs done every 3 months, test levels, liver enzymes, and a bunch of other stuff. I get my cholesterol checked every 6 months since that it is a more long term type of lab. Before I started HRT my cholesterol was really bad- my HDL was like 5 one time. It actually got better since I started HRT, although while I was prescribed Oxandrin it started to get bad again.