After discontinuing treatment, testosterone levels generally fall back toward the individual’s baseline level. How quickly this happens depends largely on the form of therapy used and the duration of treatment.

With oral therapy, the effect is usually reversible more quickly because there is no depot effect. With gel therapy, testosterone levels also generally return toward baseline relatively quickly after discontinuation. With injections, the depot effect can mean that it takes somewhat longer for the external testosterone to be fully cleared and for the body to function without external hormone supplementation.

However, in some cases, the body’s own testosterone production may not fully recover to its previous level.