How To Safely Self
- Testosterone shots are given as intramuscular injections
- Intramuscular injections are given into thick muscular areas, where they can effectively enter the bloodstream smoothly and dependably, while minimizing pain and discomfort.
- Maintaining sterile conditions through the various steps of the injection process is the most important factor in avoiding any complications of injectable testosterone.
Testosterone injections are prescribed on a very individualized basis. Therefore there can be a lot of variation in the dosages of injectable testosterone prescribed. The most common form of injectable testosterone therapy contains testosterone cypionate which is the oil-soluble 17 -cyclopentylpropionate ester of the androgenic hormone testosterone. This is commonly referred to as DEPO-Testosterone or merely DEPO.
DEPO testosterone injections are usually prescribed in vials of 100 mg/mL solution or 200 mg/mL solution. But, no matter what brand or dosage of injectable testosterone you are prescribed, it is vitally important that you learn how to safely and properly administer testosterone injections.
Testosterone injections are given into the muscles, therefore, a testosterone injection is known as an intramuscular injection, or IM injection. IM injections are easy to self-administer, and relatively safe and pain-free, once you know all of the steps and procedures to properly administer testosterone injections.
Does Administering Injectable Testosterone Hurt
If you are correctly following this basic outline, and your testosterone prescribers specific self-injection instructions, you should be able to give yourself your testosterone shots with little or no pain. If you are experiencing pain on a regular basis, try alternating your injection sites. If discomfort continues, contact your prescriber. You may have to have your testosterone injection dosage adjusted, or be retrained on how to take your testosterone injections, or perhaps switch to another brand of injectable testosterone.
How To Avoid Pain And Swelling After Injection
There are 3 major steps that may help you completely minimize the pain during testosterone injections:
- Insert the needle quickly and without hesitation
- Once inserted, you should push the plunger slowly to inject the medication. A slower injection speed can reduce pain significantly during and after the procedure.
- Pull out the needle quickly by following the direction of the insertion
As you practice IM injections, you will feel more comfortable performing them on your own and reduce the risk of pain.
If you still experience anxiety after rereading through the steps multiple times, make sure to contact a medical specialist who can support you and guide you throughout the procedure.
Get a free consultation with our medical expert for any questions about hormone replacement therapy
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Common Testosterone Injection Questions
Whats the best time of day to inject testosterone?
Traditionally, its the morning. Its not scientifically necessary to inject testosterone in the morning, though our testosterone is at the highest levels in the morning. The reason for the morning push is more about creating a routine to ensure youre not missing doses.
However, theres no difference in the time of day youre injecting Ive not seen a study that indicates theres any change in efficacy between the morning and the afternoon or the evening. Whatever time you select, keep to that time. Consistency is key to building a routine.
Is it better to inject testosterone once or twice a week?
The answer here varies, depending on your doctors preference but also your dosage. Typically, once or twice per week is the norm. Some guys dont want to self-inject twice per week, so they want to get the whole weeks dose delivered at once.
If your treatment course calls for, say, a 200 mg dose, with one shot of all 200 mg, your testosterone levels would peak about four days after, then drop off. If you injected 100 mg on at the beginning of the week and another 100 mg towards the end of the week, your peak isnt as high and your low isnt as low. Twice per week is preferred for the balance of testosterone delivery.
Whats the best place to inject testosterone?
What is the optimal testosterone injection dosage?
How long before testosterone injections work?
What are side effects of testosterone injections?
What Types Of Testosterone Injections Are There
The standard method of administration for testosterone is via injection, of which there are two types: intramuscular or subcutaneous. Usually, intramuscular injections are given every 1 to 4 weeks and are very painful. On the Male Excel hormone replacement program, subcutaneous injections are self-administered daily and virtually painless.
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Key Things To Look For In A Trt Provider
When youre getting ready to start TRT, choose your provider wisely. Partnering with the right one makes all the difference in your treatment experience and your results, both in terms of how fast you progress and how big your improvements are.
You want a TRT provider that is an expert in age management and hormonal health, so they can set you up with a personalized plan that uses all the most effective strategies. TRT isnt a one-size-fits-all treatment, so avoid any place that sets you up with a generic plan or doesnt assess your specific symptoms and health.
At Focal Point Vitality, we take a 360-degree approach to mens wellness. That means that from day one, our focus is on providing education, support, and the best options to suit your needs. Here, you arent seen as a potential sale to be made our goal is to build rock-solid relationships with our guests and make sure we propel you forward on the path towards living your best life. Its like having a good friend that just so happens to be an industry-leading expert in TRT, hormonal health, and age management you can be totally comfortable and confident that youre in great hands.
How To Fill The Syringe
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Remove the safety seal and wipe rubber top with an alcohol pad. Wipe rubber top before every injection to ensure sterility.
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Taking a 3cc syringe and attach a 20G x 1 needle for drawing out testosterone push the needle into the rubber top and turn the vial upside down.
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Pull back the plunger and draw out your dose of testosterone. Push plunger back and forth to try and remove as much air bubbles as possible.
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Remove needle from the vial and pull plunger back to pull testosterone which might be trapped in needle tip reservoir.
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Carefully twist off the needle used to draw the testosterone and replace it with a 25G x 1 needle for injection.
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You will inject into one of 3 places: Deltoid , Glute , or top of your thigh. Find whichever works best for you, or alternate between them.
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How Long Does Testosterone Stay In Your System
According to studies, enanthate is the fastest acting T form out of the 3 esters. It leads to supraphysiological doses immediately after an injection.
The levels of testosterone remain elevated for 4-5 days which is the half-life of the medication. Then serum T levels slowly decline in the next 5-6 days. Since the medication is applied every 1-2 weeks, T levels may drop right before the next injection.
This can cause negative experiences due to hormonal fluctuations fatigue, mood swings, and low libido. Some amounts of enanthate can remain in your system for up to 3 weeks.
Testosterone undecanoate also increases serum T levels since the first day of therapy but stays in your system for much longer.
The levels of T remain stable for up to 45 days after injection and then slowly decline. Therefore, undecanoate can also provide quick management for your symptoms, with a lower risk for hormonal fluctuations. It should be injected every 10-12 weeks.
In terms of half-life, cypionate works as a middle ground between the other two esters. The levels remain at their peak for about 8-10 days and then decline slowly for another 10 days. Traces of cypionate can remain in your system for up to 6 weeks.
Daily Subcutaneous Testosterone Injections
This type of injection uses a tiny 0.5-inch skinny needle just like that used by millions of people with diabetes worldwide. These injections are administered in the fat layer, usually in the leg, and cause far less pain and discomfort. They can be done at home and are more effective than the weekly injections, due to mimicking your bodys natural production.
Our injectable bioidentical testosterone cypionate comes in a 10 mL vial at a potency of 200 mg/mL. Usually, patients will start with around 0.15 mL per day, but this can vary depending on what your provider prescribes.
The main advantage of a daily injection is that a regular lower dose offers optimum testosterone support for your system. Daily injections mean no spike or drop in levels for optimal results.
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What About Other Forms
Apart from injections, other forms of TRT involve the use of pills, gels, patches, and pellets. Their absorption rate, bioavailability, or both is usually much lower when compared to injections.
Thats why the benefits of the therapy occur slower compared to injectable T.
Testosterone in the form of pills is first metabolized by the liver before it reaches your system which creates a risk for liver damage.
This process reduces its bioavailability down to 7% according to trials. Thus, oral forms of TRT take longer to achieve target serum T levels and alleviate the symptoms of hypogonadism.
Testosterone gels and patches have better availability and no risk for liver problems. However, they are harder to dose since transdermal absorption varies a lot between individuals.
Therefore, it may take longer until your doctor finds the correct dosage to manage your complaints.
Testosterone pellets must be implanted under the skin, where they will slowly release T into your system for months. They have great bioavailability, but the slow release of the medications prolongs the timeline of its benefits.
What Is Low Testosterone
To understand what low testosterone is, you should first make sure that you have a good understanding of what testosterone is in the first place. Testosterone is a hormone found in both men and women. It is even found in animals. Most people associate testosterone with men, though. This is because testosterone is the hormone associated with the male sex organs. Therefore, low testosterone equates to low male sex hormone levels.
Although the female body also makes testosterone, it does so at much smaller levels to function properly. Similarly, the male body also makes the hormone associated with the female sex organs known as estrogen, just at much lower levels to function properly.
Because the male sex organs produce testosterone at such high levels to function, especially post-puberty, suffering from low testosterone levels affect the health and function of a mans sex organs. As a result, men that suffer from low testosterone levels often experience low sex drive and sperm levels.
Low testosterone levels can also negatively affect a mans bone and muscle mass, the way a man stores fat in his body, and even a mans red blood cell production. Thus, suffering from low testosterone is an issue that should be addressed immediately.
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Why Is This Medication Prescribed
Testosterone cypionate , testosterone enanthate , testosterone undecanoate , and testosterone pellet are forms of testosterone injection used to treat symptoms of low testosterone in men who have hypogonadism . Testosterone is used only for men with low testosterone levels caused by certain medical conditions, including disorders of the testicles, pituitary gland , or hypothalamus that cause hypogonadism. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your testosterone levels to see if they are low before you begin to use testosterone injection. Testosterone enanthate and testosterone pellet are also used to stimulate puberty in males with delayed puberty. Testosterone enanthate injection may be used in certain women with a type of breast cancer called mammary cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Testosterone should not be used to treat the symptoms of low testosterone in men who have low testosterone due to aging . Testosterone is in a class of medications called androgenic hormones. Testosterone is a hormone produced by the body that contributes to the growth, development, and functioning of the male sexual organs and typical male characteristics. Testosterone injection works by supplying synthetic testosterone to replace the testosterone that is normally produced naturally in the body. When used to treat breast cancer, testosterone works by stopping the release of estrogen.
How Fast Does Testosterone Gel/cream Start To Work
We know that most are eager to see and feel positive changes, which is why the question when will I see results from testosterone? is the most frequently asked.
Those patients who choose not to use injections tend to opt for testosterone gel or cream. The timeline for the gel/cream to work is roughly the same as with the testosterone cypionate results timeline. The benefits may come a bit slower because, unlike testosterone injections where the entire dosage is readily absorbed into the bloodstream, there is no way of knowing exactly how much testosterone is absorbed through the skin.
The initial benefits of improved sex drive, better perception of quality of life, and reduced anxiety will most likely still occur during the first month just perhaps not to the same degree. Some men and women do feel the effects of testosterone quicker with the gel or cream. There is no way of knowing until the treatment is started. Each persons body processes the various forms of testosterone in a unique way.
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Things To Consider Before Taking Self
- Check with your healthcare provider to see if self-injection is right for you.
- Choose an injection site that is easily accessible and clean.
- Make sure you have the supplies you need, including a clean needle, syringe, and alcohol swabs.
- Follow your healthcare providers instructions on how to properly self-administer the injection.
If you experience any pain or discomfort during the injection process, stop immediately and contact your healthcare provider. Self-injection should not be painful. If you have any questions or concerns about self-injecting testosterone, talk to your healthcare provider.
They will be able to help you determine if self-injection is right for you and provide guidance on how to properly self-administer injections. It would be best to talk to someone at an HRT clinic or TRT clinic.
The Highs And Lows Of Testosterone
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Getting a high testosterone reading offers bragging rights for some men of a certain age and may explain in part the lure of testosterone supplements. But once you are within a normal range, does your level of testosterone, the male hormone touted to build energy, libido and confidence, really tell you that much?
Probably not, experts say.
Normal testosterone levels in men range from about 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter of blood. Going from one number within the normal zone to another one may not pack much of a punch.
You dont see the big improvement once men are within the normal range, said Dr. Shalender Bhasin, an endocrinologist and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. The largest differences in terms of energy and sex drive are when men go from below-normal to normal levels.
A 2015 study in JAMA found that sex drive improved among men who went from about 230, considered low, to 500, around the middle of whats considered normal. There was no difference among men who moved within the normal range from 300 to 500.
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Types Of Injectable Testosterone
As men age their bodies are changing their testosterone levels begin to dwindle, they experience muscle loss, mood swings, and a decrease in sex drive. What if there was a way to fix it? A way to reverse the effects of aging? When it comes to your health, there is almost no right or wrong way to do something if you want to achieve your ideal results. Hormone replacement therapy , like testosterone replacement therapy, might be the answer you are seeking when it comes to your health. It is important to employ a skilled professional to help you determine the best treatment plan and pick out the best form of testosterone to maximize your health goals and the benefits to your quality of life. Below are four types of injectable testosterone replacement therapy. Talk to a health professional about which one is right for you.
When Will Testosterone Injection Start Working
According to scientific studies, improvements in libido and spontaneous morning erections can occur within 3 weeks of starting TRT, while the benefits for erectile function may reach their maximum after 9 weeks or longer.
Furthermore, the benefits on energy levels, depressive mood, and quality of life occur after 6-9 weeks of testosterone therapy. You may have to wait 12 weeks in total for the maximum benefit.
If you have hypogonadism, testosterone will have a beneficial effect on your lipid profile as well which occurs after 2-3 months of therapy. Trials outline that there is a notable decrease in LDL and triglyceride levels. The maximum benefits of TRT on cholesterol occur after 12 months.
The benefits of TRT on lipid profile will also improve your cardiovascular health. Moreover, a study suggests that TRT can improve the ischaemic threshold in patients with heart disease.
Effects on body composition such as fat loss and muscle gain begin after 3-4 months of therapy
You may also experience improvements in endurance, strength, and physical performance which reach a maximum after 6-12 months.
Last but not least, it takes at least 6 months before there is an increase in bone mineral density. A clinical trial reveals that the period is sufficient for a 5% increase in spinal bone mass on average. The maximum effect takes 2-3 years of TRT.
FDA-approved injections include testosterone cypionate, undecanoate, and enanthate
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