How to inject testosterone: the best way
Testosterone comes in an oil base which is taken by injection in one of the larger muscles of the body. Follow these instructions to learn how to inject testosterone. The best way which most people choose is to use a muscle which is easy to reach, such as the quadriceps (the thigh muscle) or the gluteus (the butt muscle). These intramuscular injections are given at a 90 degree angle and use a needle which is 1 to 1.5 inches in length. It needs to be long enough to go through the surface layer of skin and fat.
The oil base preparation is rather thick and requires a larger gauge needle to draw the medication from the vial. For your comfort, we recommend switching the needle to a smaller gauge for the injection. It is important to notice that the smaller numbers mean larger needles. For example, an 18 gauge needle will be larger than a 22 gauge needle. Your medical advisor will discuss the specifics about what gauge needle to inject testosterone to make the process easy and comfortable.
Some clients ask, can you inject testosterone in your arm? Yes, you can but it may be more difficult to handle the process alone. If you have a helper, then it is possible to insert the needle at a right angle to the skin. The location should be in the thickest part of the muscle at the very top of the upper arm. Be sure to stay well below the shoulder bone.
Preparation for Injection
Gather the necessary supplies. You should have:
- Vial of testosterone
- 3 ml syringe
- Larger gauge needle
- Smaller gauge needle
- Alcohol swabs
- Sharps container
Be certain of the amount of testosterone to inject. If you have been prescribed 0.75 ml of testosterone cypionate, locate that mark on your syringe before beginning the injection procedure.
Check the strength of the medication as shown on the vial against the strength shown on your prescription. If you have been prescribed a concentration of 100 mg/ml, then the vial should have this clearly noted.
Make sure that everything is sterile
The critical point to keep in mind when making preparations for injection is cleanliness. Clean everything! Wash your hands. Clean the work area. Have alcohol swabs available to clean the vial top and the injection site. Some people also prefer to use sterile gloves in addition to washing hands.
Use an alcohol swab to clean the rubber stopper on the top of the vial of testosterone. Wipe in a circular motion. Also, use an alcohol swab to clean your skin at the injection site. Wipe in a circular motion. Doctors recommend repeating this process of cleaning the skin twice.
These steps will minimize the chance of infection at the injection site, and they are the best way to inject testosterone.
Procedure for injection
Kingsberg Medical has provided detailed instruction in video format for the procedure for injection medications. You also have a personal medical advisor who can take you step by step through the process. Following is a brief outline of the steps to follow in the procedure for injection:
- Attach the larger needle to the syringe.
- Insert the needle into the clean rubber stopper on the vial.
- Draw back the syringe until the correct dosage is in the syringe.
- Hold the syringe and vial upright and tap to release any air bubbles.
- Depress the syringe to release any bubbles.
- Draw back the syringe to the correct dosage point.
- Remove needle from the vial.
- Remove the larger needle from the syringe and put on the smaller needle.
Now you are ready for the injection. In one steady motion, plunge the needle through the skin and into the muscle. Draw back slightly on the syringe and notice if any blood is drawn up. If it is, that means you have hit a vein.
What happens if you inject testosterone into a vein?
This is not the correct place for injecting the medication. In order for testosterone to be released gradually into the body, it must be injected into muscle tissue. Remove the needle and inject again in a different spot. Repeat the procedure to be sure you have not found a vein. If not, then depress the syringe slowly and release the testosterone into your muscle tissue.
Place the used syringe and needles into a sharps container for safe disposal.
Post-injection procedure
After injecting the full contents of the syringe, slowly remove the needle. Press the injection site with a sterile cotton swab to stop any bleeding. Apply an adhesive bandage to protect the spot from injection.
Be alert for any redness, swelling or pain which is greater than a typical injection. If these occur, then we recommend contacting a physician immediately.
The Main Mistakes
Following are suggestions which can make the process to inject testosterone easier and more comfortable:
- Allow the medication to reach room temperature before injection, but do not let it get warm.
- Let the skin dry after wiping with alcohol swab.
- Be sure to relax the muscle where you are placing the injection. If you are standing, then place your weight on the leg not receiving the injection.
- Make your injection quickly as you break the skin.
- Keep the needle at 90 degrees both during insertion and withdrawal.
- Never reuse needles. It is not safe or sanitary, and they dull very quickly.
