How to Choose a Testosterone Injection Site

When your doctor has determined that you can benefit from testosterone injections to combat the symptoms associated with Low T, there is no reason to take away time from a busy life to go to the clinic to receive these shots. Testosterone injections such as testosterone cypionate and testosterone enanthate can easily be administered from one’s own home. The most important factor is determining which of the testosterone injection sites will best suit your needs.

The majority of men tend to give themselves their own testosterone shots, and for this reason, the thigh is the most commonly used location on the body. The other recommended area is the gluteal region, but this would pose difficult for most people to reach on their own. If another person such as a family member is administering the shot, either of these two testosterone injections sites will work. Testosterone is injected deep into the chosen muscle tissue which is why the thigh and gluteal muscles are the best choices.

Testosterone Injection Administration Steps

There are some simple steps to preparing the testosterone injection site and setting up the area to be used. This includes getting the shot ready for use as well as prepping the application area. The information below is provided in an easy to follow manner from start to finish.

Setting Up the Testosterone Injection: Step Number 1

Consistency is the most important thing. Find a spot that you will use each time you are going to administer the medication to start a routine. Gather the following items:

Disposable syringe and needles

Alcohol prep swabs

Sharps container for needle disposal

• Clean the work area
• Remove the testosterone vial from the refrigerator and place on work surface until it reaches room temperature – typically 20 – 30 minutes at the most
• Always double check the label and expiration date before using
• Examine the medication for crystals, particles, or discoloration – do not use if anything is noticed
• Wash your hands

Preparing the Testosterone Injection: Step Number 2

• Remove the cap from the testosterone vial
• Clean the vial’s rubber stopper with an alcohol prep swab – let dry before proceeding
• Open the package of a new, unused syringe and inspect it for damage (do not use one that has been previously opened or damaged)
• Remove the 18 G needle cover from the syringe and pull back on the plunger to fill the syringe with air –the same amount of air as the dosage of testosterone you will be removing from the vial
• With the vial flat on the working surface, insert the needle straight down into the center of the clean rubber stopper – do this only one time – do not remove and reinsert
• Push the syringe plunger down to push the air into the vial
• Without removing the needle, turn the testosterone vial upside down and position the needle so that the tip is covered by the liquid inside the vial
• Slowly pull the plunger back until the syringe is filled with the dosage of testosterone ordered by the doctor
• With the needle still inside the vial, check for air bubbles inside the syringe – remove any bubbles by gently tapping syringe with fingertips until the air bubbles all rise to the top of the syringe where they can be expelled by pushing the plunger slowly up to force them out into the vial
• Continue to pull the plunger back until the medication reaches the dosage required – double check that the dosage is correct before taking the needle out of the vial
• Withdraw the needle from the vial
• Recover the 18 G needle, remove it from the syringe and replace it with the IM needle that will be used for the injection – dispose of the 18 G needle in the Sharps container
• Replace the cap on the vial and put it back in the refrigerator

Selecting and Preparing the Testosterone Injection Site: Step Number 3

As previously mentioned, the thigh or gluteal muscles are the optimum injection sites for testosterone, unless advised differently by your doctor.

• If using the thigh:

divide it horizontally into 3 equal sized parts and use the outer, middle third area for the testosterone injection

• If using the gluteal muscle in the buttocks:

the individual administering the medication will mentally divide the muscle into four equal parts – two on top and two on the bottom, injecting the testosterone into the upper outer quadrant

• Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab and let dry

Administering the Testosterone Injection: Step Number 4

• Hold the skin around the area to be used with your other hand with fingers spread apart from thumb in the shape of a V to surround the injection site
• Insert the IM needle at a 90-degree angle into the muscle with a firm, quick motion
• Remove your hand from the skin
• Gently pull the plunger back to ensure that there is no blood in the needle – if so, remove needle immediately
• If there is no blood, slowly push down on the plunger to administer the medication into the muscle – slight pressure or burning may be noticed
• Once all of the medication has been injected into the muscle, the needle can be removed
• Press an alcohol prep swab onto the injections site and provide gentle pressure until there is no bleeding – a plastic bandage can be used
• Replace the cap on the needle and then dispose of in the Sharps container

When preparing the injection site for testosterone, always remember to let the alcohol dry, ensure that there are no air bubbles in the syringe, keep the muscle relaxed, and insert the needle quickly into the skin. Never reuse disposable needles.

Contact Kingsberg Medical with any questions about injection testosterone or using any other form of hormone replacement therapy.

Brian Leeber