Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Determine If Testosterone Therapy Is Needed
• Part 2 of 2: Testosterone shot
• Tips
• Warnings

Testosterone is a hormone produced in the testes in men and in the ovaries in women. In men, the level of testosterone in the blood is 7-8 times higher than in women. And although the body itself produces this hormone, sometimes, with some diseases, it has to be injected artificially for treatment. As with a subcutaneous injection, care must be taken to administer testosterone to reduce the risk of infection.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Determine If Testosterone Therapy Is Needed

1. 1 Know where and when testosterone therapy is prescribed. People need testosterone treatment for various diseases. Very often testosterone is prescribed for hypogonadism in men, this is a condition in which the testicles do not function properly. Hypogonadism isn't the only reason testosterone is given, there are others:
   • Sometimes testosterone is given to transsexuals when gender reassigns.
   • Some women receive testosterone as a preventive measure for androgen deficiency during menopause. The most common androgen deficiency syndrome is frigidity in women.
   • Finally, some men take testosterone when the body, due to aging, does not produce enough testosterone. Since this procedure is not fully researched, many therapists do not recommend doing it. Some of the studies that have been conducted have produced mixed results.
2. 2 Know about alternative methods of taking testosterone. An injection is the most common method of administering testosterone to a patient. But there are many alternative methods of introducing testosterone into the body, some of which will be more suitable for a certain group of patients. Here are some of them:
   • Gel or cream
   • A patch (like a nicotine patch)
   • Pills
   • Suction plates that are applied to the teeth
   • Testosterone deodorant (applied to the armpit area)
   • Subcutaneous implant
3. 3 Know when testosterone should not be prescribed. Since testosterone is a hormone and can lead to tangible changes in the body, it can exacerbate or worsen certain diseases. Testosterone should not be used if the patient has prostate cancer or breast cancer. All patients considering testosterone therapy should be screened for prostate specific antigen (PSA) before and after therapy to ensure that there is no prostate cancer.
4. 4 Side effects of testosterone therapy. Testosterone is a really powerful hormone. Even when taken safely under medical supervision, it has clear side effects. Here are some of the most common side effects:
   • Acne or oily skin
   • Fluid retention
   • Enlargement of the prostate tissue, which leads to poor urine flow and increases the frequency of urination.
   • Overgrowth of breast tissue
   • Worsening sleep apnea
   • Shrinking testicles
   • Decreased sperm count and infertility
   • Increased red blood cell count
   • Change in cholesterol levels
5. 5 Consult your doctor. As with many types of medication, the decision to take testosterone treatment should not be taken lightly. Talk to your doctor before starting self-treatment, they will assess your condition and goals and determine if this is the right treatment.

Part 2 of 2: Testosterone shot

1. 1 Determine the concentration of testosterone. Testosterone injection usually comes in the form of testosterone enanthate or cypionate. These fluids are available in several possible concentrations, so it is very important to determine the dose based on the serum concentration before the injection. Testosterone is usually available in dosages of 100 mg / ml or 200 mg / ml. In other words, some testosterone doses are "twice" as concentrated as others. Check the testosterone concentration before the injection to ensure the correct concentration is selected.
2. 2 Use a sterile syringe and needle that is appropriate for you. As with any injections, it is very important for testosterone injections to use a syringe that has not been used before and is sterile. Dirty needles can spread deadly blood diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. Use a sterile and new needle from the package every time you give testosterone.
   • Bear in mind that testosterone is more viscous and oily than other medicines, so you will need a needle with a larger diameter than usual (for example, 18 or 20 gauge) in order to deliver the dose. Because a thicker needle is more painful, you will need to change the needle to a thinner one before injecting the medication.
   • A 3 ml (cc) syringe will be sufficient for most testosterone shots.
3. 3 Wash your hands and put on sterile gloves. To reduce infections, it is important to keep your hands clean during the injection. Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and wear sterile gloves. If before the injection you touch any non-sterile object, change gloves, do this as a precaution.
4. 4 Draw up your dose. Your doctor has prescribed the recommended dose for you - determine the dose volume in relation to the testosterone concentration. For example, if your doctor has prescribed 100 ml of testosterone, you will need 1 ml of a 100 mg / ml solution or 1/2 of a 200 mg / ml solution. To draw the solution into the syringe, draw into it an amount of air equal to the required amount of solution. Then wipe the top of the medicine ampoule with alcohol, insert the needle into the cap, immerse the needle in the medicine, and squeeze the air out of the syringe. Turn the medicine bottle upside down and draw on the required amount of testosterone.
   • Introducing air into the bottle increases the internal pressure, which makes it easier to draw the medicine into the syringe. This is especially important with testosterone, which can be difficult to gain due to its high density.
5. 5 Change the needle to a smaller size. Thick needles can be painful. There is no need to expose yourself to pain once again, especially if you have to inject testosterone very often. Change the needle to a finer one, after dialing the dose, remove the needle from the medicine bottle and hold it up with the tip. Draw some air into the syringe, this must be done in order to create a space between the medicine and the top of the syringe and not spill the medicine. Using your other hand (which is washed and gloved and does not hold the syringe), cap and remove the needle from the syringe, and then insert the needle with a smaller diameter (for example, size 23).
   • Please note that the other needle must also be sterile and sealed.
6. 6 Squeeze air out of the syringe. The introduction of air bubbles into the human body can lead to a serious condition called embolism... That is why it is very important to make sure that there is no air in the syringe during the testosterone injection. Do this with aspiration. Below are instructions on how to do this:
   • Hold the syringe with the needle up from you, after removing the cap.
   • Examine the syringe for bubbles. Tap the side of the syringe and push the air bubbles up.
   • When the dose is bubble-free, gently press the plunger and release the air from the syringe. When you see a small drop of the substance at the tip of the needle, stop. Be careful not to splash most of the dose on the floor.
7. 7 Prepare the injection site. Testosterone injections are in most cases done intramuscularly, which means they are injected directly into the muscle. Two places that are easily accessible for a muscle injection are the vastus lateralis (upper thigh) or the square (upper thigh, that is, the buttock). These are not the only places where testosterone is injected, but the most common. Regardless of where you choose, take an alcohol pad and wipe the injection site. The alcohol will kill bacteria on the skin and prevent infection.
   • If you are injecting into the buttock, select the injection site at the upper outer corner of the buttock. In other words, select the upper right corner of the right buttock or the upper left corner of the left buttock. In these places, the easiest access to the muscle and less likely to get into the nerve or vessels that are located in the buttock.
8. 8 Get an injection. Take the syringe like a dart at a 90-degree angle to the surface of the skin and the injection site. Stick quickly into the flesh. Pull back the piston slightly before pressing it in. If you have drawn blood into the syringe, take it out and choose a different location because you have entered a vein. Inject the medicine evenly.
   • The patient may feel some discomfort, burning, or pressure. This is fine.
9. 9 Take care of the injection site after the injection. After you have fully depressed the plunger, slowly withdraw the needle. While removing the needle, press down on the skin around it with an alcohol pad to prevent the needle from pulling on the skin and causing pain. Examine the injection site for bleeding and apply a sterile cotton ball or patch as needed. Dispose of the needle and syringe in a sharps container.
   • If the patient experiences redness, swelling, or discomfort at the injection site for longer than usual after the injection, see a doctor immediately.

Tips

• Make sure you are using a large needle to set testosterone. You can change the thick needle to a thin one for injecting testosterone.
• The larger the number of the needle size, the thinner it is. For example, a size 18 needle is thicker than a size 25 needle.
• There are also needles of different lengths. The most common needles are 2.5 cm or 3.7 cm long.If you are a large person, use a 3.7 cm needle.If you do not have a lot of meat, then 2.5 cm.
• You can also use an insulin needle for the injection.The size of the needle is not important at the time of the injection. The oil is still not so viscous to come out, it will just take longer to hit and the piston will move more tightly when using a fine needle.
• Do not use a needle thinner than size 23. If you try using a smaller needle, the medicine may not come out of the syringe and may even “explode” under the skin.

Warnings

• Always store medicines at the proper temperature and check the expiration dates. If it's expired, don't use it!
• And of course, keep medicines away from little pens.
• NEVER change your dosage without talking to your doctor.