How to Inject Testosterone: A Comprehensive Guide for First-Timers

One life-changing gift for you as a FTM is your testosterone injection. Even with that, feeling nervous at the clinic for the first time is expected. However, it is with great pleasure to inform you that in today’s world, you can get your testosterone clinically or maybe do it on your own someday.

Syringes, vial needles, alcohol swabs, and biohazard sharps containers all scream ‘injection.’ And for first timers, it can be quite a chore to understand and integrate it all in your medical transition. Luckily, there are health professionals to inject you with testosterone. The other good news is that there are ways to make it less painful and less harmful. From cleaning the injection site to knowing which parts of your body will receive the injection, you may learn to do this independently over time.

If knowing how to inject testosterone is something you have always wanted to have at your fingertips, then you are at the right place. In this article, first-timers will get all the information for their first testosterone injection.

What You Need for the Injection

Below are some of the requirements for your testosterone injection.

• Testosterone vial

Testosterone vial is a form of medicine. It is a colorless, clear vial. It is also oil-based. You will find it in the 200 mg per ml quantity.

• Syringe

If you have been to the hospital, you may know what syringes are. Your doctor uses syringes to house the needle that injects you with testosterone. It is usually 1 ml or 3 ml, depending on the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

• Needles

Needles are used to draw medication. They are also used for injection. You will notice syringes for your testosterone shot in the following capacities;

1. 18G needle which is used for drawing the medication.
2. 23G or 25G needle, which is for injection, depending on the injection site. The 23G helps inject medication into your thigh muscles. At the same time, the 25G needle is used to draw medication to the subcutaneous fat tissue in your thigh.

• Alcohol swabs

These can be 1 or 2 in number. You will use alcohol swabs to clean the injection site. Your doctor will also clean the vial top with alcohol swabs.

• Sharps container

At the clinic, you will notice sharp containers for their bright red or yellow color. They are rigid plastic. They also have a label to show they are for disposing of hazardous waste. They are used to dispose of the needles safely.

• Band-Aids

These are used for covering the injection site after administering the medication.

Step 1 – Prepare Your Workspace

Once you or your doctor have your requirements, it is time to prepare your working area. Clean your workspace. You will also ensure it is well-lit.

• Clean your hands

Cleaning your hands is the first step before you begin your testosterone injection. You clean your hands using soap or water. Dry your hands with a paper towel or kitchen roll. The Importance of washing hands before starting is to prevent infection.

• Prepare material

Do this by setting up the injection area. Assemble your supplies, which include the vial, syringes, and needles.

• Ensure cleanliness

Organize materials to prevent contamination.

Step 2 – Check the Testosterone Vial

Here, you will check the packaging of the needle and syringes. Remove the testosterone from the refrigerator and let it get to room temperature.

Check the following in your testosterone vial;

• The Expiration date

This is to ensure that the testosterone is viable for use. Expired medication should never be used.

• Inspecting the vial

Helps in determining any signs of contamination. Check for discoloration or whether the package is broken. Also, check for particles in the vial for contamination. Avoid using these for safety purposes.

• Cleaning the vial top

You will take off the vial cap. Do this by pulling it to the side instead of pulling it upward. The next step is to clean the rubber stopper with one alcohol swab. Allow it to dry.

Step 3 – Draw the Testosterone Into the Syringe

Follow the following steps to draw testosterone into a syringe.

• Attach the larger needle

First, you will need to pull the 18G to the syringe. This will help you draw the medicine.

• Inject air into the vial

Put the vial on a flat working surface. Insert the needle straight down through the center of the rubber stopper. Here, you will pull back the plunger. This will draw air into the syringe.

The Purpose of injecting air into the vial before drawing the medication is to reduce air bubbles.

• Draw in the testosterone

You draw in the same amount of air as the medicine (in mL or cc). If there are air bubbles, gently tap the syringe with your fingers. This ensures that you have the proper dosage and avoid air bubbles.

• Removing the needle

Do not let the needle touch any surface. Disposing of the large needle safely.

Step 4 – Switch to the Injection Needle

• Remove the 18G needle

You will then discard the large needle into a sharps container. This is for safety purposes.

• Attach the smaller needle

This is the 23G or 25G needle. You are now ready for your testosterone injection.

Step 5 – Choose the Injection Site

The next step is to choose the injection site for the testosterone. There are two preferred options for injection sites. They include;

• The Gluteus maximus (buttocks)

The gluteus maximus is the recommended site as it is the most comfortable. You will feel slight discomfort during and after injection. It is also one of the safest areas to inject, with very low chances of crossing a vein or a nerve.

Location: Your doctor will expose your buttocks. And in mind, divide the buttocks into four partitions. Your gluteus maximus is in the upper outer quarter of your buttocks. It is also further from the site.

Accurate positioning: You will either be standing or sitting. You may also lean forward slightly. Your doctor will inject this upper quarter of your buttock.

• Vastus lateralis (thigh)

This injection step can be uncomfortable compared to the gluteus maximus in the buttocks.

The vastus lateralis is a muscle in your thigh. You can choose this injection site by yourself.

Locate this part by (in your mind) dividing the thigh into three equal horizontal parts. Put your hand on the bone femur. The middle part, on the outer side, is the vastus lateralis.

Always remember to use the Hand placement technique to identify the correct area. Place one hand above your knee and the other on your thigh. It is a good place to give injections as it is easily visible.

Step 6 – Clean the Injection Site

Clean the injection site using the following methods;

• An alcohol swab

This is cotton doused in alcohol. It is used to clean the skin before injection. This reduces contamination. It also reduces the stinging pain from the injection.

• Allow it to air dry

This prevents the stinging sensation from the alcohol.

Step 7 – Administer the Injection

Do the following to administer the injection;

• Insert the needle

Hold the skin for the injection site reasonably firmly. Insert the needle into the muscle at a 90-degree angle to your skin. This should be a quick and firm motion.

• Aspirate

Check for blood in the needle to ensure you have not nicked a vein. Do this by gently pulling back the plunger of the syringe.

If you see blood on the injection site, it is nothing to worry about. If you see blood on the syringe or needle, abort the injection mission and remove the needle immediately.

At this point, discard the medicine and try again with the fresh equipment and medicine.

• Inject the medication

If you do not see any blood, perform a slow and steady injection of the testosterone medicine into the muscle. After inserting the medicine, take your hand off the skin. You may feel some burning or pressure as the medicine enters your muscles.

• Remove the needle

When you finish injecting the full medicine dose, remove the needle.

Apply an alcohol swab in the injection area. Add pressure to the site until bleeding stops, if there is any. Add a band aid to the injection site if it is needed.

Step 8 – Dispose of Used Materials

After injection, you should get rid of used materials. Do this by;

• Activating the safety feature

On the syringe needle, use the syringe cap to cover the needle. This prevents accidental piercing.

• Disposing of needles in a sharps container

These are medical containers used to get rid of used needles. They reduce harm and contamination from needles.

• Follow local disposal guidelines

Always follow the local disposal guidelines. The FDA states that these guidelines are for safety and waste management. For instance, ‘sharps’ should be in the bin and disposed of as highlighted by NHS guidelines.

Tips for Reducing Pain and Discomfort

There are a few tips and hacks for reducing pain and discomfort during your testosterone treatment. These include

• Use room temperature medication

The testosterone is usually stored in the refrigerator making it cold. To reduce discomfort, let it reach room temperature.

• Remove air bubbles

Do this by gently tapping on the syringe with your fingers. The air bubbles will rise to the top of the syringe. Slowly push the plunger up. This will force the air bubbles to the top of the syringe without removing the needle.

• Inject slowly to reduce pain

The benefits of injecting slowly is to reduce pain and stinging sensation.

• Massage the injection site

The goal is to reduce soreness. This also aids in testosterone absorption.

Relax the muscles to minimize pain during injection.

Conclusion

There you have it! Your medical transition in one simple wrap. It is like preparing for a grand event. You have to set your workspace, just as you have to relax your muscles for injection success.

Ensuring that you have the right testosterone medicine, using the right needles, accompanied by proper injection sites, notwithstanding proper safety disposal, you will realize that it is more like a typical hospital visit.

And over time, once you’ve mastered your body and how to do it, you can inject yourself. Nobody said it was easy, but you will learn to make your testosterone injection easy.