Testosterone enanthate is an injectable form of the hormone testosterone. It is often prescribed to treat low testosterone levels in men and rarely to treat specific conditions in women.
When taking testosterone enanthate, there are some key things to know:
- Dosage
- Typical starting doses range from 100-200 mg every 7-14 days.
- Your doctor will determine your optimal individualized dose and injection frequency based on factors like your age, symptoms, and blood test results.
- Injection technique
- Testosterone enanthate is given as an intramuscular injection, meaning the shot goes into a muscle.
- Common injection sites include the buttocks, thighs, and upper arms.
- The glutes and thighs are generally best as they contain thicker muscle.
- Make sure to rotate your injection sites to give areas time to recover between injections.
- Use an alcohol swab to disinfect the injection site prior to injecting.
- Use a sharp needle of proper length to inject at a 90 degree angle.
- Aspirate slightly to check that no blood flows into the syringe.
- Inject the medication slowly.
- Discard used needles in an approved sharps container.
- What to expect
- It may take a number of weeks to notice effects from testosterone therapy. Changes occur gradually over months.
- Possible effects include:
- Increased energy and libido
- Increased muscle mass and strength
- Decreased body fat
- Better mood and cognitive function
- Improved bone mineral density
- Side effects
- Potential side effects include:
- Acne or oily skin
- Hair loss
- Breast enlargement
- Sleep apnea
- Polycythemia (increased red blood cell count)
- Decreased sperm production and testicle shrinkage
- Discuss any significant or troublesome side effects with your doctor.
- Monitoring
- You will need periodic blood work done to check hormone levels and overall health markers.
- This allows your doctor to make any necessary dose adjustments.
- Monitoring also checks for unwanted side effects.
- You will need more frequent lab work at the start of treatment, typically every 3 months. Maintenance checks can occur just 1-2 times per year.
- Fertility considerations
- Testosterone therapy often causes decreased sperm production and lower fertility.
- If maintaining fertility is important, there are a few options:
- Periodic breaks from testosterone treatment
- Concurrent treatments to support fertility
- Freezing sperm prior to starting therapy
- Contraindications
- Those with certain medical conditions may not be candidates for testosterone therapy including:
- Prostate or breast cancer
- Severe urinary difficulties
- Uncontrolled heart disease
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Lifestyle factors to optimize results
- Engage in strength training and gain muscle mass
- Keep body fat low through proper nutrition and cardio exercise
- Reduce stress and get adequate sleep
- Limit or avoid alcohol
- Stop smoking cigarettes or vaping
- Have your doctor check any other medications that could impact testosterone levels
- Legality
- In most countries, including the United States, testosterone injections are legal to purchase and possess with a valid medical prescription.
- It is illegal to take or share someone else’s prescribed testosterone.
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