Testosterone plays a critical role in male health, including muscle growth and bone density. It also helps regulate sex drive and sexual function. Low levels of this essential hormone are often the result of aging, but can also be caused by a number of other medical issues. For these reasons, testosterone replacement therapy is a great option for many men. However, administering the injection correctly is crucial. Failure to do so can lead to a number of side effects, including a failure to effectively treat the symptoms of low testosterone.
When you are ready to inject yourself, make sure that the injection area is clean and hair-free. Alcohol swabs can be helpful, and it is important to use a new needle with each injection, disposing of used needles properly. Also, be sure to rotate the injection sites to avoid scar tissue development. Once the injection site is prepared, draw up your dose of the injected medication into the syringe and remove any air bubbles by pushing back on the plunger. This is called aspirating, and it helps prevent the injection from being injected into a vein (which can cause an embolism, a severe, potentially life-threatening condition).
While intramuscular injections have been the traditional way to inject testosterone, research has shown that subcutaneous (under the skin) injections are just as effective and can result in higher and more stable serum levels. For this reason, the subcutaneous injection method is becoming increasingly popular.