Different Types of Testosterone Steroids

July 26, 2022

Types of Testosterone Steroids

The article is about the common forms of injectable testosterone, TRT, therapeutic dosages, pros and cons of testosterone injections.

Testosterone injections deliver testosterone into the muscle. The testosterone is then absorbed directly into the bloodstream over time.

The absorption period depends on the type of testosterone injected. Injections usually take place in the thighs, glutes or deltoid muscles.

The main types of testosterone are as follows:

Type	Half Life	Injection Frequency	Benefits	Detection Period
Propionate (Prop)	108 Hours (4.5 Days)	Every Other Day	Stable Blood Levels	Up to 30 Days
Enanthate (E)	168 – 216 Hours (7 – 9 Days)	Once Per Week (Ideally more)	Less Injections	Up to 90 Days
Cypionate (Cyp)	192 – 240 Hours (8 – 10 Days)	Once Per Week (Ideally more)	Less Injections	Up to 90 Days
Sustanon (Sust)	360 – 432 Hours (15 – 18 Days)	Once Every 3 Weeks (Ideally More)	Much less Injections	Up to 90 Days

The only difference between these are the difference in the Carbon Chain attached to them – Sustanon is a combination of different types of Testosterone.

Enanthate and Cypionate are sort of interchangeable, you could potentially switch between the two and have similar blood levels regardless.

Pros of Testosterone Injections

1) Injectable testosterone can be self-administered. The two most common forms – testosterone enanthate and testosterone cypionate – are both brand name and generic medications in the United States.

2) Dosages can be changed with each injection, if necessary, to achieve optimal concentrations. Often the testosterone injections can be given twice a week in a split dose to reach optimal blood levels without too much fluctuation between injections.

3) Testosterone enanthate and testosterone cypionate only need to be injected every week or every other week. Also, a longer lasting version, testosterone undecanoate available.

Cons of Testosterone Injections

Testosterone injections do not mimic physiologic dosing. As a result, T levels can fluctuate in between doses. Fluctuations in testosterone are not ideal. These fluctuations can affect mood, emotional stability, and sexual activity.

Shortening the interval between injections and lowering the dosage proportionally can minimize this cyclical nature of highs and lows. The longer lasting version of injectable testosterone, testosterone undecanoate, maintains T levels in normal ranges.

Following injection of testosterone enanthate or testosterone cypionate, T levels exceed normal physiological levels for the first two to three days. Levels then steadily decline to levels below normal just prior to the next injection.

Shortening the interval between testosterone injections and lowering the dose can minimize this cyclical nature of highs and lows, which is why weekly injections of 100 to 200 mg are preferred to every other week injections of 150 to 400 mg.

Of note, another testosterone ester, testosterone undecanoate, has been approved that maintains T levels in normal ranges.

Testosterone injections are more likely to cause an increased red blood cell count than other forms. Lowering the injectable dosage and shortening the time between injections may potentially reduce the possibility of this side effect.

Injection site pain is relatively common in the beginning although injection site pain rarely indicates a problem.

Testosterone dosage chart for TRT

Preparation	Route of Application	Historic TRT Dose	Modern Optimal TRT Dose
Testosterone Enanthate	Intramuscular injection	200-250mg every 2-3 weeks	125mg every 5-7days 250mg every 7-10 days
Testosterone Cypionate	Intramuscular injection	200-250mg every 2-3 weeks	75mg every 3 days 80mg every 3-4 days 100mg every 4-7 days 250mg every 7-10 days
Sustanon 250	Intramuscular injection	250mg every 3 weeks adjusted according to response.	100-125mg every 4-5 days 125mg every 5-7 days 250mg every 7 -10 days
Testosterone Propionate	Intramuscular injection	50 mg 2–3 times a week.	20-25mg daily, or 25-50mg alternate days.
Testosterone Undecanoate	Intramuscular injection	1000mg every 8-10 weeks	Not recommended, in rare cases more frequent dosing every 4-6 weeks
Licenced Transdermal Testosterone Gel 16-50mg per 1-5g of gel Testim®, Testavan®, Tetogel®	Topical/Transdermal Application Apply and rub in to the shoulders and/or upper arms.	5 grams once daily Apply 60 mg once daily, subsequent application adjusted according to response; maximum 80 mg per day.	Not normally recommended at modern TRT clinics.

Overview of Testosterone series products

Steroid	CAS No.	Basic Info, benefits, side effects, dosage
Testosterone Enanthate	315-37-7	Basic info: Enanthate is a type of injectable testosterone that is derivative of the primary endogenous androgen testosterone, for intramuscular administration. In their active form, androgens have a 17-beta-hydroxy group. Dosage: To maintain levels, injections should be administered every five days. A dose of approximately 100 to 200 mg, to start, of this form of testosterone is commonly administered via intramuscular injection (IM) every five to seven days. This should bring a patient within optimal ranges (800 ng to 1000 ng). Benefits: Healthy heart and blood; Less fat, more muscle; Stronger bones; Better verbal memory, spatial abilities, or mathematical reasoning; Better libido; Improved mood Side effects: the most common side effects include: Headaches, Generalized tingling, Depression or anxiety, Oily skin and acne, Increased or decreased sex drive, Weight gain, Thinning hair, Dizziness, Mood changes, including aggression, Injection site pain and swelling. If the Test-Enanthate dose is reduced, the common side effects may improve.
Testosterone Cypionate	58-20-8	Basic info: Testosterone cypionate know as Depo-Testosterone is a mid to slow-acting ester of injectable testosterone. It was designed to provide a steady release of testosterone into the bloodstream once injected into muscle tissue. After injection test levels rise over two weeks, the half-life of test-cyp is stated at around 14 days. Benefits: Testosterone cypionate can increase bone mass and density, trigger secondary male characteristics, and it can lead to a build-up in muscle mass. Depo-Testosterone will aid in triggering puberty in hypogonadal males and can help to restore lost libido and sexual function in adults. Dosage: a) FOR BEGINNERS: If you have newly begun to inject this steroid, then the prescribed amount is 400 – 500 mg for the 12-week cycle. b) FOR EXPERIENCED: For those, who have previously used this steroid, then the dosage rises to 600-700mg. This continues for 12 weeks. Side effects: common side effects include High blood pressure, an increase in libido, itching, and an increase in red blood cells that occur when taking this medication. Other side effects that are less common are abdominal pain, abnormal dreams, acne, confusion, depression, diarrhea, mood swings, nose bleeds, burping, headaches, breast tissue growth, nausea, and runny nose.
Testosterone Propionate	57-85-2	Basic info: Testosterone propionate is a fast-acting ester of injectable testosterone. Test-propionate was designed to provide a quick release of testosterone into the bloodstream once injected into muscle tissue. It is a steroid drug used in the treatment of male hypogonadism. It increases testosterone levels and helps in maintaining male characteristics like muscle strength, facial and body hairs, sperm production and sex drive. Dosage: In most cases, start the Testosterone propionate is recommended with a dose that does not exceed 50 milligrams with injections 1 every 2 days. In the future, the dosage is doubled – up to 100 milligrams every 2 days. Benefits: burning of excess body fat; increased libido; accelerated growth of the musculature; Increased bumpiness and elasticity of muscles; It helps to improve your strength and energy level; It helps to increase physical performance. Side effects: Hair growth, Pain and swelling, Longer-lasting erections, Breast enlargement, Mood swings, Headaches, Frequent erections, Sperm count decrease, Acne. These side effects are only temporary and will last for a few days and go away gradually with time.
Sustanon 250	68924-89-0	Basic info: Sustanon 250 is an injectable steroid that is a synthetic derivative of naturally occurring testosterone in men. Testosterone sustanon 250 is a blend of four types of testosterones, 100 mg of testosterone decanoate, 30 mg of testosterone propionate, 60 mg of testosterone phenylpropionate and 60 mg of testosterone isocaproate. Benefits: gain an enormous amount of strength, stamina and endurance; Increase lean muscle mass; help bodybuilders to recover quickly from injuries during a workout program. Dosage: Beginner Sustanon 250 doses are in the range of 300 – 500mg weekly, which is also the standard beginner dose of any and all Testosterone cycles and this dose range should be sufficient enough to provide some dramatic gains even on the lowest number in the range given. Intermediate and Advanced users will generally make excellent progress from 500 – 750mg weekly of Sustanon 250. Side effects: Regardless of whether Sustanon injection is used for male hormone therapy or bodybuilding, there are side effects such as acne, increased body air and breast development. In what seems like a contradiction, steroid use can result in hair loss on the head, can lower sperm count and can shrink the testicles. Long-term steroid abuse can have significant health consequences such as high blood pressure, heart attacks and liver disease.
Testosterone Base	58-22-0	Basic info: Testosterone is the major sex hormone in males and plays a number of important roles, such as the deepening of the voice during puberty, the development of the penis and testes, Sex drive (libido), Muscle size and strength, Bone growth and strength, Sperm production ect. Testosterone may also help maintain normal mood. Benefits: Testosterone supplements is responsible for increased muscle mass. Leaner body mass helps control weight and increases energy. For men with low testosterone, studies show that treatment can decrease fat mass and increase muscle size and strength. Some men reported a change in lean body mass but no increase in strength. Side effects: Excessive hair growth, more frequent acne on the face, Frequent mood swings, A decrease in sperm count due to overdosage, Gynecomastia (breast enlargement), More frequent erections and last longer than normal, Headache, Pain and swelling at the region where the syringe is inserted.
Testosterone isocaproate	15262-86-9	Basic info: Testosterone isocaproate is a steroid indicated for testosterone replacement therapy in sterilization, missing testicle, hypopituitarism, and osteoporosis. Dosage: It can be taken in the form of injection. For beginners the dosage is recommended to be 250 mg/week which can be taken once or twice in the week. For professional bodybuilders the dosage can be increased to 1000 mg per week as well. Benefits: It is useful in increasing the synthesis of protein in the body, reduction of the cortisol, increasing the ability to recover especially after heavy trainings, increasing strength and helps the person gaining more mass. It will help in increasing the body weight and will also help in gaining the strength. It also helps in losing fat in the body and gives an increase in libido, red blood cells, stamina and quick recovery after heavy training. Testosterone Isocaproate is also very efficient in both cutting and the bulking cycles. But as it is related with the family of androgen it will have aromatizing properties as well. Side effects: Excess Water Retention or Bloat, High LDL Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, Gynecomastia, Low HDL Cholesterol.
Testosterone phenylpropionate	1255-49-8	Basic info: Testosterone phenylpropionate is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) having the attached phenylpropionate ester of testosterone. It is a notable component of Sustanon as well as Omnadren. This product comes in form of injection and the only difference between Test-Phenylpropionate and any other testosterone ester is the half-life, and the half-life of phenylpropionate is approximately 4.5 days.Benefits: It maintains its outcomes by encouraging increased nitrogen retention in the muscle. Testosterone Phenylpropionate also raises the degrees of growth factor IGF-1 in the muscle tissue and the liver. Additionally, it also has the capability to raise the activity of satellite cells that play an important role in amending damaged. It also can be used for physique and performance enhancement.Dosage: It should be injected approximately 3 times per week. Assuming that you are going to have a dosage of 300 mg a week, this means that you would need to inject 100 mg in a dosage, 100 mg after a few days and the last 100 mg in the last day. for example, this might be 100 mg on Monday, 100 mg on Wednesday and 100 mg on Friday.Side effects: Estrogen causes many side effects such as gynecomastia, water retention, etc., while dihydrotestosterone sometimes causes head hair loss, enlarged prostate and other problems. Athletes often complain on the pain at the injection site. An abscess is likely to develop.
Testosterone acetate	1045-69-8	Basic info: Testosterone Acetate is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) having the attached Acetate ester of testosterone. Test-Acetate comes in form of injection and the only difference between testosterone A and any other testosterone ester is the half-life. For example, the half-life of Acetate is approximately 2-3 days. Benefits: Maintain body fat and the weight composition, Muscle Growth, Increased Muscle Strength, Improved Endurance, Enhanced Athletic Performance Side effects: The common side effects of Testosterone Acetate and each one is preventable and avoidable, include: Excess Water Retention or Bloat, High LDL Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, Gynecomastia, Low HDL Cholesterol. Dosage: Men dose is 250 – 1000 mg per week. It is not recommended for women use, the cycle can last from 8-12 weeks. These doses are sufficient to achieve high results, both the strength and mass increase.
Testosterone decanoate	5721-91-5	Basic info: Testosterone Decanoate is a synthetic anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) having the attached Decanoate ester of testosterone. Test-Decanoate has a very long half-life of approximately 15 days which means that only Testosterone Undecanoate has it longer with half-life of 16 days. Test-Deca is a component of Sustanon, along with testosterone propionate, testosterone phenylpropionate, and testosterone isocaproate. Benefits: Testosterone Decanoate is great for both bulking and cutting cycles, enhances muscle growth, increases fat burning by speeding up metabolism, speeds up recovery after workout, enhances sex drive and performance. Side effects: Testosterone has a tendency to be converted into oestrogen. This means that it can cause unwanted side effects such as gynecomastia (male breasts), water retention and more. Likewise, it can also suppress the natural production of testosterone, leaving the user listless and unable to build muscle when they finish their cycle. Using testosterone has a number of direct consequences on the body that are also not desirable. These include acne, sweating, insomnia and male pattern baldness among others.
Testosterone undecanoate	5949-44-0	Basic info: Testosterone Undecanoate is a pure Testosterone hormone. It is widely used by athletes and bodybuilders due to the way it can enhance the individual’s overall performance. Because it works slowly, it will fit into almost all cycles and performance plans. Also, the user won’t see huge changes in their muscle mass with this steroid. However, many athletes like to get quality results without bulking up too much. Benefits: Build quality muscle mass; Increase in IGF-1 levels; Significantly increase the level of endurance and strength; Increase muscle density; Noticeable muscle definition with intense training; Strengthen joints, bone tissue; Improve mood; Noticeably increase sexual desire; Normalize nitrogen balance; Stimulate the growth of phosphorus metabolism, To increase the intensity of red blood cell production. Side effects: Testosterone Undecanoate is subject to aromatization as well as 5alpha-reduction, which are the pathways through which testosterone is converted to estrogen and dihydrotestosterone respectively. Excess buildup of estrogen can be responsible for gynecomastia (development of female breast tissue in males) as well as bloating and water retention. Dihydrotestosterone can cause both acne as well as hair loss. Dosage: Testosterone undecanoate can be injected at a dosage of 200mg every two weeks or 500mg every week. Since it stays active in the body for many weeks, this means that you only need to inject it once or twice per month if you’re taking 500 mg per week.