
How to inject testosterone (or any steroid) is the big question beginners need to know the answer to when considering a steroid cycle.
All this and more is discussed here. This will be the most comprehensive article you’ll find on this subject, I’m sure of that.
Injecting steroids for the very first time can often be a frightening task for just about anyone.
Over 60% of people who engage in serious weight training, have used steroids before.
If misused, there are a variety of side effects that can occur. These range from mild effects to life-threatening. Most of the side effects are manageable, when steroids are dosed correctly.
Want to know how to inject testosterone? Primobolan? EQ? Trenbolone?
You’re in the right place.
Max’s Note: The article you are about to read, is based on my own personal experience, it does NOT promote any illegal use of anabolic steroids (Performance Enhancing Drug
Preliminary things to Consider & Prep for:
Steroids are a tremendous business, and you can find dealers everywhere. In fact, many competitive bodybuilders sell them to guys they meet in health clubs and gyms.
However the misuse of steroids could lead to severe health problems. This includes incorrectly injecting them.
These potential issues can include:
- Liver damage and tumors
- Kidney problems or failure
- High blood pressure
- Enlarged heart
- Changes in blood cholesterol
- Increased risk of blood clots
To prevent the health issues above & ensure the safe intake of steroids, there are a few things to consider:
- Ensure that you’re at least 25 years before taking steroids.
- For your 1st steroid cycle, its highly advised to start with only Testosterone.
- Do not mix (stack) other steroids.
- Always asses your body’s reaction to the increased testosterone levels.
- Ease yourself into the steroid cycle. For beginners, a pyramid-style cycle is a good way to go.
- Before starting a steroid cycle, have ALL your supplies ready to go.
- Start with injectable steroids rather than oral steroids. Keep your health in check by eating a healthy diet and working out.
- Before your first steroid cycle, schedule a check-up at your local doctor’s office.
The doctor will listen to your heart and lungs. Consider a blood test to ensure your baseline hormones are in good standing. Before starting a steroid regimen, start building up your physical strength and endurance. This will help your body ease into the increased activity.
Max’s Note: For a real, NO-BS info-packed guide on cycling steroids, then grab your digital E-Book copy of ”Straight From The Underground” by John Doe Bodybuilding. This is my #1 recommended underground handbook on EVERYTHING related to steroids. Everything in this book is based on real first-hand experience as opposed to theory.
Types of Steroid Injections:
The following are the 2 main types of steroid injections.
Intramuscular (IM) Injections
An intramuscular injection is a method of delivering medication in the muscles. This enables the body to absorb the medication quickly. Intramuscular steroid injections are usually given into a large muscle group, such as the gluteus muscles in the buttocks. Some people also inject steroids into the deltoid muscle in the shoulder.
The body absorbs the steroid in the blood and it travels through your bloodstream to the rest of the body. An intramuscular steroid injection usually lasts from 1 week up to a month.
Subcutaneous (SQ) Injections
Subcutaneous injections are usually given in the fatty tissue under the skin. The subcutaneous tissue of the skin, or the ”hypodermis” is the deepest layer of the skin. It’s made up of fat and connective tissue. This allows your body to control temperature.
When given a subcutaneous steroid injection, the body absorbs it slowly. This is why the subcutaneous injection of testosterone is effective and often a preferred alternative to IM.
Benefits of subcutaneously injecting testosterone include:
- Less discomfort
- Smaller needle size
- Less pain
its important to note that subcutaneous injections do not allow for as much of the steroid to be injected. Its a shallow injection, in other words, and for this reason is not used anywhere near as often by steroid users. HGH, HCG, insulin, peptides, and Test Suspension are the 4 compounds most commonly used for SQ injections.
SQ injections are much better suited for water-based injections, than are oil-based ones. Studies have shown there to be no difference in blood levels, as to the effectiveness of this method Vs. intramuscular injections. This is good news for those who prefer the SQ method, where possible (for those 5 compounds indicated).
Different Syringes, Pins, & Supplies:
The following are supplies needed for a steroid cycle.
Syringes
A steroid multi-cycle pack will have 2.5-3 ml syringes. Everything is usually sorted in a simple order and packed in a plain box.
NOTE: 1ml = 1CC. A cubic centimeter or ”CC” is the same thing as 1ml (milliliter).
Hypodermic Needles
Green, blue, pink, and yellow needles are the most common. The blue and green are usually for injecting steroids into your body, while the pink and yellow needles are (usually) for drawing the liquid out of the vile (drawing needles).
Alcohol Swabs
You’ll need alcohol swabs for your steroid cycle. They help to clean the injection site. Usually, one alcohol swab is enough to sterilize the injection site but it’s always good to have extra. The majority of packs will have 100 or more alcohol swabs.
It’s essential to have a puncture-resistant container to dispose of the needles, syringes, and alcohol swabs after use. Have this close to you so that you can dispose of these items immediately after the injection.
Intramuscular (IM) Injection Procedure:
Intramuscular injections are common in the world of steroids.
Before starting the process, you’ll need the following:
- Syringe (one 3ml or 5ml syringe is advised)
- Smaller Injecting Needles (22 to 25 Gauge, or 1-1.5”).
- Larger Drawing Needles (18 to 21 Gauge)
- Alcohol swabs.
- Gauze Band-aid or bandage.
- Puncture-resistant waste basket (to discard used syringes and needles).
Once you have these, here is the procedure to follow for your intramuscular injection:
- Clean Your Hands
Wash your hands with warm water and soap. Scrub under the fingernails, between the fingers, and on the backs of your hands. CDC recommends lathering for 20 seconds. This helps to prevent infection.
- Gather Your Supplies
Gather the needles, alcohol swabs, syringes, band-aids, and other supplies for your first steroid cycle.
- Get Into a Comfortable Position
Before the injection, get into a comfortable position. Keep your muscles relaxed. This makes it easy to isolate and target where to inject.
- Clean Injection Area
Take an alcohol swab and clean the injection site. Allow the skin to dry. To isolate the muscle at the injection site, spread the skin between fingers.
- Prepare the Steroid
Clean the rubber stopper of the vial containing steroids with an alcohol swab. Note the time when you opened the vial.
- Fill the Syringe With Air
Drawback the syringe’s plunger to fill it with air up to the recommended dose. Do this to regulate the pressure in the vial. This also makes it easier for you to draw the steroid into the syringe.
- Push the Needle Through the Rubber Stopper
Remove the cap from the needle and push it through the rubber stopper. Insert air into the vial and ensure that you do not touch the needle. This prevents contamination.
- Pull Back on the Plunger
To withdraw steroids from the vial, turn it upside down so that the needle now points upward. Pull back on the plunger. This action will withdraw the steroid into the syringe. Make sure that you only withdraw the recommended dose.
- Gently Depress the Plunger
Air bubbles will be present in the liquid. Tap the syringe to remove the bubbles. This will push them to the top. Now, depress the plunger to allow the air bubbles to escape.
- Self Inject the Steroid
Places recommended for intramuscular injections include:
- Vastus lateralis muscles of the thigh
- Dorsogluteal muscles of the buttocks
- Ventrogluteal muscles of the hip
- Deltoid muscle of the arm
To self-inject, hold the needle like a dart. Insert it into the muscle at a 90-degree angle. Do this in a quick and controlled manner.
- Stabilize the Needle
To stabilize the needle, use your thumb and index finger to hold the skin at the injection site. If you see blood going into the syringe, that means the tip of the needle is in a blood vessel. Withdraw the needle immediately and start again with a new needle and syringe.
- Inject the Steroid
If you don’t see blood going into the syringe, inject the testosterone. Simply push the plunger slowly. This will inject steroids into your muscles.
- Withdraw the Needle
Remove the needle, discard it into the puncture-resistant container, and apply pressure on the injection site.
Subcutaneous (SQ) Injection Procedure:
For subcutaneous injections, you will be injecting just underneath your skin into fatty tissue. The preferred spot for this type of injection is the soft tissue in your abs.
Here is what you need for this:
- Two alcohol swabs
- One insulin syringe
- A band-aid and/or other sterile adhesive
Follow these steps to ensure a safe subcutaneous injection:
- Wipe the top of the vial with the alcohol wipe, then wait 20 seconds, insert the needle.
- Remove the cap from the needle and plunge the needle into the rubber stopper at a 90 degree angle, slowly withdraw the oil from the vial by holding the vial at a 90 degree angle and extracting the oil.
- Use an alcohol swab to wipe over your injection site, then wait 20 seconds.
- Squeeze the skin between your fingers at your injection site and insert the needle at a slight angle to make sure it goes into your fatty tissue and not directly into your muscle.
- Using a slow and steady motion, inject the liquid under the skin. Unlike IM injections, you don’t have to aspirate for a SQ injection.
- Remove the needle from your skin.
- Put pressure on your injection site until the bleeding stops. Don’t panic if it doesnt stop bleeding right away, just relax and keep applying pressure. Check it every 20 seconds. Applying pressure is what gets it to stop bleeding. Sometimes you’ll bleed more than others. Sometimes blood will even drip down. Whatever happens, do NOT panic, just make sure you’re applying that pressure.
This is how you safely and effectively give yourself an SQ injection.
Injection Sites (Intramuscular & Subcutaneous):
It won’t take long for you to develop a preference for the area you like to inject yourself. Since you’ll want to be rotating injection sites it’s helpful to know all of the muscle sites that you’re able to utilize:
- Deltoid intramuscular – located at the side of the shoulder in the center of the muscle.
- Glute intramuscular – located in the buttock muscles; the glute or ”gluteus maximus” is the biggest of the three buttock muscles located in the top of the buttocks region.
- Thigh intramuscular – this one is in your quadriceps muscle at the outer side of the leg in the central point of your thigh.
- Triceps intramuscular – large arm muscle at the back of your upper arm.
- Pec intramuscular – Your pectoral muscles (pecs) are located on your chest behind the breast. The ”Pectoralis major” is the larger muscle located in the top outer area of your chest.
- Biceps intramuscular – large arm muscle located between the elbow and shoulder (at the front of your upper arm).
Back-Filling Insulin Syringes for Steroid Injections
When you’re using fast-acting steroids, they require more frequent injections than those that have slower chain esters. In some cases, you may even need to inject every day. A couple examples of steroids that need frequent injections are: Winstrol and Testosterone Suspension. Besides frequency, some of these steroids are commonly known to be painful to inject (water-based compounds mostly).
This being said, many guys look for ways to make this process easier. One option you have involves backfilling insulin syringes for injections.
Why? Well…this method makes your injections both more convenient AND less painful.
Needles often used for steroid injections have a larger gauge, so when you’re using them frequently you can develop scar tissue, in addition to having to deal with extra discomfort or pain from these needles. Finding an easier option is prefereble to most men, especially those who are doing more than 2-3 injections a week.
To correctly do this back-filling method, you’ll need an insulin syringe as well as your regular gauge (steroid) syringe.
The process is simple: draw out the steroid solution as normal with your normal syringe. Extract the plunger from the insulin syringe, then fill that syringe from the back with 1ml of solution. You’ll want to remove any air that’s gotten trapped at the front of the insulin syringe, so carefully push on the plunger slightly once it’s back in, to get rid of that air in the front.
There are some challenges to be aware of, because you’re not likely able to draw the plunger back before you inject (due to the small size of insulin syringes, the solution will most likely fill the entire thing). To adapt to the smaller size, choose an injection site where your skin is thinner, this way the smaller needle won’t have to push through so much fat.
This injection I’ve outlined here, should be less painful. The process is also easy and quick enough to make a new part of your routine. Granted a painful steroid will always be painful to inject, our goal here is to minimize this as much as we can.
Backfilling as I’ve described it here, provides this option.
poetential Injection Complications:
There is much that could go wrong with steroid injections. Ranging from injecting in the wrong spot, too often in the same spot, feeling pain, infection or irritation, to more serious problems like accidentally mainlining a vein and putting your whole life at risk.
Complications with steroid injections can be broken down into two categories: 1) those at the local level in the injection site itself (which you can more often than not actually see), and 2) those that can occur out of sight, or internally, but could potentially be far more dangerous.
The most common (potential) steroid injection complications are:
- Infections: this happens when you use syringes that aren’t new and/or sterile. Syringes that have gotten contaminated with bacteria before you use them to inject, of course will put you at huge infection risk. Swelling and inflamation are main symptoms of infection. If they get worse, you could start feeling sick.
- Impacting a vein or artery: the main goal when injecting into your muscle is to avoid mainlining the needle into your vein or artery; this is why why the larger muscles prefferred. When oil based steroids are injected into your vein, it can result in several things happening. This is true evenif its only a small amount. At best you’ll feel dizzy, at worst you could die. Are potential effects include: shortness of breath, coughing and tightness in the chest. When/if these symptoms persist for longer than a few minutes, seek medical help. You don’t want to be one of the severe cases and wind up in the emergency room.
- Pain in your injection site: some steroids are MUCH more painful to inject than others. Furthermore, injection sites should always be rotated to allow your muscle proper recovery time.
- Coughing & flu symptoms: this is more a side effect of specific steroids over others, but nonetheless it can occur very quickly after an injection. Trenbolone is notorious for causing this, and some even have experienced it with Winstrol too. Its important to know this isn’t a serious issue, but its easy to see how one could get blindsided by it if they don’t see it coming.
These are just several examples of potential things that could go wrong when injecting gear.
Everyone will likely experience one or a few of these when using gear over many years. You would do well to learn what is just a minor issue, and what’s a major one that may need urgent care or attention.
For example, familiarizing yourself with how pain might feel after an injection, Vs. what an infection feels like, could mean the difference between being confident you’ll heal naturally, or making the decision to get medical assistance. Like with most things, time and experience will teach you a lot.
A little knowledge goes a long way though, and the more you know, the less likely you are experience serious problems.
Common FAQ Related to Steroid Injections:
What are the side effects of steroid injections?
Steroids can come with several potential side effects, either from the hormone alone, or due to them being injectable Vs. oral steroids.
Some examples are:
- Pain & bruising.
- Hitting a nerve by mistake.
- Muscle damage from injecting in the same region too often, or
- Accidentally knicking a blood vessel, thus causing internal bleeding, or
- Inadvertently mainlining the steroid solution into a vein, which can result in a hospital emergency.
This is why it’s so crucial you learn to implement the proper injecting techniques.
Where to inject steroids?
Large muscles are where steroids are mostly injected. Examples of large muscles are: buttocks, thigh, chest, and upper arms. The injection should be placed deep in the muscle, but you should be very careful to never hit a vein or artery.
What happens if you accidentally inject air?
Sometimes a steroid injection can include air when the plunger is pushed to insert the steroid in your muscle. This is the result of poor preparation. If you follow my outline described above correctly, air bubbles won’ be a problem. Small amounts of air are usually harmless.
Do you bleed when injecting steroids?
Yes, you are going to bleed a little bit, deal with it. You should never EVER see blood being drawn into your syringe however, if you do that means you’ve hit a vein and you’re in danger of injecting oil into it. If you see blood entering your syringe, stop the injection process immediately.
will injecting steroids hurt?
Only a little bit, but yes it’s common to feel a little prick of pain when injecting. This will be from the needle penetrating your skin, not the actual injection itself. Water-based steroids have been commonly reported to be painful however.
What is the most painful steroid to inject?
If you feel pain, it often has as much to do with your injection site as it does with the type of steroid. Larger muscles tend to hurt less. Rotating injection sites will help alleviate this. The ester that’s attached to the steroid is often what causes any pain that’s felt. The most painful one would probably be the short ester of Propionate (most commonly attached to testosterone).
conclusion:
As long as you take all proper precautions to ensure a safe and sterile steroid injection, then you have nothing to worry about.
If you rush through it or do a sub-par job of following the procedures covered here, then yes injections can come with problems.
Just like steroids themselves have risks, so does injecting them. It’s always better to take risks when they’re carefully calculated. It’s up to you to weigh the risks against the rewards for yourself.
If you enjoyed this article and you’d like a more real, NO-BS info-packed guide on cycling steroids, then grab your digital E-Book copy of ”Straight From The Underground” by John Doe Bodybuilding. This is my #1 recommended underground handbook on EVERYTHING related to steroids. Everything in this book is based on first-hand experience instead of theory.
-Mad Max

COMMON FAQ RELATED TO TESTOSTERONE ENANTHATE:
Testosterone enanthates benefits are found in its ability to help maintain normal levels of red blood cells (making oxygen flow better through your body) and keep bones strong, muscles growing and weight controlled while providing relief from issues such as mood swings or low sex drive associated with aging.
Just like any other anabolic steroid, Testosterone Enanthate has its share of possible side effects. These side effects are common and must be expected since this is the case with all injectable steroids. However, when taken responsibly (i.e., cycling), these side effects can be prevented as long as you follow the proper procedures and protocols covered here. This allows you to minimize or even completely get rid of side effects on your cycle.
It depends on the individual. With a good diet and regular training, you’ll start to notice the effects within 3-6 weeks.
Testosterone Enanthate’s benefits are found in its ability to help maintain normal levels of red blood cells (making oxygen flow better through your body) keeping bones strong, muscles growing, and weight controlled while providing relief from issues such as mood swings or low sex drive associated with aging (high test means lower estrogen).