Testosterone Injection Pain and Swelling: Reasons and Tips to Avoid

You’ve never self-injected testosterone before? We know how it can be. Swelling, stinging, redness, and pain raise concern among patients: “Is it normal? Why do testosterone shots hurt? Should I talk to my doctor?

Testosterone Injection Pain and Swelling: Reasons and Tips to Avoid

Testosterone medication itself rarely causes pain. However, neglecting injection rules or your doctor’s prescription can lead to an unpleasant experience. We understand that trips to the doctor’s office for testosterone shots may be inconvenient for patients. That’s why we put all the necessary information into this article for you to self-inject properly and avoid post-injection pain.

Is Pain After Injection Common?

Injections cause slight pain from time to time as the syringe needle disturbs the skin. Usually, post-injection pain is normal and doesn’t last too long. According to the study, 100 of 125 participants experienced moderate pain from 1 to 4 days after injection. So, if you have soreness for up to 4 days, without lump or inflammation, there’s no reason to worry.

If your pain continues, or you have an unexpected reaction, fever, or other health issues, you should immediately talk to your doctor. Any self-help may worsen the situation.

Testosterone Injection Pain and Swelling

Do testosterone shots hurt? No, testosterone itself can’t be a reason for the pain after the injection.

Testosterone is a naturally occurring steroid hormone whose levels can drop as a response to illness, aging, etc. Testosterone replacement therapy’s (TRT) goal is to restore T levels and return the body to normal functioning. Therapeutic testosterone for TRT is derived from natural sources of animal origin.

What then causes you pain? Usually, improper administration leads to skin irritation, bleeding, and painful lumps after testosterone injection. The most popular mistakes people make when taking testosterone shots by themselves include:

  • neglecting hygiene,
  • using too thick needles,
  • not changing injection sites,
  • sticking the needle too deep.

The type of administration may also cause you extra pain. Intramuscular injections are usually more painful than subcutaneous ones.

Another thing you should be careful with is your testosterone provider. We recommend buying testosterone shots only by doctor’s prescription in licensed pharmacies. Low-quality medication may contain unwanted ingredients that cause allergic reactions, pain, and swelling. If you want to get more information on how to obtain the best testosterone shots, contact us, and our consultants will answer all our questions.

7 Tips on Preventing Testosterone Injection Pain and Swelling

The doctor, who prescribes you testosterone, should give you an instruction on how to self-inject at home. If you follow those recommendations, the chance for you to feel post-injection pain is minimal. In case you forgot them, here are useful tips as a kind reminder.

Tip 1. Change the needles

Therapeutic testosterone has an oily base, that’s why you’ll need a thick needle to draw the medicine out of the vial. But, if you inject with the same needle, it may cause pain. When you pass the needle through the rubber surface, it becomes slightly blunted. A sharp and thin needle enters the skin easier and eliminates the risk of painful sensation. So, you need to swap out the needle after drawing the medicine and insert a new one.

is it normal to be sore after a testosterone shot

We recommend not using high gauge needles to draw testosterone, as it disrupts the normal flow of liquid, creating air bubbles. Air bubbles in the syringe may be a reason for the lump after testosterone injection. Instead, buy a 20-gauge syringe to pull testosterone inside quickly.

Tip 2. Sterilize everything

If you don’t want any infection to get under your skin, it’s best to keep alcohol swabs close. Start the procedure by washing your hands with soap. Then sterilize all your needles and injection site.

You should wait until the injection side becomes dry. Unevaporated alcohol may cause stinging pain if it gets under the skin. Always keep an alcohol-based solution in stock if you run out of single-use swabs.

Tip 3. Change injection sites

Another reason you have pain and lumps after testosterone injection is if you take it at the same spot all the time. Repeatedly injecting medicine in the same area results in fat cell damage. Apart from causing pain, lipoatrophy can’t be reversed naturally. It may require special treatment or even surgery to repair the damage.

In the picture below you can see the best spots for testosterone injection. We recommend choosing a few less painful spots and changing them each time you take an injection. This practice will give your body time to heal and prevent unpleasant side effects.

testosterone injection soreness: choose correct shot site

Tip 4. Cool the injection area

Cooling an injection site helps reduce needle-stick pain. Apply an ice pack to the injection area before the injection to let the cold numb the skin and decrease the painful feeling. Low temperature constricts vessels and slows down blood circulation. This makes the nerves less sensitive.

Cooling the skin helps with pain, however, don’t forget to warm up your testosterone medicine. For a smooth and painless injection, hold the vail in your hands for a while to make the medicine warm. If you keep it in the fridge, you’ll have to do it anyway, because testosterone crystallizes under a low temperature.

Tip 5. Try injection devices

Injection devices are designed to ease the injection process and reduce injection pain and anxiety. Usually, the device construction includes:

  • needle cover that hides the needle and improves the injection experience,
  • container for medication that you can refill,
  • dosage controller to set up the needed amount of medication,
  • the button to reveal the needle.

how to reduce painful lump after testosterone injection

Self-injection devices are easy to use. Moreover, they provide a pain-free experience for patients. Pressing the button is much easier than inserting a needle under your skin. Once you adjust to its usage, you’ll appreciate how convenient it is. If you have any concerns about using such a device, you can always consult with a doctor.

Tip 6. Massage the injection spot

Painful lump after testosterone injection can occur because the medicine is clumped up in one spot under your skin. Try to rub the spot so that oil spreads under your skin and gets absorbed. If you make an injection in your delt, put your arm on a flat surface and massage the injection area with your fingers making circular movements.

If the massage causes an unpleasant feeling, try to press and hold the injection spot for a while instead. Remember, that your body can’t quickly absorb oil-based testosterone. So, it’s best if you inject it in small doses and slowly (approximately for 50 secs). Again, if you feel uncomfortable making an injection yourself, turn to the doctor for instructions.

Tip 7. Use quality testosterone shots

Soreness from testosterone injection could mean emerging adverse effects caused by low-quality testosterone. Nowadays, the market is full of various testosterone distributors that claim their medication is safe and efficient. However, we should warn you that some testosterone distributors may be scammers. Injecting yourself to non-approved drugs can lead to side effects such as swelling, pain, allergic reaction, fever, etc.

If you want to get quality testosterone, turn to an experienced therapist, who will assess your health and T-level, and prescribe you quality testosterone shots and the correct dosage. It’s in your interest to go through testosterone therapy under professional supervision. Only the doctor can provide you with a treatment plan that helps you efficiently achieve your goals.

If you’re interested in testosterone therapy guided by a professional, drop us a line, and our consultants will give you detailed information.

How to get a testosterone prescription?

To receive a legal testosterone prescription, you have to be diagnosed with hypogonadism (low testosterone). Low testosterone

  • symptoms include:
  • increased tiredness,
  • troubles with getting an erection,
  • low sex drive,
  • hair loss,
  • increase fat tissue in the abdominal area.

If you experience the symptoms mentioned above, you should turn to a specialist. The doctor will check your health history, and run a physical examination and a blood test to check your T-levels. If your testosterone level is lower than the normal range, the doctor will prescribe you testosterone medication.

With the prescription in hand, you can buy testosterone in licensed pharmacies online or offline. You can also ask your therapist if they distribute the medication and if yes, you can obtain it from your doctor.

How we can help

Our clinic can help you go through testosterone replacement therapy smoothly. Our specialists know how to avoid post-injection pain and achieve the results you want efficiently.

We offer the following services:

  • health examination and consultation,
  • testosterone prescription,
  • quality testosterone medication,
  • therapy supervision.

Our therapists will provide you with extensive guides on self-injecting testosterone, using injection devices, and reducing testosterone injection pain. You can also get a dosage recommendation tailored to your personal needs. If you have additional questions or require a consultation, our therapists are here for you. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions, contact us any time, and we’ll address your concerns right away.