Injectable TRT is the most common form of treatment for KS / 47 XXY’s. Depending on the type of injectable that you are on will depend on whether you are injected in a clinic by either a nurse or general practitioner or whether you self-inject.
During my first 3 years of treatment for KS, I was being treated with Nebido (testosterone undecanoate) and was injected every 12 weeks by my doctor in his clinic. When I changed over to Sustanon 250 (testosterone isocaproate) I opted to self-inject and I’ve never looked back. The decision to self-inject was seen as controversial by both my GP’s surgery and with a small group of people on KS social media groups.
All versions of injectable testosterone are both an androgen and an anabolic steroid. Anabolic steroids (also known more properly as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS)) are steroidal androgens that have natural androgens like testosterone and synthetic androgens that are structurally related and have similar effects to testosterone.
Depending on where you live in the world will depend on what type of injectable TRT is available – for instance a version of Testosterone Enanthate brand named as Xyosted is not available in the UK (would be ideal for people with needle phobia that want the convenience of self-injecting).
In the UK the NHS will only provide Nebido (testosterone undecanoate) and Sustanon (isocaproate). Private clinics in the UK are allowed to prescribe Cypionate, Enanthate, Propionate, Sustanon and Nebido, although some private clinics will not prescribe Sustanon or Nebido due to neither of them working as well as Cypionate, Enanthate and Propionate.
Anabolic-Androgenic Esters (AAS) fall into 3 categories – major, minor, and never marketed and then broken down into a further 9 categories depending on type. The esters that we are interested in are the major Testosterone Esters.
Testosterone Undecanoate
Testosterone Undecanoate is an androgen and anabolic steroid that is marketed as either Nebido, Aveed or Reandron – dependent on the country that you reside in. It is specifically approved for the treatment of hypogonadism. It is an intramuscular injection and administered at a dosage of 1,000 mg (in 4 ml of castor oil) every 8 to 12 weeks. Testosterone Undecanoate is also present in all oral testosterone medications.
Testosterone Undecanoate cannot be self-injected and must be injected by a nurse or GP.
Testosterone Isocaproate
Testosterone Isocaproate is an androgen and anabolic steroid that is marketed as either Sustanon 100, Sustanon 250 or Omnadren 250. Sustanon / Omnadren is made up of 4 different testosterone esters that each have their own elimination half-lives in the body. These esters are propionate (30 mg), phenylpropionate (60 mg), isocaproate (60 mg) and decanoate (100 mg).
Testosterone Isocaproate is an intramuscular injection that can be self-injected at a dosage of 100 mg or 250 mg (in 1ml of arachis oil (refined peanut oil)) every 2 to 3 weeks. Sustanon is the preferred method of TRT in the UK and is a popular choice amongst bodybuilders and athletes. 10ml multi-draw vials are available.
Testosterone Cypionate
Testosterone Cypionate is an androgen and anabolic steroid that is marketed as Depo-Testosterone (among others) and is mainly used in the treatment of primary and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, low testosterone levels and as hormone therapy for transgender men.
Testosterone Cypionate is an intramuscular and subcutaneous injection which can be self-injected. Dosage is dependent upon the patient with dosages being as low as 50 mg injected every 3.5 days and others at 100 mg every 4-7 days. 200 mg dosages are available. Testosterone Cypionate is suspended in 1ml of olive oil or MCT oil, although 10ml multi-draw vials are available.
Testosterone Enanthate
Testosterone Enanthate is an androgen and anabolic steroid which can be self-injected. It is marketed as either Delastryl and Xyosted (among others) and is mainly used in the treatment of primary and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, low testosterone levels and as hormone therapy for transgender men.
All versions of Testosterone Enanthate are injected via syringe other than Xyosted. Testosterone Enanthate and Cypionate are interchangeable when injected intramuscularly (Enanthate can’t be injected subcutaneously as the carrier oil, Sesame is too thick).
Dosage is 250 mg every 2-4 weeks, although more commonly a weekly or 7–10-day injection of 125 mg is prescribed.
In 2018, the FDA approved an auto-injection formulation of Enanthate called Xyosted. This is a single-use disposable subcutaneous auto-injector that is injected into the stomach. Xyosted is available in 3 dosages, injected weekly – 50 mg/0.5 ml, 75 mg/0.5 ml and 100 mg/0.5 ml.
