Why does it take so long to feel or see the effects of testosterone

**Test Monsterone** · 08-10-2018, 12:32 PM

It is said that injected testosterone appears to peak within 48 hours in the blood. When I read about people doing cycles, a common notion seems to be that you’ll only really start getting its intended effects in weeks 4-5. Are they referring to seeing significant muscle gains? I ask because logically if I’m injecting T, I would assume I’d feel it’s effects pretty quickly.

This also seems to conflict with the old school method of short 6 -8 week cycles. It’s only in the past 10 years that I’ve notice the longer 3-4 month cycles. What’s the verdict?

**austinite** · 08-10-2018, 03:12 PM

Some esthers work faster than others. Depends on what ester you're using. You won't feel anything for a while. You can shoot suspension if you are impatient, but keep in mind the shorter the ester/no ester the stronger the sting.

**Test Monsterone** · 08-10-2018, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by austinite

Some esthers work faster than others. Depends on what ester you're using. You won't feel anything for a while. You can shoot suspension if you are impatient, but keep in mind the shorter the ester/no ester the stronger the sting.

Thanks. I'm mainly going to be doing TRT dosages but will do a few cycles here and there. For the TRT, I read if you're only injecting .25 ml that you might as well inject it subdermally with an insulin needle. A guy who is a TRT "expert" on T Nation recommends this. Curious if you agree. I don't want to start damaging my buttcheeks with repeated TRT injections if I'm only putting in so little. However, I also want the best absorbability and I haven't read/ there isn't enough out there on sub q vs intramuscular injections. Doctors seem divided.

**Windex** · 08-10-2018, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by Test Monsterone

Thanks. I'm mainly going to be doing TRT dosages but will do a few cycles here and there. For the TRT, I read if you're only injecting .25 ml that you might as well inject it subdermally with an insulin needle. A guy who is a TRT "expert" on T Nation recommends this. Curious if you agree. I don't want to start damaging my buttcheeks with repeated TRT injections if I'm only putting in so little. However, I also want the best absorbability and I haven't read/ there isn't enough out there on sub q vs intramuscular injections. Doctors seem divided.

SubQ and IM are almost the same. There are several other injection options aside from glutes. Haven't injected in glutes in probably 5 years

**Test Monsterone** · 08-10-2018, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Windex

SubQ and IM are almost the same. There are several other injection options aside from glutes. Haven't injected in glutes in probably 5 years

That’s good to know. Might be too much to pin in the stomach both test and hcg .. basically daily. What’s you’re favorite injection site and why?

**Windex** · 08-10-2018, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Test Monsterone

That’s good to know. Might be too much to pin in the stomach both test and hcg.. basically daily. What’s you’re favorite injection site and why?

Quads give you 4 injection sites - outer and inner on each leg , fairly popular choose . I pin calves as well but I'm weird. Total of 6 sites to rotate - at 2 injections per week lots of rest in between . Can even pin 3 times per week and still pin each location only every other week.

**Couchlockd** · 08-10-2018, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by Windex

Quads give you 4 injection sites - outer and inner on each leg , fairly popular choose . I pin calves as well but I'm weird. Total of 6 sites to rotate - at 2 injections per week lots of rest in between . Can even pin 3 times per week and still pin each location only every other week.

Where at on inner quads?

**Windex** · 08-11-2018, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by Couchlockd

Where at on inner quads?

I sit down with my butt at the edge of the chair. About 1/3 of the way in from the knee to the pelvis
Hopefully that description makes sense

**Mr.BB** · 08-11-2018, 07:10 AM

If I'm low I feel it immediately

**qb_07** · 08-11-2018, 10:08 AM

I’m far too chickenshit to pin quads. Nowhere else bothers me, but the quads make me cringe.

**Obs** · 08-11-2018, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by qb_07

I’m far too chickenshit to pin quads. Nowhere else bothers me, but the quads make me cringe.

O was always same way. Try a slin pin in pocket area. Take pants off first tho.

**guitarzan** · 08-11-2018, 12:11 PM

Outer quads are a piece of cake, never tried inner, that sounds painful!

**cousinmuscles** · 08-11-2018, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by Test Monsterone

It is said that injected testosterone appears to peak within 48 hours in the blood. When I read about people doing cycles, a common notion seems to be that you’ll only really start getting its intended effects in weeks 4-5. Are they referring to seeing significant muscle gains? I ask because logically if I’m injecting T, I would assume I’d feel it’s effects pretty quickly.

This also seems to conflict with the old school method of short 6 -8 week cycles. It’s only in the past 10 years that I’ve notice the longer 3-4 month cycles. What’s the verdict?

Mr. BBs response is correct if you were low on T you'd feel the effects pretty quickly.

For cycles it is not about going from a deficient state to normal. It is going from normal and trying to elicit a response from your body to go above normal. Testosterone reaches cells and activates a bunch of genes, this is called transcription. These responses increase nitrogen retention, increase protein synthesis, they affect your adrenal system so you have less catabolism et.c. They do not happen instantly. You also have to keep in mind that max effects start when you have reached the desired levels of testosterone in your blood, that would take 5-6 weeks with a long ester. 6-8 week cycles are definitely doable just use short esters, the ester breaks down much quicker and you get high levels of test quicker.

EDIT: A point I forgot to make about the effects of testosterone . Once the testosterone has done all this and the effects have taken effect on the inside, you have to train, eat and recover to make any gains to begin with. The high test will just amplify the response to training. How can you expect to look bigger just because you went on cycle? No stimulus = no growth, AAS just enhances the stimulus.

I wondered this a lot during my first cycle and asked tons of people and this is what I got from them and from my own researching, hope it helps.

**cousinmuscles** · 08-11-2018, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by Test Monsterone

Thanks. I'm mainly going to be doing TRT dosages but will do a few cycles here and there. For the TRT, I read if you're only injecting .25 ml that you might as well inject it subdermally with an insulin needle. A guy who is a TRT "expert" on T Nation recommends this. Curious if you agree. I don't want to start damaging my buttcheeks with repeated TRT injections if I'm only putting in so little. However, I also want the best absorbability and I haven't read/ there isn't enough out there on sub q vs intramuscular injections. Doctors seem divided.

We have a researcher on the board who has written an excellent guide for TRT. Check it out:
https://forums.steroid.com/hormone-r...rting-trt.html

He mentions subq being superior due to a slightly slower absorption rate, leading to more stable levels. Stable levels = feeling great with no dips. If you get dips, you up the dose, the problem here is your peak goes higher to make up for the trough. Higher dose = side effects, like higher hematocrit, needing an AI, eventual prostate issues for older people. Why use more than you need if you can feel the same with stable levels?

**Adonis777** · 08-11-2018, 04:13 PM

What ester is your test? If it’s try prescribed I’m assuming cypionate ? I had the exact same question during my first cycle with enanthate 500. I only had crazy dreams, and constant stronger erections ending of week 2. Didn’t notice much gains or feel psychologically different until week 5. All of a sudden I began putting on weight and held a hell of lot more glycogen, energy was through the roof with a greater sense of well being, if it’s your first you’ll definitely notice the difference, just be patient it will come to you I promise.

**Test Monsterone** · 08-11-2018, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by cousinmuscles

Mr. BBs response is correct if you were low on T you'd feel the effects pretty quickly.

For cycles it is not about going from a deficient state to normal. It is going from normal and trying to elicit a response from your body to go above normal. Testosterone reaches cells and activates a bunch of genes, this is called transcription. These responses increase nitrogen retention, increase protein synthesis, they affect your adrenal system so you have less catabolism et.c. They do not happen instantly. You also have to keep in mind that max effects start when you have reached the desired levels of testosterone in your blood, that would take 5-6 weeks with a long ester. 6-8 week cycles are definitely doable just use short esters, the ester breaks down much quicker and you get high levels of test quicker.

EDIT: A point I forgot to make about the effects of testosterone . Once the testosterone has done all this and the effects have taken effect on the inside, you have to train, eat and recover to make any gains to begin with. The high test will just amplify the response to training. How can you expect to look bigger just because you went on cycle? No stimulus = no growth, AAS just enhances the stimulus.

I wondered this a lot during my first cycle and asked tons of people and this is what I got from them and from my own researching, hope it helps.

That cleared up a few things for me, I appreciate it! I realize that the body will take a while to change, even with optimal/higher test levels. I plan on doing just a TRT dose to see how I feel on it. I can't say I'm not tempted to go into it with a cycle and then taper down to a TRT dose, but I guess that wouldn't be "smart." I'm planning on doing bloods 2 months into the TRT program, and see how I feel after that. I'm at a total level of 471 ng/dl, which isn't horrible, I guess.

I wonder if I could kick start the TRT (since I ordered Test-C and Sustanon ) with the Sustanon because of the shorter ester in there? Maybe I should just keep it simple. I am really curious about the mental effects of TRT doses.

Originally Posted by cousinmuscles

We have a researcher on the board who has written an excellent guide for TRT. Check it out:
https://forums.steroid.com/hormone-r...rting-trt.html

He mentions subq being superior due to a slightly slower absorption rate, leading to more stable levels. Stable levels = feeling great with no dips. If you get dips, you up the dose, the problem here is your peak goes higher to make up for the trough. Higher dose = side effects, like higher hematocrit, needing an AI, eventual prostate issues for older people. Why use more than you need if you can feel the same with stable levels?

Hmm... that sounds like a very good reason to do sub-q, esp. on small doses. I've heard that larger sub q doses are not that great with absorption, possible swelling.

Originally Posted by Adonis777

What ester is your test? If it’s try prescribed I’m assuming cypionate? I had the exact same question during my first cycle with enanthate 500. I only had crazy dreams, and constant stronger erections ending of week 2. Didn’t notice much gains or feel psychologically different until week 5. All of a sudden I began putting on weight and held a hell of lot more glycogen, energy was through the roof with a greater sense of well being, if it’s your first you’ll definitely notice the difference, just be patient it will come to you I promise.

You're right, it's cypionate . Yeah man, a lot of questions going in for sure. I am tempted to start off with a cycle, but I'm kind of doing an experiment to see how I'll feel on a TRT dose. How I'm thinking, I never wanted to cycle steroids , because I always thought that would be pointless to put my body through those ups and downs. I'd rather get on TRT and do a blast once in a blue moon for a vacation or something. My natty levels right now are 471 (down from 880 when I was 20). I'm very curious about the sexual effects as well, although at TRT doses they may not be that great. Thanks for that timeframe/breakdown of the effects I'll feel, that makes a lot of sense!