What did @r0rycity actually say?
@r0rycity described switching from Testogel to a long-acting injectable called Nebido after roughly 18 months on the gel, saying that after eight to nine months "nothing was happening" and blood tests confirmed low testosterone levels. They also named Sustanon as a self-injectable alternative and suggested that "sometimes your skin just starts absorbing the gel a little less." Their core argument: gel is a good starting point, but injections are more reliable if you plateau.
This is a personal experience video, not medical advice, and they frame it that way. That matters. But 32,000 people watched it, and some of the claims deserve a closer look regardless of intent.
Does the science back this up?
Mostly, yes. Transdermal testosterone absorption variability is well-documented, and poor responders are a real clinical phenomenon. The claim that injections deliver testosterone more reliably is supported by pharmacokinetic data.
Gel absorption is genuinely inconsistent. A 2018 study by Bhasin et al. in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that transdermal testosterone produces highly variable serum levels across individuals, with some patients failing to reach therapeutic thresholds even at standard doses. Skin thickness, application site, sweating, and washing habits all affect how much actually gets absorbed. So "your skin just starts absorbing the gel a little less" is an oversimplification, but it points at a real mechanism. The more precise explanation is that absorption efficiency varies based on multiple factors and may not be consistent over time.
Nebido (testosterone undecanoate) does have a 10-to-14-week dosing interval, which matches what they said. A 2021 review by Saad et al. in Andrology confirmed its pharmacokinetic profile produces more stable trough levels compared to shorter-acting injectables in many patients.
What did they get wrong (or right)?
The medication name is wrong. They call it "Nabida," but the correct name is Nebido. This is a minor error, likely just a pronunciation issue, but worth flagging because medication names matter when people go searching for information.
They also say Sustanon is something "you inject yourself," implying Nebido is not self-injectable. In practice, Nebido is typically administered by a clinician because of the volume and viscosity of the injection, but Sustanon can also be clinic-administered. The distinction is more about formulation and dosing schedule than a hard rule about who does the injecting. That framing could mislead someone into thinking they have no self-administration option with any long-acting testosterone.
On the positive side, their core advice, get blood work done before switching, is genuinely good. Too many people adjust their own hormone regimens based on how they feel without checking levels. The fact that they confirmed low testosterone via blood test before changing protocols is the right approach, and worth crediting plainly.
What should you actually know?
If you are on testosterone gel and feel like it stopped working, the first step is blood work, not a switch. Poor absorption is one possible explanation, but inconsistent application, timing of the blood draw relative to application, and other factors can produce misleading results. A 2019 study by Handelsman in Endocrine Reviews noted that serum testosterone measured too soon or too late after gel application can dramatically misrepresent average exposure.
Nebido is a real, licensed injectable testosterone used in both hypogonadism treatment and gender-affirming hormone therapy. Its long interval is convenient but also means corrections take weeks if something goes wrong with your dose. It is not universally superior to gel, and it is not a good fit for everyone.
- Gel non-response is a documented clinical problem, not a personal failure.
- Blood test timing relative to your last application window significantly affects results.
- Switching delivery method should involve a prescribing clinician, not just a TikTok video.
- Both Nebido and Sustanon are legitimate options with different schedules and administration requirements.
This video is a reasonable personal account. It is not a protocol. If your testosterone levels are not where you want them, talk to the clinician managing your hormone therapy before changing anything.