TRT basics on TikTok: what the science actually supports
Quick answer
The video addresses intramuscular self-injection technique for testosterone therapy, focusing on site selection and needle gauge for adult patients on prescribed TRT. The creator's site recommendations (ventroglute, deltoids, lats) are broadly consistent with harm-reduction approaches to IM injection rotation, though volume guidance for smaller muscle groups like the front deltoid requires individualized clinical assessment. Needle gauge advice conflates IM and subcutaneous injection contexts, which can create confusion for patients without provider guidance.
Our take · Written by FormBlends editorial team · Reviewed by FormBlends Medical Team· This is not a transcript. It is our independent review of the video above.
What did @tris63722 actually say?
The creator ran through what they call the "safest places to pin" for TRT, pushing back against large-gauge needles and recommending 29 or 31 gauge instead. They covered deltoids (front, side, and rear), lats, and the ventroglute as their preferred rotation spots, and suggested these are more beginner-friendly than other sites.
A few specifics worth flagging: they claimed they personally can inject "1.5 almost 2ccs" into a front delt, while acknowledging most people probably cannot. They described the lat injection as "arm over hood" and called the ventroglute "almost always feels comfortable." They positioned themselves as a coach at something called Forged Genetics and invited viewers to DM them directly for guidance.
There is no prescription framing here, no dosing advice, and no disease claims. The video is purely procedural, which matters for how we evaluate it.
Does the science back this up?
On needle gauge, the evidence leans in their favor. On some of the injection volume claims, it gets messier. The ventroglute recommendation is genuinely well-supported in the clinical literature.
A 2019 systematic review by Nicholson et al. in the Journal of Clinical Nursing found that smaller-gauge needles (25 gauge and finer) are associated with less patient-reported pain during intramuscular injection without compromising medication delivery. The recommendation to avoid large "harpoon" needles is consistent with current nursing and pharmacy guidelines for IM injections of oil-based testosterone preparations.
The ventroglute site has strong research backing. Wynaden et al. (2006, International Journal of Mental Health Nursing) found it to be associated with fewer complications than the dorsoglute, and it is now recommended as a preferred IM site by multiple nursing bodies. The creator is right to call it underused.
Lat injections have less formal study behind them but appear in harm-reduction and TRT community literature. The clinical evidence base here is thin compared to the other sites mentioned.
What did they get wrong (or right)?
They got the ventroglute and the needle-gauge points largely right. The volume claims for the front delt deserve more skepticism.
Claiming you can inject "1.5 almost 2ccs" into a front delt is an outlier position. Standard clinical guidance, including the WHO's 2010 best practices for injections, generally caps deltoid injections at 1 mL (1cc), with some sources allowing up to 2 mL in large, well-developed muscles. The front delt is a smaller portion of an already size-limited muscle. Most pharmacists and nurses would not recommend that volume for a standard patient.
To their credit, the creator did say "most people probably wouldn't be able to do that," which is a reasonable hedge. But leading with a personal 2cc front-delt figure without that context upfront could prompt inexperienced users to attempt volumes that cause pain, oil pooling, or nodule formation.
The lat as an injection site is real but deserves a stronger caution about landmark identification. The neurovascular anatomy in that region, specifically the thoracodorsal nerve and artery, requires more precision than a casual "arm over hood" cue provides.
What should you actually know?
If you are on prescribed TRT and your provider has not walked you through injection technique, that is a gap in your care, not something a TikTok video should fill.
Ventroglute is genuinely the most evidence-supported site for IM testosterone injections in adults. The dorsoglute, which this video does not mention, carries a higher risk of sciatic nerve proximity and is increasingly discouraged in clinical settings (Cocoman and Murray, 2008, British Journal of Nursing).
On gauge: 25 to 27 gauge is the standard clinical recommendation for IM testosterone in oil suspension. Going to 29 or 31 gauge is used in subcutaneous (subQ) testosterone protocols, which some providers now prefer. These are not interchangeable techniques without guidance from your prescriber. Injecting an oil-based testosterone preparation subQ with a fine gauge needle requires different technique, needle length, and volume management than IM.
- Always confirm injection technique with your prescribing provider or a licensed pharmacist before self-injecting.
- Volume per site matters. Do not exceed what your provider recommends based on your muscle mass and formulation.
- Rotating sites reduces lipohypertrophy and scar tissue buildup over time.
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This page currently connects to 8 source-backed evidence items through visible references or structured citation data.
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For TRT basics on TikTok: what the science actually supports, FormBlends checks the page topic against primary trials, systematic reviews, guidelines, and current PubMed-indexed literature where available. These citations are context, not medical advice, proof of eligibility, or a claim that every study applies to every patient.
Cardiovascular Safety of Testosterone-Replacement Therapy
TRAVERSE trial anchor for cardiovascular-safety discussions in appropriately diagnosed men.
PubMed
Testosterone therapy in men with androgen deficiency syndromes: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline
Guideline anchor for diagnosis, monitoring, contraindications, and appropriate TRT framing.
PubMed
NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing
Core review for NAD+ decline, mitochondrial function, DNA repair, and aging biology.
PubMed
Nicotinamide mononucleotide increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women
Human NMN source for metabolic claims while keeping population limits clear.
PubMed
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The video addresses intramuscular self-injection technique for testosterone therapy, focusing on site selection and needle gauge for adult patients on prescribed TRT.
FormBlends verdict
The video addresses intramuscular self-injection technique for testosterone therapy, focusing on site selection and needle gauge for adult patients on prescribed TRT. The creator's site recommendations (ventroglute, deltoids, lats) are broadly consistent with harm-reduction approaches to IM injection rotation, though volume guidance for smaller muscle groups like the front deltoid requires individualized clinical assessment. Needle gauge advice conflates IM and subcutaneous injection contexts, which can create confusion for patients without provider guidance.
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What it helps with
- The video addresses intramuscular self-injection technique for testosterone therapy, focusing on site selection and needle gauge for adult patients on prescribed TRT. The creator's site recommendations (ventroglute, deltoids, lats) are broadly consistent with harm-reduction approaches to IM injection rotation, though volume guidance for smaller muscle groups like the front deltoid requires individualized clinical assessment. Needle gauge advice conflates IM and subcutaneous injection contexts, which can create confusion for patients without provider guidance.
- The ventroglute is backed by stronger evidence than the dorsoglute for IM testosterone injections. Wynaden et al. (2006) found it associated with fewer complications, yet it remains underused in practice.
- 29-31 gauge needles are standard for subcutaneous testosterone protocols, not intramuscular. Using fine-gauge needles IM with oil-based testosterone can impede delivery. Confirm your injection route with your prescriber before changing needle gauge.
What it may miss
- It may not cover eligibility, contraindications, medication interactions, lab history, or dose escalation.
- Compound access, legal status, and product quality still need a separate safety check.
- Social video captions rarely show the full evidence base behind a claim.
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Start provider reviewWhat You'll Learn
- The ventroglute is backed by stronger evidence than the dorsoglute for IM testosterone injections. Wynaden et al. (2006) found it associated with fewer complications, yet it remains underused in practice.
- 29-31 gauge needles are standard for subcutaneous testosterone protocols, not intramuscular. Using fine-gauge needles IM with oil-based testosterone can impede delivery. Confirm your injection route with your prescriber before changing needle gauge.
- Standard clinical guidance from the WHO (2010) caps deltoid IM injection volume at 1 mL for most patients. Claims of 1.5-2cc in a front delt reflect an individual outlier, not a generalizable recommendation.
- Lat injections are used in some TRT protocols but carry higher anatomical risk for untrained users. The thoracodorsal nerve and artery run through that region, and landmark identification requires more than a general visual cue.
- Site rotation is clinically supported to reduce lipohypertrophy and scar tissue. The more rotation spots you have in your protocol, the lower your cumulative tissue trauma over months or years of injections.
- This video does not constitute medical guidance and the creator is not a licensed healthcare provider. TRT injection technique should be reviewed with your prescribing physician or a licensed pharmacist before starting or changing your method.
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About the Creator
tris · TikTok creator
101.7K views on this video
TRT basics on TikTok: what the science actually supports
Sources & references
Citations extracted from our medical team's review. Click any citation to search PubMed.
Read More on This Topic
Our written guides go deeper with dosing details, comparison tables, and medical-team reviewed protocols.
Not medical advice. This video was made by tris, not by FormBlends. Our write-up above is an editorial review, not a medical recommendation. Talk to your doctor before making any decisions about medications or treatments.