What does this Instagram post actually claim?
Fitness influencer Kade Martinelli (@kmart_fit) tells his 47,000 viewers that the ventrogluteal site (upper outer glute) is the best spot for testosterone injections. He claims it's safer because there are fewer nerves and blood vessels, causes minimal pain, and allows for easy self-administration.
The post positions this as definitive advice for men on testosterone replacement therapy. But is this actually the medical consensus?
Does the research support the ventrogluteal site?
The ventrogluteal site does have solid evidence backing it up, but it's not the only good option. A 2013 systematic review by Cocoman and Murray in the International Journal of Nursing Practice found the ventrogluteal site had lower complication rates than the dorsogluteal site.
The landmark Hochstetter anatomical study (cited in multiple nursing journals) showed the ventrogluteal area has the thickest muscle mass and fewest major vessels. A 2007 study by Nisbet found significantly less pain with ventrogluteal injections compared to dorsogluteal in 50 patients.
However, testosterone prescribing guidelines from the Endocrine Society also recommend the vastus lateralis (outer thigh) and deltoid muscles as safe alternatives.
What did Martinelli get wrong about injection sites?
His biggest mistake is presenting this as the only good option when multiple sites work well. Many endocrinologists actually prefer the vastus lateralis for self-injection because it's easier to see and reach.
A 2019 study by Spratt et al. in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology found no significant difference in testosterone absorption between gluteal and thigh injection sites. The deltoid can also work for smaller volume injections, though it's typically limited to 1ml or less.
Martinelli also doesn't mention that injection site should rotate to prevent lipodystrophy. The same spot repeatedly can cause tissue changes.
What's the real deal with TRT injection technique?
Here's what actually matters most: proper sterile technique, correct needle length (typically 1-1.5 inches for intramuscular), and rotating sites. The specific location matters less than doing it right.
Most TRT protocols use 0.5-1ml injections of testosterone cypionate or enanthate, usually weekly or biweekly. A 2017 study by Ullah et al. found that injection frequency affected hormone levels more than injection site.
The ventrogluteal site does work well, but so do others. Your doctor's recommendation should trump any fitness influencer's advice.
Should you trust injection advice from fitness influencers?
Martinelli isn't wrong about the ventrogluteal site being effective, but he's not a medical professional giving complete information. TRT injection technique should come from your prescribing physician or a trained nurse.
Injection site complications are rare but real. A 2018 case series in Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety documented nerve injuries from improper technique. The dorsogluteal site has higher risk, but any site can cause problems if done incorrectly.
Get your injection training from medical professionals, not Instagram. The technique matters more than the specific spot.