Finding the right testosterone dose isn’t one-size-fits-all. Your ideal plan depends on diagnosis, symptoms, blood test results, and how you metabolize medication over time. This guide uses a clear, practical testosterone injection dosage chart and plain-language explanations to help you understand what clinicians consider when adjusting therapy. We’ll cover typical formulations (like cypionate and enanthate), dosing frequencies, how to read mg-to-mL conversions, and what lab numbers matter. Along the way, we’ll address common questions such as what is a normal weekly dose of testosterone and how often injections are given. The goal: help you have an informed, productive conversation with your healthcare professional—never to replace personalized medical advice.
Testosterone Injection Dosage Chart (TRT): What Is a Normal Weekly Dose of Testosterone?
This guide explains how clinicians set and adjust TRT dosing using a practical testosterone injection dosage chart. You’ll learn typical cypionate/enanthate ranges, how to convert mg to mL, why injection frequency matters, and what labs to monitor. We also cover women’s considerations, safety checkpoints, and a simple way to split doses for steadier day-to-day levels.

What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)?
TRT is a doctor-prescribed treatment for confirmed low testosterone (hypogonadism). In simple terms, it replaces the testosterone your body is not producing in sufficient amounts, aiming to relieve symptoms like low energy, decreased libido, or reduced muscle mass. A proper TRT plan starts with objective testing (usually morning total testosterone, often with free testosterone and SHBG), a review of symptoms, and discussion of benefits and risks. From there, your clinician recommends a starting trt dosage and follow-up labs to fine-tune the trt dose. Expect adjustments: people absorb and metabolize testosterone differently, so dosing is individualized. Monitoring typically includes periodic testosterone levels plus safety checks such as hematocrit, PSA (for men), blood pressure, and lipids to ensure therapy stays effective and safe.
Optimal Testosterone Targets, Labs, and Monitoring
Clinicians usually aim to keep levels in the mid-normal physiologic range once therapy is stable, and they time blood draws to the drug’s rhythm—typically mid-interval for short-acting injections like cypionate or enanthate—to avoid misleading peaks or troughs (see the Endocrine Society guideline). Interpreting numbers in context helps your clinician adjust your trt dosage based on both labs and symptoms rather than chasing a single target.
After a dose change, follow-up commonly occurs at 3–6 months, then periodically once stable. Mainstream guidance emphasizes titrating to symptom relief and aligning lab timing with the formulation (e.g., the Endocrine Society’s detailed recommendations in J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2018 and this concise AUA educational update).
Safety monitoring typically includes hematocrit (screen for erythrocytosis), PSA and prostate assessment as age-appropriate, blood pressure, and a lipid profile. Many groups intervene when hematocrit approaches about 54%—for example, the AUA Testosterone Deficiency Guideline and a contemporary clinical review both describe this threshold and suggested actions (dose reduction, temporary hold, or phlebotomy where appropriate).
If you’re wondering what is a normal weekly dose of testosterone, remember dose is a means to reach safe, therapeutic levels—not a fixed number for everyone. Drug references explicitly note that dosing should be individualized to response and adverse effects, not set-and-forget (see the Drugs.com dosage monograph).
Injection Forms and Typical Dose Ranges
Short-acting esters (cypionate, enanthate). Most clinics start with a conservative weekly total and then titrate to symptoms and labs. On-label instructions for injectables are broad—e.g., 50–400 mg IM every 2–4 weeks—but many clinicians prefer smaller, more frequent injections (weekly or twice weekly) to reduce peaks and troughs. You can see the labeled ranges in the Drugs.com dosage monograph, while monitoring/titration principles are detailed in the Endocrine Society guideline. In practice, a common testosterone cypionate dosage window for TRT is roughly 75–150 mg per week (often split into two shots); the exact number is individualized.
Testosterone Cypionate: Core Principles
Cypionate is widely used because its ester length supports once- or twice-weekly dosing with relatively predictable levels. Doses are adjusted to reach a mid-normal testosterone range and to keep safety labs acceptable. A pharmacology overview explaining how ester length affects blood levels is available in this peer-reviewed review (PMC).
200 mg Vials and Volumes
Cypionate commonly comes as 100 mg/mL or 200 mg/mL. That means 100 mg equals 1.0 mL from a 100 mg/mL vial, or 0.5 mL from a 200 mg/mL vial. Label presentations and administration details for injectable formulations are summarized on Mayo Clinic’s drug page and in the Drugs.com monograph. These conversions matter when you and your clinician agree on a weekly target and whether you’ll inject IM (into muscle) or SC (into the fat just beneath the skin).
Testosterone Enanthate
Enanthate behaves similarly to cypionate—clinics often use comparable weekly or twice-weekly schedules and titrate based on labs and symptoms. Practical differences between cypionate and enanthate are small for most patients; selection can come down to availability, cost, and individual response. General pharmacokinetic comparisons appear in the TRT pharmacology review (PMC).
Propionate (Shorter-Ester)
Propionate releases faster and therefore is typically administered more frequently (e.g., every other day). It’s less common for routine TRT due to the injection burden, but some patients prefer the smoother day-to-day feel from frequent, small doses. If you come across forum phrases like “test propionate dosage per week,” remember that medical dosing should still be personalized and safety-monitored as described by the Endocrine Society.
Undecanoate (Long-Acting IM)
Long-acting testosterone undecanoate (e.g., Aveed® in the U.S.) is typically administered in clinic because of rare but serious oil-embolism reactions. The schedule (initial dose, another at 4 weeks, then about every 10 weeks) aims to maintain a relatively flat level with supervised monitoring. Brand availability, precautions, and injection logistics are outlined on Mayo Clinic’s route-specific page and in the Endocrine Society guideline.
Mixed-Ester Blends (e.g., Sustanon 250)
Sustanon® combines multiple esters to provide both early and sustained release. Protocols vary by country and labeling; some clinics discuss weekly use while others extend the interval. You may see the phrase “sustanon 250 dosage 1ml per week” online; treat it as a discussion point, not a universal standard. Dosing should follow local product information and the same monitoring principles used for all injectables (see Drugs.com for labeled dosing references and the Endocrine Society guideline for monitoring).
Bottom line: choose the formulation and frequency that best balance symptom control with safe labs. Start modestly, recheck at 3–6 months, and adjust with your clinician’s guidance.
Dosing Frequency Strategies and Microdosing
You can deliver the same weekly total in different ways—once weekly, twice weekly, every other day (EOD), or daily—to control peak–trough swings. Splitting doses tends to blunt highs and lows because each injection contributes a smaller rise and a shorter fall; the pharmacology behind those curves is reviewed in this peer-reviewed overview of injectable esters (PMC). Clinicians often start with a simple weekly plan and then adjust the trt dosage per week into smaller, more frequent injections if a patient reports end-of-cycle fatigue, mood fluctuation, or blood-pressure bumps.
Microdosing means dividing the total further (for example, taking 120 mg/week as 60 mg twice weekly or 20 mg EOD). The idea isn’t to raise the total—just to distribute it for smoother physiology. Patients who experience estrogen-related effects (water retention, breast tenderness) or irritability around peaks sometimes feel better after a switch to smaller, more frequent shots; your clinician will pair symptom tracking with timed labs to make sure levels remain in a therapeutic range (see the monitoring approach in the Endocrine Society guideline).
Route can matter too. Some clinicians use subcutaneous injections with small volumes to improve comfort and consistency; the major drug references describe both intramuscular and subcutaneous routes for certain products (e.g., Mayo Clinic, IM/Subcutaneous). Whether you go IM or SC, the core principle is the same: keep dosing consistent, draw blood at the right time in the cycle, and titrate based on symptoms + labs rather than chasing a single number.
Bottom line: frequency is a tool. If weekly injections leave you with noticeable highs and lows, ask your clinician whether splitting the trt dose could smooth things out without increasing the total amount you take.
Converting Milligrams to Milliliters (mg → mL)
Testosterone vials list concentration (how many milligrams are in each milliliter), most commonly 100 mg/mL or 200 mg/mL. The math is simple:
At 100 mg/mL, 100 mg = 1.0 mL, 120 mg = 1.2 mL, 200 mg = 2.0 mL.
At 200 mg/mL, 100 mg = 0.5 mL, 120 mg = 0.6 mL, 200 mg = 1.0 mL.
People often ask “how many ml is 200 mg of testosterone”—the answer depends entirely on the vial strength: it’s 2.0 mL at 100 mg/mL or 1.0 mL at 200 mg/mL. You’ll find labeled strengths and administration details in the Drugs.com dosage monograph and the Mayo Clinic route-specific page.
A few practical tips make conversions easier:
Write your weekly plan in mg first. Volume comes second. For example, if your clinician sets 120 mg/week, that’s 1.2 mL/week from a 100 mg/mL vial or 0.6 mL/week from a 200 mg/mL vial.
Split doses by frequency. If 120 mg/week is taken twice weekly, you’d draw 60 mg per shot (0.6 mL at 100 mg/mL; 0.3 mL at 200 mg/mL).
Round wisely. It’s reasonable to round to the nearest 0.01–0.02 mL depending on your syringe’s markings, then stay consistent from week to week.
Match syringe to route and volume. Small, frequent subcutaneous injections often use 1 mL syringes with fine needles; intramuscular injections typically use 3 mL syringes with slightly larger needles for thicker oil (your clinician will specify). Both IM and SC routes are described across standard references, including the Mayo Clinic.
Because dosing is individualized, a dose testosterone discussion with your clinician should also cover comfort (needle size/site), consistency (same day/time each week), and timed labs (drawn at the correct point in your injection cycle). Converting mg to mL accurately ensures you’re delivering the intended amount—so your blood tests truly reflect your plan and your clinician can adjust precisely.
Testosterone Injection Dosage Chart
Think of a testosterone injection dosage chart as a map: it shows typical starting ranges by formulation and how clinicians adjust from there. On-label language for short-acting injectables is intentionally broad—e.g., 50–400 mg IM every 2–4 weeks—but modern practice often favors smaller, more frequent injections (weekly or twice weekly) to minimize peaks and troughs described in pharmacology reviews (peer-reviewed overview; see labeled ranges in the Drugs.com dosage monograph). Your personal dose is then titrated to symptoms and timed labs per major guidelines (monitoring principles in the Endocrine Society guideline and its detailed J Clin Endocrinol Metab statement).
How to read the chart. Ranges are usually presented as mg per week with suggested injection frequencies. For example, a clinic might list cypionate/enanthate at 75–150 mg/week (weekly or split into two injections), then provide an adjustment ladder in 10–20 mg steps based on follow-up labs and symptoms. Next to each row, charts often include timing for blood draws (e.g., “check mid-interval at week 6 after a change”), because interpreting a number without timing can mislead dose decisions.
Label guidance vs clinical reality. Package-insert schedules for injectables can produce wide peak–trough swings when given every 2–4 weeks; that’s why many clinicians shorten the interval while keeping the weekly total similar. This approach aligns with the pharmacokinetics of short esters and with guideline emphasis on individualized titration rather than a one-size-fits-all number (see practical dosing notes on Mayo Clinic’s IM/SC page).
What about “normal” doses? When people ask what is the normal dose of testosterone injection, they’re really asking how most patients land after titration. Many stabilize in a mid-normal serum range using totals around ~75–150 mg/week for short-acting injectables, but outliers exist due to differences in absorption, SHBG, body size, and comorbidities. Charts should therefore include a note that dose is a tool to reach safe, therapeutic levels—not a target in itself—plus a reminder to monitor hematocrit, PSA, BP, and lipids on a schedule consistent with guidelines.
Putting it into practice. If your chart shows 120 mg/week cypionate and you prefer twice-weekly shots, you’d draw 60 mg per injection (0.6 mL from a 100 mg/mL vial, or 0.3 mL from 200 mg/mL). After 3–6 months, your team reviews symptoms and labs, then moves up or down in small increments. That’s the essence of a useful trt dosage chart—clear ranges, explicit timing, and built-in safety checkpoints.
Dose Benchmarks and Common Questions
What’s “Normal” Weekly?
There isn’t a single “normal” number for everyone. Clinicians usually titrate to a mid-normal serum testosterone range while keeping safety labs in check. In practice, many patients land somewhere around a modest weekly total for short-acting injectables (often split once or twice weekly), but the right figure depends on labs, symptoms, and timing of blood draws. If you’re asking what is a normal weekly dose of testosterone, think of dose as a dial your clinician turns based on your results, not a fixed setting (see the Endocrine Society guideline and AUA guideline overview).
Is 100 mg Enough?
For some people, yes; for others, no. A weekly plan around 100 mg (cypionate/enanthate) can produce mid-range levels in certain patients, especially when injections are split to minimize peaks and troughs. Others will need adjustments up or down. Drug references emphasize individualized dosing based on response and adverse effects rather than a universal number, which is why clinicians recheck labs 3–6 months after a change (see the Drugs.com dosage monograph and the detailed J Clin Endocrinol Metab statement).
How Much Will 100 mg Raise Levels?
There’s no precise “X mg → Y ng/dL” conversion because absorption, SHBG, body size, and timing of the lab draw vary. Two people on the same dose can show very different numbers if one drew blood at a trough and the other at a peak, or if one has very high SHBG. This is why guidelines anchor dosing changes to timed labs plus symptoms, not to a predicted math outcome (summarized in the Endocrine Society guideline).
Will 200 mg per Week Build Muscle?
The question will 200mg of testosterone a week build muscle pops up often. Any androgen that lifts a person from deficient to physiologic levels may support improvements in lean mass and strength over time, especially when paired with progressive resistance training and adequate protein. But 200 mg/week exceeds the typical replacement range for many patients and raises safety considerations (hematocrit, blood pressure, lipids, acne, edema). Decisions at this level should be made with a clinician who is monitoring labs at appropriate intervals (see cautions across the AUA guideline and dosing context in the Drugs.com monograph).
mL Versus mg: Why the Confusion?
Because vials come in different concentrations (commonly 100 mg/mL or 200 mg/mL), “1 mL” can mean 100 mg or 200 mg depending on the product. Always write the plan in mg first, then convert to mL from your vial strength. This prevents accidental over- or under-dosing and keeps labs interpretable.
How Often Should You Inject?
Short-acting injectables are commonly given once weekly or twice weekly. Splitting the total tends to reduce peaks and troughs and may improve how you feel between shots. Your clinician might change frequency—without changing the weekly total—if you report end-of-cycle fatigue or mood swings. Proper timing of labs (often mid-interval) makes those changes evidence-based (see practical monitoring notes in J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2018).
How Do Clinics Titrate?
Most start conservatively, reassess at 3–6 months, and adjust by small increments (e.g., 10–20 mg/week) while watching hematocrit, PSA, blood pressure, and lipids. Interventions are common if hematocrit approaches about 54%, and clinicians individualize prostate monitoring by age and risk (summarized in the AUA Testosterone Deficiency Guideline).
Women and Testosterone: Indications, Doses, and Cautions
For cisgender women, systemic testosterone is occasionally used for distressing low sexual desire after other causes are addressed—specifically, hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). The best evidence supports low-dose transdermal therapy, not injections. A widely cited consensus notes that the only evidence-based indication is HSDD in postmenopausal women and that dosing should keep blood levels within the female physiologic range (see the Global Consensus Position Statement, 2019). The ISSWSH 2021 guideline likewise recommends transdermal options (e.g., gels/creams titrated down from male products) with careful monitoring of testosterone, SHBG, and clinical response (ISSWSH Clinical Practice Guideline, 2021).
So, how much testosterone should a woman inject per week? In routine care, injections are generally discouraged because they can produce supraphysiologic spikes and more side effects (acne, hair growth, voice change). If an expert prescriber uses parenteral therapy for a very specific reason, micro-doses are sometimes employed, but this is off-label and requires close labs and symptom tracking; there’s no universally accepted testosterone cypionate female dosage for HSDD in major guidelines. Most specialists instead aim for very low transdermal dosing that yields mid-female reference levels and minimizes virilizing effects, with reassessment after 6–12 weeks and periodic monitoring thereafter (lipids, LFTs, hematocrit where appropriate).
Important cautions: avoid use during pregnancy or attempts to conceive; use caution in breastfeeding; and be extra careful in women with hormone-sensitive cancers or high cardiometabolic risk. If symptoms don’t improve despite physiologic levels, guidelines advise discontinuing therapy rather than escalating dose (see Global Consensus and ISSWSH 2021).
Safety, Adjustments, and When to Hold Therapy
A safe testosterone dosage is the lowest amount that controls symptoms while keeping safety labs within accepted limits. Most clinicians titrate gradually, then reassess labs and symptoms after 3–6 months, following principles laid out in the Endocrine Society guideline. If numbers or side effects drift in the wrong direction, the next step is usually a small dose reduction, a change in injection frequency, or a brief pause rather than a leap to higher testosterone dosing.
Key safety checkpoints include:
Hematocrit: Many practices intervene when values approach 54%—a common action threshold referenced in the AUA Testosterone Deficiency Guideline. Interventions may include dose reduction, temporary hold, switching frequency, or therapeutic phlebotomy as clinically appropriate.
Prostate parameters (men): PSA and exam are individualized by age and risk; unusual PSA rises or concerning symptoms prompt evaluation before continuing therapy, consistent with the AUA framework.
Blood pressure and lipids: Elevations can occur and should be managed; if control is difficult, clinicians often step back the dose following the J Clin Endocrinol Metab statement.
Sleep apnea, edema, acne/skin reactions, mood or irritability: These may improve by splitting injections or modestly lowering the weekly total; the monitoring–titration approach is outlined by the Endocrine Society.
Comorbid liver/renal disease and drug interactions: Prescribers screen for interacting medications (e.g., anticoagulants) and adjust accordingly, as highlighted in the Drugs.com dosage monograph.
When in doubt—especially with rapidly rising hematocrit, significant PSA changes, uncontrolled hypertension, or new cardiopulmonary symptoms—clinicians generally hold therapy and reassess before resuming at a lower dose or different schedule.
Visuals and Tools
Interpreting a peak–trough curve. If you’ve ever seen a testosterone levels after injection graph, the basic shape is the same across short-acting esters: a rise after the shot, a peak in the first couple of days, and a gradual decline until the next dose. Bigger, less frequent injections create taller peaks and deeper troughs, which some people feel as end-of-cycle fatigue or mood swings. Splitting the same weekly total into two or more injections flattens the curve so your day-to-day levels feel steadier. For a medicine-focused explanation of why ester length and dosing interval drive these curves, see this pharmacology review of injectable preparations on PubMed Central and the monitoring guidance from the Endocrine Society.
What a good tool should show. A useful visual makes three points clear at a glance:
Dose and frequency (e.g., 120 mg/week as 60 mg twice weekly)
Expected timing of labs (often mid-interval for short-acting injectables)
Safety checkpoints (hematocrit, PSA, blood pressure, lipids), which you’ll find emphasized in the AUA Testosterone Deficiency Guideline
Using a calculator responsibly. A testosterone dosage calculator (sometimes called a trt calculator) should do math, not medicine. At minimum it should:
accept your vial concentration (e.g., 100 mg/mL or 200 mg/mL),
take a weekly target in mg,
let you choose injection frequency, and
return the mg per shot and mL to draw.
For example, entering 120 mg/week with a 200 mg/mL vial and twice-weekly frequency should output 60 mg per shot (0.3 mL each time). That’s all arithmetic. The clinical decision—whether 120 mg/week is right for you—depends on symptoms, timed labs, and adverse effects as laid out in the J Clin Endocrinol Metab statement and the Drugs.com dosage monograph. If your numbers or side effects drift, your clinician changes the weekly trt dose, and the calculator simply re-splits it.
Bottom line: visuals help you see why frequency matters; calculators help you measure the right volume. Neither replaces individualized care or guideline-based monitoring.
Choosing a Safe TRT Dose With Your Clinician
The best dose is the one that controls symptoms and keeps safety labs within accepted limits—arrived at through shared decision-making. A typical visit reviews your goals (energy, libido, body composition), baseline and timed labs, comorbidities, and preferences for injection frequency. Clinicians then start conservatively, explain expected timelines, and schedule a recheck at 3–6 months. This approach—titrate to effect while monitoring hematocrit, PSA, blood pressure, and lipids—is outlined in the Endocrine Society guideline and echoed by the AUA Testosterone Deficiency Guideline.
If you’re wondering how much trt should you take, your clinician will frame dose as a tool to reach a mid-normal physiologic range rather than a fixed target. They’ll also align lab timing with your schedule (e.g., mid-interval for weekly cypionate/enanthate) so results reflect how you actually feel day to day. Side effects—like rising hematocrit or blood pressure—are handled by adjusting the weekly total, splitting injections, or temporarily holding therapy, as summarized in J Clin Endocrinol Metab. In short, instead of asking how much testosterone you should take, plan on a stepwise, data-driven process that puts your outcomes and safety first.
Bodybuilding Use Versus Medical TRT (Not Medical Advice)
Medical TRT is prescribed to treat documented hypogonadism and is titrated to a physiologic range with safety labs. By contrast, non-medical cycles aim at physique or performance and often combine multiple anabolic agents. If you’re searching phrases like “testosterone dosage for muscle growth” or “how much testosterone do bodybuilders take,” know that these questions describe non-therapeutic use, which carries well-documented risks: suppression of natural hormone production, infertility, erythrocytosis, blood-pressure increases, dyslipidemia, cardiac remodeling, mood changes, and hepatic issues (overview from the Endocrine Society position statement and this broad NIDA summary). Contemporary reviews also describe cardiovascular and psychiatric complications among illicit users, including plaque burden and mood disorders (recent review; study synopsis here).
Even with medically supervised TRT, regulators continue to refine labels as new evidence emerges—most recently, the FDA’s 2025 class-wide updates clarifying major adverse cardiac event data while flagging blood-pressure increases seen across products (FDA communication). That context underscores why dosing in TRT is individualized and monitored—and why using “trt dosage” concepts to construct a bodybuilding plan is inappropriate and potentially dangerous.
Bottom line: medical TRT targets health; physique-driven stacks prioritize performance and bring added risk. If your goals are primarily cosmetic or competitive, discuss safer alternatives (training periodization, nutrition, sleep, and legal supplements) with a qualified professional rather than pursuing non-medical hormone use.
Practical Injection Logistics
For intramuscular (IM) injections, clinicians commonly use the thigh (vastus lateralis), ventrogluteal/upper outer glute, or deltoid; rotating sites helps minimize soreness and scar tissue. Needle choice depends on body habitus and oil viscosity—many practices use 22–25G, 1–1.5 inch for IM—while smaller gauges can improve comfort if flow permits (general route details: Mayo Clinic drug page). Your individual plan should follow the technique taught by your clinician.
For subcutaneous (SC) dosing, small volumes are typically placed into the abdomen or thigh with a fine needle (often 27–31G, ~5/16–1/2 inch). Because absorption and comfort vary, prescribers often keep each SC shot low-volume and adjust frequency instead of pushing large volumes into one site; that’s why many patients ask how much testosterone can you inject subcutaneously—the practical answer is “small amounts, more often,” as guided by your prescriber and product labeling (route and administration overview: Mayo Clinic).
Two final tips that make testosterone injections dosage easier to stick with:
Consistency beats complexity. Use the same day(s)/time and align blood draws to the midpoint of your cycle so results are comparable over time (dose adjustment principles summarized in the Endocrine Society guideline).
Prepare the vial and site. Warm the syringe in your palm for a minute, inject slowly, and apply light pressure after—simple steps that can reduce post-shot discomfort.
If you’re reading male-specific pointers (e.g., testosterone injection dosage for males), remember they’re still individualized—site, needle, and volume should match your build, comfort, and clinician training.
