Differences between AAS and testosterone IM and SubQ injection

Testosterone and AAS injections are  intramuscular injection (IM) and subcutaneous injection (SubQ), which of these two injection methods is better?

IM vs SubQ basic info.

• IM refers to the injection of AAS into the muscle and SubQ refers to the injection of AAS into the subcutaneous tissue.
• IM injection is shallow and SubQ injection is deeper. As a result, IM injections requires longer needles.
• IM inject at a 90-degree Angle, while SubQ inject at a 45-90 degree Angle.
• The injection site of IM is mainly Thigh(Quads), Delts, Hip and Gluteus. SubQ inject in areas with fatty tissue, such as the abdomen and upper buttocks.

Advantages and disadvantages of IM

Because there are larger and more blood vessels in the muscle than in the subcutaneous tissue, AAS absorb faster when injected into the muscle. Therefore, AAS injection by IM can take effect quickly, and the maximum efficacy peak appears earlier and the peak value is higher. Because of the rapid absorption rate using IM injections, the peak of serum testosterone levels after IM injection of AAS is more predictable. Therefore, after IM injection, it is easier for individuals to determine the time when their own serum testosterone level will peak, and thus easier to control the peak testosterone level.

The disadvantages of IM are also obvious, that is, because the injection is deeper, it is more likely to cause pain, and because there are more blood vessels in the muscle, inexperienced users may stick the needle into the blood vessel.

Due to the depth of IM injection, the subcutaneous tissue and fat are thicker for overweight or obese users, and SubQ may actually do when doing IM, which they may not know.

Advantages and disadvantages of SubQ

Some injection sites suitable for IM are not convenient for personal injection, SubQ injection into the subcutaneous tissue, which is easier to operate. SubQ  inject in a shallow location and with a smaller needle size, which is less likely to cause injection pain or problems with blood vessels.

In terms of drug absorption, SubQ is injected under the skin and into the fat, and absorption is slower, so the time to reach the peak concentration of the drug is slower. However,SubQ provides more stable testosterone levels than IM.

For bodybuilders, the goal of injecting AAS is not just to stabilize testosterone levels, but for more muscle mass and strength. The user would think that injecting AAS into the muscle would preferentially bind to the androgen receptors in the muscle, thus achieving the purpose of muscle building.

During the use of AAS, the main source of estrogen is the aromatization of testosterone. In general, there are more aromatases in fat, so user thinks that if AAS is injected into fat, more of it will be aromatized into estrogen.

Natural testosterone production fluctuates, with different testosterone levels at different times of the day. The main difference in the effects of IM and SubQ is that one provides a higher testosterone peak and one provides a more stable testosterone level. You can choose the injection method according to your own purpose.