If there is one thing associated with muscle growth, it must be testosterone, but muscle growth is a complicated business, and many of you may have realized it. Your muscles are dynamic and respond to different stimuli. Such as lifting heavy weights. If you are serious about muscle growth, you will have investigated the testosterone of GH. But does it go bad?
If you think exercise boosts testosterone levels, you may be surprised to read that if you over-train, your testosterone levels can drop by up to 75%. Some studies indicate that eating a low-carb diet can also reduce testosterone.
With the cost of testosterone reaching $500 per month, it’s essential to know how long this stuff actually lasts. This article explores testosterone and its longevity. We will answer many frequently asked questions providing you with factual information.
Let’s get into it.
Table of Contents
Does testosterone expire?
Yes. Testosterone expires. However, the subject can be confusing, so it is recommended that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for expiration dates.
It’s not just the manufacturers you will have to contend with. The CDC also gives guidelines for testosterone.
Here is why you may be confused about the shelf life of testosterone.
| Testosterone type | Expiry |
| Sustanon | 3 Years |
| Nebido | 5 Years |
| Testosterone Enanthate | 5 Years |
| Testosterone Cypionate | 5 Years |
| Testosterone Propionate | 3 Years |
| Testogel | 3 Years |
| Tostran gel | 2 Years |
This is just the starting point for unopened vials or packages of testosterone. Once the vial is open, there will be another set of dates that have to be adhered to. Confused?
Then we come to single-use vials. You draw the testosterone into the syringe and are required to throw the rest of the solution away.
The best way to deal with testosterone shots is through your doctor’s office and let them take the stress of what’s good and what’s not good.
Does testosterone need to be refrigerated?
If you are like most people, you will naturally assume that a vial full of testosterone will need to be refrigerated, but the truth is it doesn’t need to be and may damage the contents of the vial if it gets cold.
Testosterone should be stored at 20℃ to 25℃ or 68℉ to 77℉ for optimal efficacy. Storing your testosterone is a big deal and should be stored out of the reach of children and pets.
Testosterone cannot be exposed to heat or high moisture levels, as you may find in your bathroom.
How about an open vial of testosterone, does that need to be stored in the fridge? No, the same rules apply. If you have a multi-use vial of testosterone, seal it tightly and store it at the correct temperature stated above. Never store testosterone in direct sunlight or when the humidity levels are high.
Don’t store oral testosterone in the fridge. Keep it in the same temperature range as the vials of testosterone.
Is temperature critical to storing testosterone effectively?
Stored below recommended temperature.
It’s possible that your testosterone could separate if your prescription were stored at low temperatures.
Testosterone liquid in vials is a highly concentrated form of the hormone, making it prone to crystallization when stored outside of the ideal range of 68° to 77°F.
You can tell if your testosterone has been stored outside of the recommended temp range. If it’s cold, it may have crystallized; if it is opaque or hazy, it can contain tiny, needle-shaped crystals.
Pain and swelling at the injection site are possible after injecting the separated testosterone. These symptoms could linger until all of the testosterone has been absorbed from the location.
If your Testosterone was exposed to temperatures below the advised Testosterone storage range, it is best to follow the re-dissolving procedure.
It’s possible that your testosterone cypionate separated if your prescription was stored at low temperatures.
Stored above the recommended temperature,
Your Testosterone can become damaged if the temperature exceeds the advised Testosterone storage temperature range (above 77°F).
Since Testosterone crystallizes when it gets too cold, heat does not cause it to do so. However, prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause the Testosterone, the testosterone ester, and/or the carrier oil to break down, which can all lessen the effectiveness of the Testosterone.
Is testosterone still good after expiration?
Testosterone has a limited shelf life once it’s been opened or has passed the expiry date.
Assuming the testosterone has been stored in perfect conditions, you can expect the testosterone to last for an additional 28 days.
Although unopened testosterone has a massive shelf life, the product degrades, and unlike food products, the expiry date should be adhered to for maximum efficacy.
Is there such a thing as oral testosterone?
Yes, there is. It’s for older men and not bodybuilders as such. It has been designed to increase testosterone in men who have had medical conditions where testosterone has dropped significantly.
The product is called Jantenzo. It’s prescribed explicitly to individuals and should not be shared or taken by anyone other than the patient.
There are various side effects, but the product is approved by the CDC, which you could argue is somewhat meaningless given recent history.
Only take oral testosterone prescribed by a doctor.
Does testosterone affect ED?
No, erectile function is not dependent on testosterone. In fact, taking testosterone could cause ED in patients who are trying to gain muscle.
When you take testosterone shots, your own naturally produced testosterone will stop being produced by your body. It switches off, and you are not reliant on a synthetic substitute for natural testosterone.
Often the effects can be seen in the bedroom, and you can muscle but lose libido.
Can you buy testosterone over the counter?
The truth is the health market is flooded with supplements making all sorts of claims, and to that end, you can buy testosterone from health supplements stores and even your corner pharmacy.
The over-the-counter market for testosterone has grown significantly over recent years. With clever marketing and promises of enhanced vitality and virility, men are buying these supplements as fast as they are produced.
However, there is a burning question, are these testosterone supplements effective, or are they just placebo-type supplements?
The results are conflicting thus far. According to some studies, certain supplements may raise testosterone levels in the body. Other research indicates little to no difference. And while the effects vary depending on the individual supplement studied, HRT will significantly enhance testosterone levels.
Additionally, over-the-counter “testosterone boosters” won’t have the same effects as true testosterone on energy levels, muscular mass, sex desire, and mood.
What are the symptoms of low testosterone?
For males, low testosterone can be a curse that affects the way you feel and look, how you strut your stuff in the bedroom and, of course, the loss of muscle mass is attributed to low testosterone.
For some men, it can influence how they view life and see the world. Here are some side effects of low testosterone.
- Loss of muscle mass.
- Fatigue that exacerbates the loss of muscle mass.
- Depression.
- Irritability.
- Erectile dysfunction.
It is easy to see why the supplement market wants to get into the action as these men search for an answer to the way they feel.
Is TRT widely available?
Men in every state in the US can get and benefit from hormone replacement therapy. Still, there are a number of reasons why men might be hesitant to start TRT. They can confuse testosterone replacement with anabolic drugs, which is a widespread myth that keeps many men from receiving the assistance they require.
However, Some men worry about adverse consequences and health dangers. Men frequently hesitate to seek expert assistance because they feel ashamed and embarrassed about their very personal low testosterone symptoms.
Since they can make you feel less of a man, the symptoms of low testosterone differ from those of the majority of other medical illnesses. To discuss it with anyone, much less a doctor you hardly know, may be incredibly difficult and embarrassing.
Most of you would agree that the concerns raised are valid, which could be why men are going for over-the-counter supplements rather than talking to their doctors.
Testosterone boosters are not a bad thing!
Does taking a cold shower improve testosterone?
We have all seen Wim Hof and his incredible feats of endurance in arctic conditions, but, there is no evidence to say that taking a cold shower will increase your testosterone despite Wim Hof’s death-defying antics.
There are a number of ways you can try to increase testosterone.
- Plenty of restful sleep.
- Balanced diet.
- Losing weight.
- Moderate exercise including weight training.
- Address underlying health problems such as type 2 diabetes.
Losing weight and exercise are going to be critical to increasing testosterone, for those of you carrying fat around your waist and chest will have elevated female hormone estrogen!
The bottom line?
Testosterone does go bad, but there is no formula for the shelf life, you will need to follow what the pharmaceutical company suggests.
Once the vial is open you have 28 days to use the contents before it’s discarded.
Store testosterone at the right temperature, too warm it will degrade and not be effective, too cold it will form crystals and be painful if injected.
Do over-the-counter testosterone supplements work? It is a crapshoot.