Testosterone cypionate — the gold-standard injectable TRT.

Cypionate is testosterone esterified to a cypionic-acid carrier to slow absorption from an intramuscular or subcutaneous depot. A single weekly injection releases testosterone over ~7–10 days, producing steady serum levels rather than the sharp peaks and troughs of un-esterified preparations.

It's available as an FDA-manufactured commercial product (long manufacturer expiry) and as a 503A-compounded preparation in MCT or grapeseed-oil carriers. Both are 200 mg/mL — the dosing concentration most clinicians work with for ranges of 100–200 mg per week.

Once injected, the cypionate ester is hydrolyzed slowly, releasing free testosterone into circulation. Free testosterone binds androgen receptors across tissue — muscle, bone, brain, gonadal tissue, skin — to restore the signaling that low endogenous production has lost.

Because exogenous testosterone suppresses LH and FSH via negative feedback, endogenous production and testicular volume typically decrease over time. For men prioritizing fertility or preservation of testicular function, HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is layered alongside the protocol.

Men with morning-confirmed low total testosterone (typically <300 ng/dL, repeated on two separate draws) who have meaningful symptoms — low energy, low libido, loss of muscle mass, poor recovery, depressive mood, cognitive fog. Labs and symptoms have to track together; either alone is insufficient grounds for a prescription.

Cypionate is not the right first move for borderline-low testosterone in younger men who still want children — enclomiphene is usually the better choice there because it raises endogenous production rather than replacing it. Your physician decides the format based on labs, history, and your goals.

Typical clinical use is 100–200 mg per week, dosed weekly (one injection) or twice-weekly (split dose; smoother levels for some patients). Most men start near 100 mg/week and titrate to mid- to upper- quartile total testosterone on follow-up labs.

Injection route is intramuscular or subcutaneous — both are clinically valid. SubQ is typically less painful and easier to self-administer; IM is the more traditional route and what older clinical literature is built on. Your clinician will recommend a route based on body composition, comfort, and dosing pattern. See our injection technique guide for the practical mechanics.

Adjunct medications layer in selectively: anastrozole only if estradiol rises out of the optimal range on labs, HCG if fertility preservation matters. Both are evidence-driven, dosed conservatively, and confirmed by labs before continuation.

Weeks 1–4: energy and mood typically improve first; libido follows. Sleep architecture often shifts within the first two weeks.

Weeks 4–12: body-composition changes become visible — muscle mass and strength gains under resistance training, modest fat-mass reduction. Recovery between sessions shortens.

Weeks 12+: a follow-up lab panel checks total, free, SHBG, estradiol, hematocrit, and PSA. Dose is adjusted based on the data, not by feel. Stable patients move to a quarterly cadence.

$99/mo all-in. Billed $297 every 90 days, the box contains your vial, 13 injection kits (draw needle + inject needle + 1 mL syringe + alcohol pads), and 2-day FedEx/UPS shipping. No surprise add-ons. Founding-100 patients pay 10% below list — $89.10/mo, $267 per quarter — for life.

Labs at our pharmacy partner's cost — no markup. The standard TRT panel is $88.25 with the blood draw included. Marek charges $200–$2,000 for the same panel. Hone bundles labs into membership. Vektor doesn't mark up labs; you see our partner's actual cost on the invoice.

No annual fee. No annual commitment. Ship every 90 days, cancel any time. You're paying for a physician relationship and a quarterly supply, not for the right to be a customer.

Pharmacy sourcing: LegitScript-certified, U.S.-licensed 503A and 503B partners. We do not source from overseas pharmacies. State licensing varies — California patients are routed to the FDA-manufactured commercial product rather than compounded MCT, for example. Your physician will tell you which format applies based on your state.