COMPOUND

Compounds / TRT and hormones

Test Propionate

Testosterone Propionate (Testoviron, generic)

TRT and hormones IM · SubQ FDA approved

Short-acting injectable testosterone ester. The original injectable T (Schering AG, 1937). Largely supplanted by Enanthate/Cypionate for TRT, but still used in performance/AAS contexts and rarely in clinical TRT where rapid washout is needed.

At a glance

Half-life
~22 h Reported ~0.8 days for IM oil; literature ranges from ~19 hours to ~2 days depending on assay. Functionally requires EOD dosing for stability.
Routes
IM · SubQ
Vial sizes
1000 mg · 2000 mg
Evidence base
2 studies 1 human · 1 review

Mechanism

3-carbon ester, the shortest commonly used testosterone ester. The smaller, more polar ester releases free testosterone from the oil depot rapidly via esterase hydrolysis. Effective t½ ~19-24h requires every-other-day or daily injection to maintain steady-state. Free T action (AR binding, conversion to DHT and E2) is identical to longer esters.

Dosing

Any amounts shown here are reported from published studies only. 1 of 2 catalogued studies involved human subjects. COMPOUND does not publish its own dosing guidance.

Published evidence

  1. Human RCT 2023

    Cardiovascular Safety of Testosterone-Replacement Therapy

    Lincoff AM, Bhasin S, Flevaris P, et al. N Engl J Med

    TRAVERSE class effect for testosterone: applies to all esters via the free T moiety. AF/PE signals extend to propionate.

    PMID 37326322

  2. Review 1998

    Pharmacokinetics of testosterone esters

    Behre HM, Nieschlag E Testosterone: Action, Deficiency, Substitution

    Established propionate effective t½ ~0.8 days driving EOD dosing requirement.

Reported side effects

Injection site pain (PIP)
Very common Moderate · Notably more painful than Enanthate/Cypionate. Primary reason most users avoid.
Polycythemia / hematocrit elevation
Common Moderate · Theoretically less than long-esters because peaks are lower per-injection, but more frequent dosing keeps trough higher.
Estradiol elevation / gynecomastia
Common Mild · Aromatization equivalent to other esters at equivalent total weekly dose.
Acne / oily skin / scalp hair loss
Common Mild · DHT-mediated; class effect.
HPTA suppression / fertility loss
Very common Moderate · Universal with monotherapy.
Sleep apnea worsening
Occasional Moderate · Class effect.
Edema / fluid retention
Occasional Mild

Interactions

  • Anastrozole Synergy

    AI for symptomatic E2 control: same as other esters, only if E2 symptomatic.

  • HCG Synergy

    Standard TRT adjunct for HPTA preservation.

Reconstitution and storage

Not applicable: supplied as oil solution. Standard concentration 100 mg/mL.

Room temperature, protect from light.

Open the reconstitution calculator for Test Propionate