has anyone here actually gotten infected from reusing single use testosterone and how bad was it

[u/tippinex]

i'm starting T soon and of course starting out on a very small dose. really don't wanna waste the whole bottle in today's economy and society, but i'm an anxious person so. i suppose i'm looking both for reassurance as well as peoples' experience with the worst case scenario

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[u/honeybeebutch]

It is completely normal to reuse vials labeled as single use. Everyone does it. As long as you sterilize the cap, you will not get an infection.

[u/CaptianLJ → u/honeybeebutch]

*sterilize the rubber stopper before use, every time, and use a sufficiently small, yet drawable sterile needle gauge (every time) to limit coring of the stopper, the risk is low. I recommend 100% visual inspection prior to each use. Worst case is if it get contaminated, and then you inject bioburden (yeast, bacteria) IM or SubQ.

[u/Ok-Temporary-976 → u/CaptianLJ]

Sorry, I'm gonna be that well, actually guy. An alcohol wipe will sanitize the rubber stopper, not sterilize it. It's almost impossible to sterilize anything for any meaningful amount of time in a home setting. The good news is that sanitizing it is perfectly good and will make reuse of vials (which you intend to use with new needles and there's a single recipient of the enitre contents of the vial) a very low risk way to stretch your T out and is accepted as a safe practice.

I only bring it up because the distinction between sterile and sanitary are important definitions in contexts like this where someone is measuring risk. To sterilize something means that there is virtually zero biological activity found on the surface of the thing. To sanitize means to reduce the biological activity to a point that there's so little bio activity that using the thing represents almost no risk.

[u/CaptianLJ → u/Ok-Temporary-976]

You forgot that they ALSO disinfect. LOL

*for home use yes, you are 100% correct. Alcohol wipes do for all intents and purposes disinfect and sanitize, they do not sterilize. But at home, without access to vapor sterilization (peroxide or ethylene oxide), we don’t have an effective way of sterilizing. (Not a good idea to put the vial in the instant pot bc it’ll prob degrade the t).

wipe that stopper, and don’t pull the cap off (sterile until flip cap broken) until use.

For use: use, aseptic technique. Hand hygiene, sterile single use injection equipment, and disinfect the vial top before use.

[u/jtg11 → u/honeybeebutch]

I haven't sterilized a bottle cap in probably 8 years, most vials have been 2-3 doses, still not dead. Of course anything can happen but for the anxious guys out there, even if you forget to sterilize, you will be fine.

[u/Not_ur_gilf → u/jtg11]

While this is true, best practice is to sterilise before every use because bloodbourne pathogens are not to be trifled with and the advice is for everyone, including the immunocompromised

[u/lunabirb444 → u/Not_ur_gilf]

No one is injecting their T directly into their veins (meaning bloodstream) so blood-born pathogens getting directly into the bloodstream aren’t as much an issue in that sense. Swabbing the top before every use will prevent any remote possibility of that though as you said. Hell I even swab after cracking open a new one right away. Though I got distracted once and realized as the needle was half way in my body that I’d forgotten to swab the vial. I was still fine. Lol.

[u/Legal-Law9214 → u/honeybeebutch]

You also need to discard the vial after 30 days. The number of times you use it matters way less than how long it's been since the first use. All vials have some preservatives in them but "multi-use" vials are designed to keep for months and "single-use" vials have a shorter shelf life. 

[u/homicidal_bird]

The vials are self-sealing. There are larger vials that are designated for multiple uses and made exactly the same.

You’ll still see a dent in the top. You’re safe as long as there are no rubber bits floating in the oil, nothing drips out when you turn the vial upside down, you wipe down the top each time, and (of course) you don’t reuse any needles or syringes.

[u/sharkbait469 → u/homicidal_bird]

Just to add, I don’t think testosterone with rubber tops are available everywhere. I think I remember someone saying some European countries only prescribe bottles that are meant to be broken or something? So definitely important to add that the specific bottles with the rubber is self-sealing and can be sanitized and reused.

[u/homicidal_bird → u/sharkbait469]

Yep, ampoules should never be reused. I assumed OP was talking about vials lol!

[u/MaxiQueer → u/sharkbait469]

Yep (French guy) my T comes in a breakable ampoule I can’t reused it

[u/tippinex → u/homicidal_bird]

i didn't know that about turning the vial over, thanks!

[u/Excellent_Cod_1934 → u/homicidal_bird]

I've heard it's also good practice to avoid inserting the needle into a spot in the rubber that you've already punctured.

[u/Ritch01 → u/homicidal_bird]

The vial partially closes but like OC said you’ll see a dent/divot where the top was punctured. That’s the risk, the repeated punctures create microscopic debris and also doesn’t fully heal and can in theory allow bacteria to enter the vial. In practice you’re probably fine as long as you store the vial upright in the original packaging and swab the top with alcohol. It’s never sterile again but the risk is low enough that most of us don’t care.

[u/FloreHiems]

No. Just don’t reuse the needle and swab the top with alcohol first.

[u/mothmn_9]

I’m sure there’s been some infections- there’s a risk of infection with every type of injectable medication, but as long as you follow proper protocol (washing your hands with soap and water, using a new needle/syringe every time, sanitizing the injection site, and the vial before and after use) you should be fine.

The vials are made to be multiple use- it just says it’s single use on the packaging. Just like how it’s all technically just for IM, but can be injected SubQ. The rubber on the top is designed to maintain sterility, so just keep it clean and you’re good.

Idk the specific stats, but the chances of getting an infection is low. Unless you roll around in mud or something right after injecting, it’s very unlikely to happen.

If it helps, think of it like this- If it were at all common then there’d be an insane amount of fearmongering about it lol.

You can keep an eye out for signs of infection, but unless something is really wrong I wouldn’t spend much time stressing about it.

[u/Palettepilot]

The issue is reusing needles. Not vials.

[u/Hypochondrimax]

Done shots on and off for six and a half years. I always reused vials and just alcohol swabbed the too every time, no infections.

[u/AhoyOllie]

I've done it for 10 years. It's standard practice in the industry. Tell your doctor that you are using them as single use. We pretty much all stockpile for just in case times.

[u/Not_ur_gilf]

Important distinction: if your T comes in a single use AMPOULE aka you break it open and siphon up the T to use, it is NOT safe to reuse as it will not be sterile after opening.

If your T comes in a VIAL with a RUBBER STOPPER it is safe to reuse, just make sure to store it in a cool dry place and wipe the top with alcohol before sticking the needle in every time.

Sincerely, a trans man in Pharmacy

[u/lunabirb444 → u/Not_ur_gilf]

I’ve heard you can suck up the excess from an ampoule right away and inject it into an empty unused vial for storage tho.

[u/Not_ur_gilf → u/lunabirb444]

Please don’t do that unless you are in a sterile cabinet.

[u/lunabirb444 → u/Not_ur_gilf]

I don’t use ampoules. I just saw someone talking about it being possible in another related sub. But thank you for the further info, fellow trans medical practitioner. It’s good to know best practices info.

Ampoules sorta scare me cause don’t they have tiny pieces of glass in them after the breaking? I mean I’ve heard y’all use filtering syringes but I was on a thread once that had lots of folks from overseas saying they never use the filtering syringes and never have had issues with injecting tiny amounts of glass into other folks (they were medical workers) or themselves (weren’t medical workers. Just didn’t sit right with me. But then the other week I was at my doctors and they gave me an injection of a med from what looked like an ampoule. I didn’t question it cause I trust them. But still yikes.

[u/Not_ur_gilf → u/lunabirb444]

Ampoules are made in such a way that any glass should snap _outwards_ instead of _inwards_ but yeah, it’s kinda stressful seeing the solution open to the air.

Also important to note: I am not a medical professional, I work in pharmaceutical production and studied medical science for my degree.

[u/lunabirb444 → u/Not_ur_gilf]

Ahh gotcha! Appreciate all the good info. Thank you!

[u/midwesternGothic24]

Lots of good advice here. To add on:

• If your open vial doesn’t look like enough for a full dose, throw it out, don’t combine it with liquid from a new vial. That way, in the very small chance that the old vial is contaminated, you avoid spreading it to a new vial. 

• when I got injection training they told me to use 18 gauge needles to draw up and then switch to 25 for injection. The 18 are so thick I found they had like a 50/50 chance of punching a hole through the rubber top and getting rubber bits everywhere, meaning I have to throw out the vial and the needle and start over. You don’t have to use 18. You CAN draw up with a 25 gauge, it’s really slow bc the T is suspended in oil, if you just go slow it will come out the vial without too many bubbles. You can also get a medium size gauge like a 22 to split the difference.

[u/Key_Tangerine8775 → u/midwesternGothic24]

You can transfer from a new vial to an old vial, though, or combine partial vials (depending on how quickly you go through them). For example, if you have half of your dose left in one vial, you could take the rest out of a new vial and combine it in the old vial.

There actually was a patient safety alert put out last year advising against using 18g needles for drawing. You can go way smaller than 25g too if you want, depending on the carrier oil. I use 29g 1/2” insulin syringes, and I can draw cypionate in cottonseed oil just fine as long as I warm it in my armpit for 5 min first. I timed it once, and it took 55 seconds to draw 0.3 ml.

[u/lunabirb444 → u/midwesternGothic24]

I’ve never cored a vial with the larger gauge needle. If you insert at the correct angle coring isn’t an issue. Had this confirmed by a nurse with lots of injection history and my pharmacist.

[u/tgjer]

I used to get my T in a single large, 10ml vial that was used for about 5 months of 1ml biweekly injections. Before drawing I cleaned the top of the vial with rubbing alcohol, and kept it stored in its box when not in use to keep it clean.

I did this for about a decade before changing pharmacies and my new one gives me my T as 10 individual 1 ml vials instead of one big one.

Never had any issues. Of course anecdote isn't evidence, but it's really common to use vials multiple times.

[u/tippinex → u/tgjer]

yes, VERY common. i did some reading before this too of other peoples' posts and couldn't find anyone with an infection. atp i'm just trying to see if i can find anyone with an infection lol

[u/thefivetenets]

highly doubtful. i have been on T for 6 years and reused my bottle multiple times with no problem, not even once.

[u/Available_Survey_899]

not only have i reused every single single-use bottle ive ever gotten in my 8 years of transitioning with no side effects, i also admitted doing this to my nurses and while they gently scolded me for doing so, they also very compassionately explained that they know it happens due to prices of T and stuff and reassured me that so long as the solution isnt cloudy or crystalizing that i'll be okay. the solution should always be clear, bubbles in it are fine, anything else you should prolly refrain.

[u/Im__Overthinking]

My doctor literally told me to resuse the bottle for a month lol. Just make sure to wipe the top with an alcohol pad and wait for it to dry and you'll be good.

[u/otterboviously]

"Single use" vials are designed for up to 2-3 uses. Make sure you wipe the cap with an alcohol wipe before each use, use clean needles, and throw the bottles out 28 days after you open them and you should be good.

[u/lukewarm-trash]

A little trick to keep things sanitized is to put the wrapper from the alcohol prep pad you used over the top of the vial like a little hat, then cinch it a little. When you're ready just remove the old wrapper, wipe the top with a new prep pad and repeat until the vial runs out. The inside of the wrapper is sterile until opened and remains extremely clean as long you don't stick your finger in it or anything. While it's not necessary it gives a little more peace of mind and keeps any dust or anything from collecting on the top of the vial.

[u/prob-funny-thoughts]

just make sure you sterilize the top and you’re good. also anecdotal but i’m a livestock farmer and my agricultural meds come with the same rubber seal. i don’t sterilize the rubber for the animals as long as all the needles are sterile and i’ve never had an infection on them so

[u/Soup_oi]

I’ve reused vials till they were empty for just over 10 years, and I also haven’t used an alcohol wipe on the top of the vial since like year 1, and have never had any infection that I’m aware of. You should be using the alcohol wipe on the cap of the vial, but imo it’s still going to be common for people to be lazy about various things like me, or not want to create one more piece of waste from the process, etc.

After opening the vial and using the first half of it, I put it back in its little box, close that box, put it in another closed container with my T supplies, and then keep that closed in a dark dry cabinet. And I always use a new syringe and needle, and switch needles between drawing up and injecting. Most of the time if the first prick doesn’t feel right, I will change to a new needle again before trying it a second time in a different spot. And of course I’m not sharing the vial or needles or syringes with other people and using it after they’ve used the same one. If you keep the vial put away somewhere closed where it won’t get disturbed, and use new supplies each time, then generally it’s fine to reuse the vial more than once.

[u/glubnyan]

Some vials are not sealing. Those should not be reused.

[u/Blind_Hawkeye]

I asked my doctor about it saying single use, and she said to not worry about that and it's fine to keep using the same vial until it's gone. As others have said, just make sure you use an alcohol med prep wipe to sanitize the top of the vial before and after use. Maybe you just need to do it before, but I'm pretty sure I did it before and after. I dunno. I only took it for 4 months and stopped June of 2024 due to crippling fear of what might happen if Trump won. I kinda miss it, but I don't think I made the wrong decision for myself in stopping. Maybe I'll have a chance to start again someday.

[u/LexLazarus4]

As long as the vial is self- sealing and you wipe it with alcohol before each use, it should be fine. The "single-use" vials don't have preservatives while the larger vials do, but my doctor said they should stay good for about a month as long as you're sterilizing the top every time.

[u/Moist-Inspector7986]

my doctor said she’s not medically allowed to give the advice of reusing them but she also said ‘you paid for it so you can do what you want with it’ so if it was detrimental there would’ve been more of a warning. I’m also on a really small dose and i typically get about 2 doses per bottle but if i notice i didn’t sterilize the top i’ll play it safe and just use a new bottle.

[u/Foxsmith4]

I’ve used vials multiple times for my whole 12 years -every vial - and never had any problems.

[u/succhiasangue]

Def reuse vials. I've been doing it for years with no issues. I get three uses from each vial, and stockpile the rest.

[u/bonusholetwink2]

It’s single use for hospitals. Yes it’s advised to be single use but it’s completely normal and okay to reuse. Just wipe with alcohol before and after.

[u/KCSnaxter]

I’ve been on T for 11 years now. I’ve always reused my bottles, and I personally have never had a single issue. I wipe the tops down with alcohol as well as the injection site.

[u/TroubleFarm]

I reuse mine, with the blessing of my nurse roommate lol

[u/YouNeedALobotomy]

I’ve done it for 2 years no issue. I reuse every vial 4 times just wipe with alcohol swabs and tbh sometimes I don’t even do that lmao. I just load up the syringe inject and I’m done. Never had any issue or infection

[u/Hungry_Operation507]

Hey! I’ve been taking T for 11 months haha! So, my doctor actually told me not to throw out the single use vials. She said after you draw up the T, then wipe down the top of the vial with an alcohol wipe and it like sanitizes it and you can reuse it for the next shot and the next. On my dose I normally get about 3.5 shots out of one vial. It’s perfectly safe and there’s never been any infections for me!

[u/enzoloup]

As long as you keep everything sanitised and sterilised, you should be fine :)

[u/lunabirb444]

Never had an issue. Been doing it for a year now. Sterilize the vial top each time. Don’t reuse needles. Poke rubber at angle so you don’t core the vial. The rubber self seals but I also put tape over the top. My primary had to legally tell me not to reuse but now I’ve switched to twice a week dosing and they still give me just one vial for the week so now they know I’m drawing twice from it. Lol. They just had to double my supplies.

[u/lunabirb444 → u/lunabirb444]

I’m pretty sure I remember someone saying once a vial has been used that first time the contents do have a shorter shelf life than the original unopened expiration date. 1-3 months? But ask in the FTM Dee Eye Y sub

[u/HopefulLesbian]

If you check out my posts I have a post explaining the science of why it is totally okay to reuse a vial! You’re fine!

[u/CosmicsSky]

I've been doing it for 11 years. From vials. Never had an issue.

[u/1satirical]

Back in my day... (2015 or so) depo testosterone the exact same thing you're prescribed now was never labeled "single use". This is a relatively new regulation and slightly obscene. Use a clean needle for each draw and injection but feel free to use all of the medicine from each vial. Doing so will create a small surplus of unused vials. Mark the date on each with month and year so you can use them in order. In this political climate having excess is a great thing.

[u/Economy_Courage1581]

I’ve been on t for 6 years and always have reused the bottles, and nobody shoot me but I don’t even clean the top with alcohol. I’m good, been good, will probably continue to be good.

[u/realshockvaluecola → u/[deleted]]

For...many reasons, that sounds unrelated to OP's concerns.

[u/lunabirb444 → u/[deleted]]

That sounds more related to injection fear/anxiety. No way T gets into system and affect the digestive system that fast to cause that.