Skip to main content
Testosterone Enanthate

Testosterone Enanthate Side Effects

Robert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCPKristianne Hannemann, PharmD
Reviewed by Robert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCP, Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD
Last reviewed on June 10, 2024

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

Males

  • Enlargement of male breasts
  • Acne
  • More erections
  • Pain at the injection site

Females

  • Deepening of the voice
  • Acne
  • Absence of or irregular menstrual periods
  • More hair on the face and body
  • Pain at the injection site

Less Common Side Effects

  • Bleeding or blood clots
  • Changes in sex drive
  • Tingling sensation
  • Headache
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Nausea

Testosterone Enanthate serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

  • Severe allergic reaction: hives, rash, blisters, swelling of the lips or tongue, difficulty breathing,
  • Heart attack: chest pain, cold sweats, left arm pain, difficulty breathing
  • Stroke: face drooping, trouble seeing, walking, or speaking, weakness on one side of the body
  • Blood clot in the legs: pain, swelling, warm to touch, redness in the leg
  • Blood clot in the lungs: trouble breathing, chest pain, cough
  • Liver damage: stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the skin, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, light-colored stools, dark urine, weight loss
  • Withdrawal: depression, fatigue, craving, restlessness, irritability, lack of appetite, trouble sleeping (insomnia), lower sex drive
Avg retail price
$132.88(Save 75.59%)
GoodRx discount
$32.44
How it works
drug-savings-illustration-1Use GoodRx to find medications, pharmacies, and discounts.
drug-savings-illustration-2GoodRx discounts can help you pay less for your prescription.
drug-savings-illustration-3Bring your free coupon or savings card to the pharmacy.
When do Testosterone Enanthate possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
M
H
D
W
M
Pain at the injection site
Acne
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.

Source: DailyMed

The following Testosterone Enanthate side effects have also been reported

Discuss these possible effects with your doctor:

Tumors of the liver, liver cancer, or peliosis hepatis (a form of liver disease) have occurred during long-term, high-dose therapy with androgens. Although these effects are rare, they can be very serious and may cause death.

Androgens can stimulate existing prostate cancer in men who already have it but have not yet been diagnosed. Also, the prostate (a male gland) may become enlarged. Enlargement of the prostate does not mean that cancer will develop. If enlargement occurs and you have difficulty in urinating, it is a good idea to be checked by your doctor.

When androgens are used in women, especially in high doses, male-like changes may occur, such as hoarseness or deepening of the voice, unnatural hair growth, or unusual hair loss. Most of these changes will go away if the medicine is stopped as soon as the changes are noticed. However, some changes, such as voice changes or enlarged clitoris, may not go away.

When androgens are used in high doses in males, they interfere with the production of sperm. This effect is usually temporary and only happens during the time you are taking the medicine. However, discuss this possible effect with your doctor if you are planning on having children.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

For females only

Acne or oily skin

decreased breast size

irregular menstrual cycles

hoarseness or deepening of voice

increase in size of female genitals

increase in unnatural hair growth or male pattern baldness

These symptoms may occur in females whose male sexual partner uses a scrotal patch.

For males only

Blistering of skin under patch (especially when the nonscrotal patch is applied to bony areas of the skin)

breast soreness or enlargement

frequent or continuing erection of penis lasting up to 4 hours or painful penile erections lasting longer than 4 hours

frequent urge to urinate

itching or redness of skin under patch (less likely with nonscrotal patch) or at site of implants, mild to severe

For prepubertal boys only

Acne

early growth of pubic hair

enlargement of penis

frequent or continuing erections

Less common

For males or females

Dizziness

frequent or continuing headache

lack or loss of strength

nausea

overall body flushing, redness, or itching of skin

rapidly changing moods, such as depersonalization, dysphoria, euphoria, depression, paranoia, and quick to react or overreact emotionally

swelling of feet or lower legs

unusual bleeding

unusual tiredness

yellow skin or eyes (occurring with fluoxymesterone or methyltestosterone more often than with testosterone)

For females with breast cancer or bedridden males or females—in addition to the side effects listed above

Confusion or mental depression

constipation

increased thirst

increased urge to urinate or increased amount of urine

For males only

Black, tarry stools

burning sensation or hardening or thickening of skin under patch

chills

continuing pain at site of implants

difficulty in urinating

itching, skin redness, or rash under patch, severe (less likely with nonscrotal patch)

pain in scrotum or groin

vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

Rare

For males or females—more likely with oral androgens or long-term or high doses of androgens

Abdominal or stomach pain, continuing

bad breath odor, continuing

black, tarry or light-colored stools or dark urine

fever

hives

loss of appetite, continuing

mood or mental changes

purple or red spots on body or inside the mouth or nose

sore throat

swelling, pain, or tenderness of abdomen

vomiting of blood

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

For males and females

Acne, mild

decrease or increase in sexual desire or drive

diarrhea

hair loss or thinning of hair

increase in pubic hair growth

infection, pain, redness, or other irritation at site of injection

nervousness

stomach pain

trouble in sleeping

For males only

Decrease in testicle size

infection, pain, redness, swelling, sores, or other skin irritation underneath patch

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

why trust our exports reliability shield

Why trust our experts?

Robert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCP, started his full-time career as a clinical pharmacist at UCLA Health in the general medicine, general cardiology, and ICU units after completing residency in 2016. He also was the preceptor for the general medicine rotation from 2017 to 2021, which was a required rotation for all pharmacy residents.
Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in California. She has been a retail pharmacy manager and staff pharmacist for over 7 years and has contributed drug information content to different health companies.

Was this page helpful?