TRT Guide
How to track a TRT protocol — injections, ancillaries, and timing
A basic TRT protocol involves three or four compounds on different schedules. Testosterone twice weekly. An aromatase inhibitor on shot days. HCG or Gonadorelin three times per week. If you add peptides, the number climbs further.
Managing this in your head stops working somewhere around month two. A spreadsheet works but doesn't handle injection site rotation, vial inventory, or concentration math for reconstituted compounds. This guide covers what to track, why each piece matters, and how to structure it practically.
Updated August 2026 · 7 min read
A typical TRT protocol — what you're actually tracking
This example shows a common structure. Your protocol will differ in dosing and schedule but the tracking requirements are similar.
Example protocol
Testosterone Cypionate
100mg eachMonday / Thursday
2mL total weekly. IM injection.
Anastrozole
0.25mg eachMonday / Thursday
Taken same day as T injection.
HCG
500IU eachMon / Wed / Fri
SubQ injection. Keep refrigerated.
BPC-157
250mcgDaily
SubQ. Reconstituted. 28-day shelf life.
Four compounds, nine injections per week across four different schedules. This is a common load for someone a few months into TRT optimization.
What to log for each injection
The minimum useful log entry has four fields. Date, compound, dose, and injection site. Without the injection site, you cannot manage rotation. Without the dose, you cannot identify changes in how you feel. Without the date, you cannot tell your prescriber what your actual protocol looks like versus what you planned.
Date and time
Required. Establishes the timeline for everything else. Testosterone Cypionate's peak lands 24-48 hours post-injection — knowing when you injected tells you when to expect the peak.
Compound and dose
Required. Note the exact dose in mg, not just 'my normal shot.' Doses change during protocol optimization and the log should reflect what actually happened.
Injection site
Required for multi-year TRT. Scar tissue and lipohypertrophy from repeated injection in the same ventroglute or thigh changes how testosterone absorbs over time. Rotating prevents this.
Vial lot or batch
Optional but useful. If you notice a change in how you feel after starting a new vial, a lot number lets you flag it and compare to previous batches.
Notes
Optional. Injection site reactions, energy levels in the days following, libido changes. These patterns are hard to see in your head and obvious when you look at a month of logs.
Ancillary timing relative to testosterone peaks
Anastrozole, Exemestane, and other aromatase inhibitors work by blocking the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen. They are most effective when testosterone levels are rising, which is the 24-48 hours following an injection.
Taking an AI on injection days keeps timing consistent. If you inject Monday and Thursday, taking Anastrozole Monday and Thursday means the AI is active as testosterone peaks. If you take it on different days, timing drifts and estrogen management becomes harder to dial in.
Your log should show both testosterone injections and AI doses on the same timeline. If your estrogen is running high at labs, you can look back at the log and check whether the timing drifted, whether you missed doses, or whether the dose needs adjustment. Without the log, you are making protocol decisions without data.
Injection site rotation for long-term TRT
Two testosterone injections per week for five years is 520 injections. Most TRT patients default to two or three preferred sites because they feel familiar and the injection goes smoothly. Over time, repeated injections in the same spot cause fibrosis — scar tissue that changes absorption.
The primary intramuscular sites for TRT are the ventroglute, outer thigh (vastus lateralis), and deltoid. Some patients add the upper glute. With four sites and left/right for each, you have 6-8 rotation options. At two injections per week, each site gets used roughly every 3-4 weeks.
Tracking which site you used requires a log. You cannot reliably remember which ventroglute you used two weeks ago from memory. Protocol's 3D body map marks injection zones with color-coded recency so you always have a current picture.
Managing vials: testosterone, HCG, and peptides
Testosterone Cypionate in a 10mL multi-dose vial at 200mg/mL holds 100 doses at 100mg each — about 50 weeks of supply at twice-weekly injections. At that volume, tracking "when does this vial run out" is not difficult.
HCG and peptides are different. HCG typically comes in 5,000IU vials that need reconstitution. At 500IU per injection three times weekly, that is 1,500IU per week — about three weeks of supply per vial. Reconstituted HCG has a shelf life of 30-60 days refrigerated. Vial tracking matters here.
Peptides like BPC-157 or TB-500 have the same tracking requirements: reconstitution date, doses remaining, expiry window. Protocol tracks each vial separately with a reconstitution date and doses-remaining counter that decrements with each logged injection.
Track your TRT protocol in Protocol
Protocol tracks testosterone, ancillaries, HCG, and peptides in one app. PK curves show blood concentration over time. 3D injection map handles site rotation. Vial tracking manages reconstituted compounds. Free on iOS and Android.
Frequently asked questions
Why do TRT protocols need tracking beyond a basic calendar?+
A standard TRT protocol involves multiple compounds injected on different schedules. Testosterone twice weekly. Anastrozole on injection days. HCG or Gonadorelin three times per week. When you add peptides, the tracking complexity increases further. A calendar or spreadsheet can work but doesn't handle injection site rotation, dose history, or vial tracking. A dedicated app integrates all of these in one place.
What should I log for each TRT injection?+
At minimum: date, compound, dose in mg, and injection site. The site matters for rotation — TRT injections repeated to the same ventroglute or thigh develop scar tissue over years of use. Optionally, log the batch or lot number of the testosterone vial, any injection site reactions, and notes on how you felt in the days following the injection. Protocol stores all of this per log entry.
How do I track anastrozole timing relative to testosterone injections?+
Anastrozole is most effective when taken as testosterone levels are rising after injection, typically within 24-48 hours of a shot. If you inject Monday and Thursday, taking anastrozole on Monday and Thursday keeps the timing consistent. Protocol logs each compound separately so you can see testosterone and anastrozole on the same timeline and verify the timing relationship.
Should I track HCG and peptides separately from testosterone?+
Yes. Each compound in a TRT protocol has its own schedule, dose, and vial. Tracking them separately gives you a clear picture of each one: when you last injected, how many doses remain, when the vial was reconstituted (for peptides and HCG), and when it expires. Protocol tracks each compound independently with its own logs and vial inventory.
What is the best app for tracking TRT?+
Protocol is built specifically for multi-compound protocols including TRT. It handles testosterone, ancillaries, HCG, and peptides in one app with injection site rotation tracking, PK curves showing blood concentration over time, and a Stack Score that evaluates your full protocol. Core tracking is free. No account required.