The decisions made before the first injection or tablet do more to prevent harm than anything done afterwards. This checklist covers what to have in place: knowing your baseline, the right supplies, honest health screening and a plan for stopping. It is not a recommendation to use anything; it is what responsible preparation looks like if you choose to.
- Baseline bloodwork and a week of home blood-pressure readings are the foundation.
- Some health conditions and ages are clear reasons not to start at all.
- Sterile, single-use supplies and correct technique prevent most injection problems.
- A plan for monitoring and stopping matters as much as the plan for starting.
Reasons not to start
Anyone under 21, or with high blood pressure, heart disease, a history of blood clots, liver or kidney disease, a hormone-sensitive cancer, a personal history of bipolar disorder or psychosis, or who is pregnant or trying to conceive, faces risks that outweigh any benefit. A strong family history of early heart disease is another serious red flag. These are the same gates our protocol builder applies before suggesting anything.
Baseline bloodwork
| Test | Why you need a baseline |
|---|---|
| Total and free testosterone, LH, FSH | Your natural levels and recovery target |
| Estradiol (sensitive), prolactin | Reference for later symptoms |
| CBC with hematocrit | Red blood cell count before androgens raise it |
| Lipid panel, ideally ApoB | Cholesterol starting point |
| ALT, AST, GGT, bilirubin | Liver baseline |
| Creatinine, eGFR, urine albumin | Kidney baseline |
| Fasting glucose or HbA1c | Metabolic baseline |
| PSA (men over 40) | Prostate baseline |
Blood pressure
Take two readings morning and evening for a week with a validated upper-arm cuff in the right size, and average them. If the average is 135/85 or higher, sort that out first. Our guide to blood pressure explains the method.
A doctor in the loop
A family doctor can order baseline tests and interpret changes later. Telling them about planned or current steroid use is confidential and helps them read results correctly. Many would rather help keep you safe than have you guess.
Supplies
- Oils: sterile 3 ml syringes with 25G needles, a new one for every injection, including drawing from your own vial.
- Powders: bacteriostatic water to reconstitute and 30G insulin syringes to measure small volumes.
- Alcohol swabs, a sharps container and a clean surface. See injection hygiene and needle disposal.
Product checks
Know what you are buying: intact seals, clear labels with batch numbers and expiry dates, and a seller that answers questions. Our guides on reading a label and spotting counterfeits help.
If something goes wrong with several new compounds at once, there is no way to know which one caused it. One change at a time is the simplest safety rule there is.
A plan for monitoring
Write down when you will check blood pressure (weekly), when you will repeat bloodwork (part-way through and after stopping) and what results would make you stop. Deciding in advance removes the temptation to rationalise later.
A plan for stopping
Natural testosterone takes time to recover. Know how long your compounds take to clear, plan recovery bloodwork, and think about how you will handle the low mood and energy that can follow. See testosterone suppression.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I get baseline bloodwork without a doctor?
Some provinces allow private lab testing for a fee, but a doctor’s involvement makes results far more useful.
How long before starting should I test?
Within the month before, at a similar time of day to future tests, after a couple of rest days from hard training.
Why does one compound at a time matter?
It makes side effects traceable, so you know what to stop.
Educational information only. Nothing here is medical advice or a recommendation to use any product. Anabolic steroids are Schedule IV under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Talk to a doctor and get bloodwork before and after using any compound.
