#intramuscular testosterone

[teeth-society]

People of tumblr,

Tooth, here.

I usually don’t post serious stuff

I know you would probably like to hear this more than people irl:

I started T and my girlfriend did my first shot for me. We are both trans and in love. It was such a special moment to me on many levels and layers. It was special to her too. Seeing her focus and concentration in making sure to do it right, her affirmations that I was being brave, and the fact she put on Is It Cold In The Water by SOPHIE just made it such a lovely experience. She means so much to me. This beautiful girl made this experience special for me. I’m so lucky.

Sharing this is important to me. Thank you for reading :’)

-Tooth

[strangechaoss]

switched to injections after almost 2 years on the gel. feels surreal. everyone is different but i think i'll do better on weekly injections instead of daily gel applications but we'll see

[transqu33r]

Jdjsndjdksjjdidjdjdjjdjfjdjfj THEY UPPED MY DOSE TO A FULL AMPULE AAAAAAAAHHHHHH

[lokiiied]

tshot survivor 🫶

[my-person-suit-is-defective]

Does anyone else have a bad reaction to injecting their own T? I'm on IM sustanon and it doesn't happen every time but I usually get full body sweats, bad nausea, and lightheaded.

It might be anxiety but it feels awful and makes me dread the next time

[nepsah]

hm.

when this t-gel prescription runs out i might switch to something else bc idk how i feel abt this weird effect of my arm muscles feeling..... odd

idk how to describe it other than that sensation you get when you've laid on your arm too long and it starts feeling like it might go numb w/o actually going numb?

[jedusaur]

reminder: if you're getting an intramuscular injection (e.g. a covid booster or flu shot) and you're above 200 lbs with estrogen-based body fat distribution or 260 lbs with testosterone-based body fat distribution, you should be requesting a 1.5-inch/38mm needle. you might want to print out this sheet and bring it with you, because I have had pharmacy employees blithely tell me the 1-inch needle is fine for everyone, and I find a clear directive from the CDC just makes life a little easier.

[slamminslamminmcgill]

please. please i need house to call me a faggot and a tranny while balls deep in me. please.

YES ANONS GLORY TO THE LAW OFFICES OF SLAMMIN SLAMMIN MCGILL 🫡⚖️

warning: transphobia, homophobia, slurs, degradation, humiliation, fucking medical ethics violations i guess, hair-pulling, drug abuse, mentions of pregnancy, misgendering kinda, not to doxx myself but im using my own medical info for ease of writing specifics

anatomical terms: vagina/pussy/cunt

“Okay, current medications. Let’s see what’cha got…”

Clinic duty was never enjoyable for House. It was really just a slew of NPC’s for him to verbally abuse until someone showed something interesting. A weird rash, an inexplicably high fever, or, in your case, a discrepancy in your suspected genital anatomy.

“This… says you have a birth control implant. So either someone fatfingered your actual prescription on the computer, or—“

“It’s… accurate.” You replied sheepishly, lifting your arm to highlight its location. “I actually do have one.”

The doctor looked perplexed, almost angrily so. Like you’d just spat in his face and dared him to call your bluff. He aggressively limped towards you and gripped your arm entirely too hard. With his other hand, his two fingers prodded around for the implant until he got it.

“Well!” He scoffed, rolling the stick underneath your skin, pressing on either edge to seesaw it within you. “Thank god you’re not reproducing. Imagine some poor preschooler having to bring your fruity little ass in for Mother’s Day. Kid would get turbo-bullied on the playground. Good on you for being responsible.”

He hobbled back over to the computer to return to your file, leaving you stunned, speechless, and sputtering. What is this guy’s fucking problem? What in the actual ever-loving fuck did he just say to you? And why was it... kinda hot, in all honesty?

“Ah, there it is. Testosterone cypionate. Jumped the gun on that one. If only I had scrolled down. Alphabetization makes fools of us all…” He continued reading the details of your dosage. “0.6 milliliters biweekly, self-administered intramuscular injections. Ooh, so you’re a masochist too.”

Your reaction was an unfortunate reflex, on par with if he’d tapped your knee with that dinky little hammer, only much more embarrassing. You had no chance of stopping the pathetic whine that escaped your vocal cords. “Mm~!” You gasped, then coughed, hoping to sufficiently cover the sound, and shouted, “What?! N-No, no I’m not!”

“Oh, please, you are not a good liar.” House tapped his cane on the exam table, right between your legs. Not touching you, not even close. He just wanted to imply that he could. “To administer a masculinizing dose of testosterone in patients assigned female at birth, they can either self-inject, or they can rub themselves with what’s essentially lotion. So why would you choose stabbing yourself in the leg unless you want to stab yourself in the leg? And why would you want to stab yourself in the leg? Because you’re a pain slut. Am I wrong?”

No. No, he was not. Well, that isn't why you chose injections, but you were a pain slut. Of course, you didn’t wanna admit that to him. That’d just make you even more pathetic. Oh well, it’s not like you needed to say anything anyway. The mortified look on your face was proof enough.

“So! What brings you in today? Bruised butt-cheeks from your Daddy taking you over his knee too hard?”

You rolled your eyes at his snarky comment, trying to stick up for yourself and what little shreds of dignity you had left. “My STD test results.”

“Oh, sure. Figures you would need to know that. Can’t have Typhoid Mary taking backshots at the circuit party. What types of sex are you having?”

Used to these questions every time you get tested, you rattled them off nonchalantly. “Vaginal, oral, and anal.”

“Not letting anything go to waste, huh? I like it. How many sexual partners do you have currently?”

Wait a minute. You just needed to hear the results. What’s this guy doing? “Uh… didn’t the nurse already ask me these questions?”

“I’m sure someone did. I just want to hear you answer them.”

You crossed your arms and stared straight through him, silently, baring an expression that sufficiently said cut the shit without the need for any verbal assistance.

Dr. House pouted. “You’re no fun.” He opened the folder he had came in with, what he was initially supposed to give you. He had just been dilly-dallying to kill time. “All negative. You’re clean. Well, in this one aspect, you’re clean. Morally, you’re about the furthest thing from it.” Again, he smacked his cane on the table, in between your legs, this time in rhythm. “Just. My. Type.”

You squirmed, trying to shimmy backwards away from his cane. You cast your eyes downward, obscuring the profuse blush on your face. He didn’t need to know that he was getting to you. Still, it was flattering. You cleared your throat. “Uh… Thank you? I guess?”

“You’re welcome. Oh, and one more thing. I saw that your chart lists recreational ketamine usage. Is that true?”

“Yeah, actually. Why do you ask? Are you gonna tell me to quit?”

“Ugh, please. I’m a doctor, not a narc. Here, watch.” Dr. House reached into his pocket and took out a jar of pills. He opened it, poured a ridiculous amount of pills into his palm, and dry swallowed them. “See? Now we’re both junkies! But, you do have a point. It’s my Hippocratic duty to look out for my patients’ well-being. The street supply of ketamine can be mixed with dangerous additives like fentanyl or crack, which would put you at risk for overdosing. You want a scrip for the good shit?”

Oh? On god? Ethics and potential felony charges be damned. The weirdly hot doctor wants to hook you up with substances? Weapons grade ketamine? You’d be an idiot to pass it up. “Oh! Sure, thank you!”

“It does come with a pretty hefty co-pay though.”

“Oh…” Your face dropped. “How much?”

“Bend over.”

—

“Ahhh, modern medicine is amazing, isn’t it?”

Dr. House sighed in pleasure as he rutted into you from behind. Your legs were cramping, held apart in an awkward position. Your arms were cold against the metal slab of the table, and so was your face, buried within them to cover your shame and soundproof your moans. Apparently, that “copay" he mentioned was just a euphemism. Some dumb excuse to get you to trade pussy for premium drugs. And you were dumb enough to do it. Just his lucky day. Keep your face down, keep your mouth shut, and just let him use you. The high will be well worth it.

"Hey, faggot," He spat, and yanked you up out of the darkness by your hair. Your eyes stung, shocked by the fluorescent clinic lighting. "I'm talking to you. Are you always this rude to everyone who fucks you?"

"S-Sor—Sorry! I'm sor—fuck! Fuck!"

"Shut the fuck up, whore," House clamped his hand over your mouth, holding you even tighter against him. You couldn't move, you couldn't speak. Your only function was getting him off. "If we get caught, you don't get your ket. Now, mmm, fuck yeah, tell me... Isn't modern medicine amazing?"

Without the ability to verbally agree, you nodded.

"Do you know why I'm saying it's amazing?"

You shook your head.

He chuckled devilishly before growling in your ear,

"Because I can blow my load in a tight little tranny boy's cunt without worrying about knocking him up."

[onewithblankets]

pro tips for administering your own t shots

aight so i’ve been doing the whole self injection thing for nine/ten-ish months now, and as someone who’s always been, and still is, a little squeamish around needles, here are some things that help:

when you wipe down the injection site (I do my thighs, intramuscular injection) with an alcohol wipe, wait a little bit for the skin to dry before sticking the needle in. i’ve found this helps reduce the sting a bit.

listen to music. it helps make the whole process a little less nerve-wracking when you’re humming along to a song you like as you prep your syringe.

along the same lines as the last point, I like to use certain beats of a song as a ‘countdown’ almost, to hype myself up for the injection itself. instead of going “three-two-one” and then sticking the needle in, i’ll go “alright, i’ll put on cotard’s solution and stick it in when he starts screaming.” definitely makes the anticipation of the needle itself more bearable.

the anticipation is always worse than the actual injection. don’t let your own brain psyche you out of taking your t for fear of pain. i came into intramuscular injections thinking it’d be awful pain all the time, but half the time it’s barely more than a slight sting and usually doesn’t feel like anything after I put the bandaid on. i think i was more sore in the first couple weeks than i ever am now, though, so i may have just gotten used to it.

don’t inject too quickly, once you have the needle in your flesh. testosterone is pretty thick, so it’ll be a little slower coming out, and trying to push it too hard too fast will just make it uncomfortable or a little painful. 

do all the prepwork and keep everything together in front of you before you even uncap the first needle. make sure you have all the alcohol wipes, needles, vial, bandaids, and sharps box right next to you. you don’t want to pull your needle out of your thigh and then realize you don’t have a bandaid to put on the bleeding hole. that stuff gets everywhere.

alternate your injection sites. don’t do the exact same spot every single week (or however frequently you do your injections) or it will build up tougher tissue and make it harder for you to do injections. i just switch between left and right thighs every week.

once your t is in the syringe, keep your fingers/palms FAR AWAY from the plunger until the needle is inside you. you do not want to know how many times i accidentally squeezed some t out of my syringe because i was moving things around and absentmindedly squeezed on the plunger just a little too hard

check out Howard Brown! very good high quality videos on how to do subcutaneous and intramuscular injections + how to draw medicine out of the vial in the first place. highly recommend.

that’s all i can really think of atm. might update this later if i think of more things/figure something new and cool out for myself, though. hope it’s at least a little helpful for some of you funny internet people.

[scramratz]

Sorry if this is rude, but is there a reason you need to take needles? I heard there were pills and gels. I'm not trans myself so my knowledge is limited, but I'd love to learn :)

I love teaching! Yea there’s multiple methods but they all differ in price and effectiveness.

Subcutaneous and intramuscular testosterone shots are the most popular. They tend to be the cheapest option when paying out of pocket (what I do) and have faster results compared to other methods. Unfortunately, it also means you have to give yourself a shot every 1-2 weeks.

Androgel eliminates the need to do shots which is great for folks like me who have a fear of needles. Unfortunately, it tends to be very expensive out of pocket, less effective compared to injections, and some find the gel irritating and annoying to apply everyday. I can’t corroborate those claims that’s just what I’ve heard. Idk anyone who’s used patches but from what I’ve researched, it’s about the same as gel.

Now I haven’t heard anything about pills other than testosterone taken orally can fuck with your liver. Idk if that’s true and sources online aren’t very helpful but considering it wasn’t even an option offered to me, imma assume it’s true. If anyone takes testosterone pills lmk what it’s like!

So in conclusion, I’m poor.

[genderqueerdykes]

Topical or Injectable Testosterone Comparison: Which is Best For You?

i've met a lot of people who are unsure of which route of HRT they'd like to take. there are a lot of pros and cons to each one, I figured I would lay out some information to try to make that decision a bit easier for folks, as someone who has used both.

both forms of testosterone are equally as effective, topical is not "weaker" than injectable, everyone's bodies processes these hormones differently and the effectiveness depends on how your body processes medications, and your dosage.

Topical Testosterone

Taken daily, or for some folks, every few days

Either comes in a bottle with a pump that dispenses measured doses, or will come in a month's worth of small packets or tubes.

Many insurance plans in the United States will not cover topical testosterone for transgender or intersex HRT purposes, and if it is covered, it often costs an exorbitant amount of money- well into the hundreds of dollars

Requires clean skin prior to and covering the skin with clothing after application and avoiding swimming and showering for several hours after application

Hands must be washed afterwards to prevent transmission of the hormone to other people in your environment

Has a strong smell due to the gel being alcohol based

Can cause burning sensation if it accidentally gets into sensitive areas such as mucous membranes, cuts, your eyes, etc.

Can cause skin irritation in some folks, though this is rare

Being an alcohol based gel, it is very flammable, so caution is needed to be practiced around flames until the gel has dried

Can be easy to miss doses if you have chronic fatigue and/or illness, memory problems, mental health issues, or a busy lifestyle

Injectable Testosterone

Usually taken once or twice a week, depending on your needs

Testosterone cypionate is almost always covered by insurance in places where transgender HRT is a part of your plan. It is extremely cheap if it is not covered for whatever reason, usually costing around $15 for a month's worth of vials and syringes, but this can vary wildly depending on your area

Requires needles, syringes, a sharps container (safe container to dispose needles into), alcohol prep pads or isopropyl alcohol or other strong sterilizing agent for the injection site, bandages for applying to the site afterwards, and optionally gloves, but washing your hands prior to injecting works as well

If doing your own injections, you have to learn how to measure your dose accurately, and how to hold the needle at the angle most appropriate for your injections, as well as learning about if you need to do subcutaneous or intramuscular injections

Despite the amount of items required, injections are very quick and can be done and forgotten about until your next injection date- there is no daily maintenance for injections

You must switch up your injection spots every time you inject as to avoid damaging muscle and skin tissue

Injections can be done by endocrinologists and prescribers if you do not feel comfortable doing them yourself

It is possible for your skin to react to, or for you to be allergic to the injecting needles. This is rare, and can be addressed with your prescriber and/or an allergist

Testosterone cypionate will crystalize in cold temperatures. It will change in appearance and consistency, but can be returned to normal by placing the vial into warm water for a while and/or by shaking the vial for a while

this is not meant to be a comprehensive guide, but rather some observations ihave made in my 8 years of being on testosterone HRT. hope this is helpful, we will add anything else we can think of. good luck figuring out what's right for you in your journey

[saltyloafy]

I'm gonna make a more cohesive post about this later when I think about it, but for right now I'll say this: hey, if you're a trans man or just in general taking intramuscular testosterone injections, don't take your injection advice from randos on the Internet! make sure it's from a reputable source!! injecting can be dangerous and hurt a lot if you do it wrong (as I have been for... a while)

injecting into the deltoid (arm muscle right below your shoulder) is goated and superior and more people should know about it. it's the muscle that has the least amount of nerve endings out of the 3 recommended injection spots (thigh, ass, deltoid) and it's a very hard muscle to miss!

stay safe out there fellow trans people, and DO. YOUR. RESEARCH!!!! please talk to your doctors I'm begging you 🙏🙏

[shopcat]

okayy i'll just copy-paste it onto here cuz i don't have a scanner lol.

i used the informed consent model to start hrt for male-oriented transition at 17 and this is the info i was given by my doctor, who is a trans specialist! i figured it could be a helpful resource for transmascs/trans men/etc or even a writing resource as it goes over a lot ^_^

A Guide to Testosterone Therapy for Gender Transition

Hormone therapy can have positive and important effects on trans people's quality of life, but it's important to know about the health risks and know what to expect, so that you can work with your doctor to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks.

The purpose of this booklet is to:

Explain how hormones work

Describe the changes to expect from testosterone

Outline possible risks and side effects of testosterone

Give you information about how to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks

This booklet is written specifically for people in the FTM* spectrum who are considering taking testosterone. It may also be a helpful resource for partners, family and friends.

* FTM is shorthand for a spectrum that includes not just transsexuals, but anyone who was assigned "female" at birth and who identifies as male, masculine or a man some or all of the time, including non-binary, genderqueer and androgynous people.

How Hormones Work

Hormones are chemical messengers produced by one part of the body to tell cells in another part of the body how to function, when to grow, when to divide, and when to die. They regulate many functions, including growth, sex drive, hunger, thirst, digestion, metabolism, fat burning and storage, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and reproduction.

Sex hormones regulate the development of sex characteristics – including the sex organs that develop before we are born (genitals, ovaries, testicles, etc) and also the secondary sex characteristics that typically develop at puberty (facial/body hair, bone growth, breast growth, voice changes, etc). The three categories of sex hormones that naturally occur are:

androgens: testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydrotestosterone (DHT)

oestrogens: oestradiol, oestriol, oestrone

progestagens: progesterone

Generally, "males"* tend to have higher androgen levels, and "females" tend to have higher levels of ostrogens and progestagens.

Changing the levels of sex hormone in the body will affect hair growth, voice pitch, fat distribution, muscle mass and other features that are associated with sex and gender. This can help make the body look and feel lesrs "feminine" and more "masculine" – making your body more closely match your identity.

* The binary terms male, female, masculine and feminine don't accurately reflect the diversity of trans people's bodies or identities. But it is helpful to understand how hormones work in "typical" (non-trans or cis-gendered) men's bodies, and how ostrogen works in "typical" women's bodies.

What Medications Are Involved in FTM Hormone Therapy?

Testosterone (sometimes called "T") is the main hormone responsible for promoting male physical traits. It works directly on tissues in your body (e.g. stimulating clitoral growth) and also indirectly by suppressing ostrogen production. If your menstrual periods don't stop within 3 months of taking testosterone, a 3 monthly progesterone injection can be given until the testosterone kicks in.

Assigned at birth females who have androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) won't get any effects from taking testosterone. In AIS, the body's receptors don't respond to testosterone (whether produced naturally or taken externally). However speech therapy, chest surgery and genital surgery can still be used in FTMs with AlS.

Testosterone can be taken in different ways:

injection (intramuscular)

skin patch or gel (transdermal)

pill (oral)

The way you take testosterone seems to affect how rapidly the changes happen.

Transdermal application causes the same degree of masculinisation as injection, but takes longer to suppress menstruation and make facial/body hair grow. Oral testosterone is the least effective and most dangerous due to risk to the liver, so is not used.

With Transdermal testosterone, the daily dosing means a more steady blood level of testosterone. With injecting there is a peak right after the injection and a dip at the end of the injection cycle. This can increase side effects at both ends of the cycle (e.g. aggression when testosterone peaks, fatigue and irritability when it dips). This can be reduced by injecting a smaller dose every 7 to 10 days, or by switching to the long-acting injectable testosterone which gives a longer plateau of testosterone lasting up to 3 months.

What's a Typical Dose?

Clinical protocols vary greatly and there is no one right type or dose that is best to use. Deciding what to take depends on your health, what is available locally, and what you can afford. It also depends on how your body reacts when you start taking testosterone.

The right type or dose for you may not be the same as for someone else. Always discuss the pros and cons of different options with your doctor and voice any concerns you have.

This table summarizes the forms of testosterone most commonly used by FTMs in Australia. You may be started on a lower dose if you have chronic health problems or are at risk for specific side effects, or have had your ovaries removed.

Forms of Testosterone Commonly Used

(note from me: use this section more as a general guide, as it is particular to aus almost 5 years ago. still pretty helpful otherwise.)

Intramuscular Injection, short-acting: Brand – Primoteston. 150-250mg fortnightly. $10. Pros – Rapid changes. Cheap. Cons – More side effects at beginning and end of cycle. More injections.

Intramuscular Injection, long-acting: Brand – Reandron. 1000mg every 8 to 12 weeks. $40. Pros – Rapid changes. More stable T levels. Cons – Not able to be self-injected (you will need to see a nurse). (i take this! it's every 15 - 17 weeks now.)

Transdermal: Gel – Testogel, Axiron. Patch – Androderm. 5-10g per day. $30 per month. Pros – More stable levels, less ups and downs. No needles. Cons – Changes take longer to happen when first starting. More expensive. Daily treatment. Risk of gel getting onto partner or pets.

Costs vary depending on pharmacy. These costs are based on PBS subsidy which assumes the person has a Medicare card. Costs are higher without this subsidy.

Every person is different in terms of how their body absorbs, processes and responds to sex hormones. Some people have more changes than others; changes happen more quickly for some people than others. Taking more than the dose you were prescribed – or taking another kind of steroid as well as your prescribed dose (sometimes called "stacking") – is not a good way to speed up changes. Taking a higher dose can actually slow down the changes you want: extra testosterone can be converted to oestrogen by an enzyme in your body called aromatase.

Taking more than your prescribed dose also greatly increases your health risks. If you think your dose is too low, talk to your doctor about your concerns. It may be better to try a different type rather than increase the dose.

Obtaining anabolic steroids through other means (such as through gyms or the internet) is a really bad idea, as these are often veterinary grade steroids which have not gone through the same rigorous quality assurance process that is applied to human pharmaceuticals, and it is very easy to overdose and cause serious liver damage. If you are taking these steroids please tell your doctor so that they can monitor your health.

If you have had your ovaries removed your body will producing a much smaller amount of oestrogen, so the dosage of testosterone is usually reduced. However you will need to stay on testosterone for the rest of your life to preserve bone strength.

What Changes Can I Expect, and How Soon?

Hormone therapy has important psychological benefits, helping to bring the mind and body closer together and easing dysphoria. People often describe feeling less anxious, less depressed, calmer and happier when they start taking hormones. For some people this psychological change happens as soon as they start taking hormones, and for others it happens as physical changes progress.

The degree and rate of change depends on factors that are different for every person, including your age and how sensitive your body is to testosterone. There is no way to predict how you will respond before you start.

Effects and Expected Time Course of Masculinizing Hormones*

Typical changes from testosterone

Skin oiliness/acne. Onset: 1-6 mth. Maximum effect: 1-2 yr.

Facial/body hair growth. Onset: 3-6 mth. Maximum effect: 3-5 yr.

Scalp hair loss. Onset: >12 mth. Maximum effect: variable.

Increased muscle mass. Onset: 6-12 mth. Maximum effect: 2-5 yr.

Body fat redistribution. Onset: 3-6 mth. Maximum effect: 2-5 yr.

Menstruation (period) stops. Onset: 2-6 mth.

Deepened voice. Onset: 3-12 mth. Maximum effect: 1-2 yr.

Clitoral enlargement. Onset: 3-6 mth. Maximum effect: 1-2 yr.

Vaginal dryness. Onset: 1-6 mth. Maximum effect: 1-2 yr.

Testosterone affects the entire body.

It's not possible to pick some changes and not others.

* Adapted from WPATH Standards of Care version 7

(note from me: the onset and "maximum effect" of these changes are not set in stone or fused to a certain timeline. after a certain period of time if you continue hrt your body will take on the characteristics of a typical cis male's and what you are genetically predisposed to. everybody's body changed as they age, like how a 20 year old cis man and his 30 year old self are wildly different, and this will happen to you too! also, for example, i started growing facial hair around 6 months, true, but i'm 5 years in now and it's only just started actually growing in properly, and that's also because i'm... 22 and not a teenager anymore, y'know? my (cis) brother's beard only filled in when he was 26, a lot of it's just genetics!)

Most of the effects of hormones happen in the first two years. During this time, your doctor will want to see you one month after starting hormones, then 3-4 times in the next year, then every 6 months. At appointments in the first two years your doctor will:

order a blood test to check hormone levels, liver function and red cell count

ask you about physical changes

ask you how you feel about the changes that have happened thus far

Are These Changes Permanent?

Most of the noticeable changes caused by taking testosterone are not fully reversible, even if you stop taking the hormone.

Irreversible: deeper voice, male-pattern baldness, facial hair, clitoral growth

Reversible: menstrual periods, muscle/fat/skin changes

The long-term effects on fertility are not fully understood. There is a chance you will be permanently sterile after taking testosterone for some time, in other words, you may not be able to become pregnant if you stop taking testosterone.

What Won't Change?

1. Hormone therapy won't solve all body image problems.

The point of hormone therapy is to make you feel more comfortable with your body which can increase self-esteem and make you feel more confident and attractive. It can be hard to separate out gender dysphoria from body image problems.

Counselling (therapy) can be helpful to sort out your expectations about your appearance, and to work towards greater self-acceptance.

2. Hormone therapy won't make you into somebody else.

Many people experience positive emotional changes with hormone therapy. But after the excitement wears off, and you've incorporated the changes into your daily life, you'll likely find that your personality remains unchanged. Whatever you see as your strengths and weaknesses will still be there. Hopefully you will be happier and more accepting of yourself, but if you re expecting all of your problems to disappear you're probably going to be disappointed.

This extends to mental health concerns as well. People who were depressed because of gender dysphoria may find that taking hormones greatly alleviates their depression. However if you have depression caused by biological factors, the stresses of transphobia, or unresolved personal issues, you may still be depressed after you start hormones.

3. Hormone therapy won't provide you with a perfect community.

For some trans people, hormone therapy is a ritual affirming that they are who they say they are. Making physical changes is a way to bring who you are to the rest of the world so that other people can see it. This process of self-emergence can be very liberating, but it does not guarantee that you will find acceptance or understanding.

When starting hormones there can be a drive to find other people who have gone through similar experiences. There are a lot of very cool trans people to talk with about hormones, but having taken hormones doesn't automatically make trans people welcoming, approachable or sensitive. Being realistic about the likelihood that you will at times feel lonely and alone after you start taking hormones is part of emotionally preparing for hormone therapy.

4. Hormone therapy won't remove all female aspects of your body.

Some physical characteristics aren't changed by hormone therapy, or are only slightly changed. This includes things that have developed before birth (vagina, chromosomes) and also physical changes that occurred during puberty.

Testosterone does make your voice pitch drop, but it does not change intonation and other speech patterns that are associated with gender socialization rather than hormones.

Testosterone does not make breast tissue go away, you will need surgery for this change to occur.

Once your bones have stopped growing after puberty, testosterone won't change the size or shape of your bones. You will not grow taller or get bigger hands or feet.

Since effects on fertility are unpredictable, there is a chance you could still become pregnant. Depending on how you have sex, you may need to use birth control.

Testosterone is toxic to the developing foetus and you cannot take it whilst pregnant.

Testosterone tends to make the vagina drier and the cervix more fragile, so if you have vaginal sex you should add extra lubricant to avoid breaking latex or tearing your vaginal lining.

What are the Possible Side Effects/Risks of Testosterone?

The long-term safety of testosterone is not fully understood. Most of the studies on hormone therapy involve cis-gendered men taking testosterone. There may be long-term risks that are not yet known.

1. Testosterone can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

Testosterone tends to:

Decrease good cholesterol (HDL) and increase bad cholesterol (LDL)

Increase fat deposits around internal organs and in the upper abdomen

Increase blood pressure

Decrease the body's sensitivity to insulin

Cause weight gain

These changes may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes. The risks are greater for those who smoke, are overweight, or have a family history of heart disease. Many of the contributing factors to these conditions can be reduced by creating a care plan that is tailored to your specific situation. Stopping smoking, exercising, eating well and having periodic blood tests are all key steps in reducing your risks.

2. Testosterone can increase red blood cells and haemoglobin.

The increase is usually only to the average male range, but a higher increase can cause potentially life-threatening problems such as stroke and heart attack.

Blood tests will check on this.

3. Testosterone can cause or worsen headaches and migraines.

If you are getting frequent headaches/migraines or the pain is unusually bad, tell your doctor.

4. Cancer risk is not significantly affected.

Breast cancer, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer are all sensitive to ostrogen, and there is evidence that some testosterone is converted to ostrogen. Studies have not however found a definite increase in rate of cancers in trans men on testosterone. However risk is likely to be increased if you have a family history of these cancers, are aged >50, or are overweight. It is important to discuss screening tests that may be appropriate.

5. Testosterone can negatively affect mental health.

In some people testosterone can cause increased irritability, frustration and anger. People with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia may be destabilized. Using daily Transdermal testosterone can help with mood swings.

6. There can be social consequences to taking testosterone.

Being visibly trans in a transphobic society carries risks. Harrassment, violence, discrimination, loss of employment, loss of support from loved ones can all occur.

Peer support and counselling can be very helpful.

7. Pelvic Pain in Trans Men.

Some people develop pelvic pain after being on testosterone for some time. This can be like period pain and can occur monthly or in a random fashion. If this happens to you be sure to tell your doctor so it may be properly investigated.

Health Checkups While You're Taking Testosterone

As long as you are taking testosterone (possibly for the rest of your life) you need to have regular physical exams and lab tests to monitor your overall health. Initially these checkups will be every few months. Expect your doctor to:

Ask about your overall health

Check your blood pressure, weight, heart rate

Order blood tests to check red blood cells, blood sugar, cholesterol, liver health and hormone levels

Recommend other tests such as bone density tests or heart tests as needed, depending on your health and any signs of problems

Routine breast and cervical cancer checks (mammograms, Pap smears) as per the usual screening guidelines (generally every 2 years)

There are some health problems that make it dangerous to take testosterone (eg uncontrolled heart disease) – your doctor will do everything possible to control the disease so that you are able to take hormones, but may need to change the dose and type of testosterone to protect your health.

Maximizing the Benefits, Minimizing the Risks

What can you do to ensure your therapy is safe and effective?

Be informed. Understanding how testosterone works, what to expect, possible side effects/risks, and guidelines for care gives you the tools to be in charge of your health and make informed decisions.

If you smoke, stop or cut down. Smoking greatly increases risks. If you are a smoker, your testosterone level may have to be kept low. Your doctor can help you to quit.

Find a health care provider you trust and can be honest with. You need to be able to talk openly about what you want, and any concerns or problems. You also need to be able to talk openly about drug and alcohol use, supplements and anything else you are taking.

Deal with problems early on. If caught early most problems can be dealt with so that you don't have to stop your hormones. Waiting can worsen your health to the point where you can't safely take testosterone.

Don't change medication on your own. Check with your doctor if you want to stop, start or change the dose. Taking more frequently or at a higher dose increases health risks and can slow down the effects you want.

Take a holistic approach to your health. Health involves more than just hormone levels.

Know where to go for help. There are peer support groups and counsellors who can play a role in assisting you.

This brochure has been modified from "Hormones: A Guide for FTMs" by Vancouver Coastal Health.

Testosterone Informed Consent Information

Testosterone treatment will cause some permanent and many reversible changes in your body. Some of these changes you may want (like facial hair and a deeper voice) but some you may not (like baldness). Before you start taking testosterone, it is important that you have a good understanding of these effects as well as the risks involved in taking testosterone. If while reading this form you have questions, make sure you discuss them with your doctor so you have a realistic expectation of what will happen and what may happen.

It is also important that you understand that testosterone is not the only way that all FTM transgender patients choose to be treated. Just as chromosomes and genitals do not define your gender identity, neither does which hormones are in your body or what surgeries you choose to have. So it is important that you decide what goals you would like to achieve in your treatment and discuss these with your doctor. Deciding not to take testosterone, to delay taking testosterone, or to take a lower dose than others are all valid choices and do not make you "less trans". Gender identity can only be determined by you based on how you feel inside, not the choices you make about your medical care.

Permanent Changes

These will not go away if you stop taking testosterone:

Will happen:

Increased facial and body hair. Not just on your face, chest and stomach. You may also get hairs on your back, buttocks, and even in your ears.

Deepened voice. How deep your voice will get is variable from one person to the next.

Enlargement of the clitoris to an average of 4-5cm (< 2 inches) after 1-3 years.

May happen:

If you have not finished puberty, you might have a growth spurt and closure of growth plates.

Male pattern baldness (may be partially treatable), genetic.

Changes in your ovaries that may make it difficult or impossible for you to produce eggs or get pregnant even if you stop taking testosterone.

Changes in your uterus (like fibroids) or ovaries (like cysts) that may make hysterectomy (removal of uterus) and oophorectomy (removal of ovaries) more difficult if you eventually choose to have these surgeries.

Rarely, benign or malignant liver tumours or other liver disease (usually only in those who take oral testosterone)

Possible but uncertain increase risk of developing osteoporosis (thinning and weakening of bones) that may become worse after ovary removal or if you stop taking testosterone.

Reversible Changes

These occur with testosterone treatment but generally will go away if you stop taking testosterone:

Increased libido (sex drive) and changes in sexual behaviour.

Increased muscle mass (especially upper body strength)

Redistribution of fat to a more typical male pattern (to the stomach instead of hips and thighs)

Increased sweat and changes in body odour.

Increased appetite, weight gain, and fluid retention.

Acne of the face, back and chest, especially in the first few years of treatment (which if severe, may cause permanent scarring).

Prominence of veins and coarser skin.

Emotional changes (both good and bad).

Worsening of blood cholesterol levels which might increase your risks of heart attacks and strokes.

Increase in red blood count (which rarely if severe and untreated can make you more likely to have strokes, heart attacks or blood clots).

Stopping menstruation (periods). This may take several months or may be immediate.

Vaginal dryness and itching that may make vaginal penetration painful.

Interference with other medications that you may take.

Worsening of or increased risk of getting certain diseases. If you think you have or are developing these diseases, it is important to tell your doctor. They can be treated and having them doesn't necessarily mean you have to stop taking testosterone: Type 2 diabetes, Liver disease, High blood pressure, High cholesterol, Heart disease, Migraine headaches, Sleep apnoea, Epilepsy

[cometbeast]

diy masculinising hrt guide (uk)

1. set up online/mobile banking if you haven't already (this step may not be necessary depending on payment method)

2. go to suppdirect.com

3. order a 10ml vial testosterone cypionate or testosterone enanthate, with shipping this will be about 40 quid

4. choose to pay by bank transfer at checkout

5. wait for an email with payment details

6. follow the instructions in the email (they used to send bank details but now send a link to a payment portal)

8. you can find videos showing how to do intramuscular injections on youtube

7. order 1ml syringes and needles from a website like medisave.co.uk

re: needle size: 1 inch needles are suitable for intramuscular injection. you need a smaller gauge for injecting (23-27) and a larger gauge for drawing up the medication (21-18). supposedly 18g needles can damage the rubber seal of the vial over time but i have never had this problem 🤷‍♂️ over time you'll work out your preferences

9. start with 25mg per week if you want slower changes, 50mg for faster changes, eventually moving up to 100. if the vial is 200mg/ml 25mg will be 1/8 of a ml and 50mg will be 1/4 of a ml

[ruffboijuliaburnsides]

Hey guys if you inject intramuscular testosterone and you're stabbing your thigh, you can gently hit a vein just so that you go in one side and out the other without pain or notable bleeding, and far enough from the end of the fully inserted needle that a pull back on the plunger shows no blood. You can then inject your T, blissfully unaware, and then cause a small blood geyser when you pull the needle out, scaring yourself with how loud you cuss as you slap an alcohol wipe over that bitch! 😄

It will then proceed to immediately behave exactly like every other successful injection, as if denying it just pressure shot your blood three full inches into the air in the most dramatic way possible. It will not acknowledge the blood smeared around it. It doesn't know what you're talking about.

It's a great demonstration of why you shouldn't remove the object if you're stabbed or impaled tho. Imagine if that had been larger than a 22 gauge needle, y'know? XD

[sfwtoddfoxglove]

So, I just did my first testosterone injection and I have some thoughts.

(tw for discussion of syringes, injections, and medical stuff)

So, when I got my HRT prescription from planned parenthood telehealth, and while my appointment went was easy enough, they didn't listen to me and actually messed up my prescription. They asked me if I had a preference between intramuscular or subcutaneous injections, and I specifically told them that I was familiar with subcutaneous injections and have given them to myself before, but I am freaked out by the idea of giving myself a deep injection with a big needle into my muscle.

Guess which one I'm prescribed?

Technically, I was prescribed the intramuscular only formula and intramuscular needles, but the testosterone label incorrectly says "inject subcutaneously".

So of course, I was freaking the fuck out. Pissed. "I'm gonna have to call them. I'm gonna need a new appointment. I'm gonna have to wait!"

My partner popped his head up from his video. "I know how to do those."

I kinda didn't believe him, but it turns out that he knew what he was talking about, so he kinda psyched me up and had me pull down my boxers, and he put it in my ass (pun intended). It didn't hurt, it just felt like pressure more than anything else.

My partner put an orange bandaid on it. It was easy.

Now here comes the good part 😁