Dependence?

[Alexmakenoise]

I see it differently.  After years of having to take various medications on a daily basis, I view it as a great freedom to no longer have to worry about it.  It's one less thing tying me down, burning a whole in my wallet, potentially causing problems (side effects), etc.  I'm pretty reluctant to put myself back in that situation voluntarily.

This is one reason why I'm not transitioning.

[IowaBoy]

Have any of you tried the natural T boosters used by body builders? I've been doing research to see if they would produce enough to replace shots. My guess is no, but I've heard some anecdotal evidence that it might.

[LordKAT]

Have any of you tried the natural T boosters used by body builders? I've been doing research to see if they would produce enough to replace shots. My guess is no, but I've heard some anecdotal evidence that it might.

You don't have T factories (testicles) to boost. Your body makes some T but not near enough and you still have ovaries making E. You may notice a difference but most likely, not enough to not get shots. If you have PCOS it may work for you.


As to hysterectomy for bottom surgery, it isn't necessary. I felt it necessary for my sanity to have a hysto and remove ovaries too.

[insideontheoutside]

I see it differently.  After years of having to take various medications on a daily basis, I view it as a great freedom to no longer have to worry about it.  It's one less thing tying me down, burning a whole in my wallet, potentially causing problems (side effects), etc.  I'm pretty reluctant to put myself back in that situation voluntarily.

This is one reason why I'm not transitioning.

I feel this way too. Although I was never on other medications long term. Where some guys have posted that it's just part of their "healthy" existence, I feel the exact opposite. For me, it just wasn't healthy. It didn't feel "right" at all and wasn't some magic ticket to male-land for me. And the more research I did on how the human body utilizes hormones and how important balanced hormones (balanced in a personalized way - I don't think everyone is the exact same in that department) are, the more I knew it wasn't a path I needed to explore further.

[Electric Wizard]

To me, it's just another medication. I am already on anti-depressants, plus supplements for a genetic metabolic disorder. Both of those will be for life. Why not add a shot in there too? :-P The supplements are covered by OHIP (provincial health insurance), and the T and anti-depressants are cheap. In total, it's about $60 a month, which is not much.

[Cowboi]

To me, it's just another medication. I am already on anti-depressants, plus supplements for a genetic metabolic disorder. Both of those will be for life. Why not add a shot in there too? :-P The supplements are covered by OHIP (provincial health insurance), and the T and anti-depressants are cheap. In total, it's about $60 a month, which is not much.

Heck I get my prescription from Stroheckers (which will mail pretty much anywhere in the US and is an actual pharmacy for anyone who hasn't heard of them) and pay about $65 for a bottle of T, which lasts for a few months, plus all of the needles/alcohol pads/syringes I need for that time period. It really does not have to be as expensive as some people allow it to be. If I bought it at a local pharmacy I would be paying $120 just for the T. You just have to look around for good deals with honest companies

[Darrin Scott]

Heck I get my prescription from Stroheckers (which will mail pretty much anywhere in the US and is an actual pharmacy for anyone who hasn't heard of them) and pay about $65 for a bottle of T, which lasts for a few months, plus all of the needles/alcohol pads/syringes I need for that time period. It really does not have to be as expensive as some people allow it to be. If I bought it at a local pharmacy I would be paying $120 just for the T. You just have to look around for good deals with honest companies

I'll keep them in mind.

[Elijah3291]

Heck I get my prescription from Stroheckers (which will mail pretty much anywhere in the US and is an actual pharmacy for anyone who hasn't heard of them) and pay about $65 for a bottle of T, which lasts for a few months, plus all of the needles/alcohol pads/syringes I need for that time period. It really does not have to be as expensive as some people allow it to be. If I bought it at a local pharmacy I would be paying $120 just for the T. You just have to look around for good deals with honest companies

yup! I bought my T from wallgreens two times, it was about 106, NOT INCLUDING alcohol wipes and needles, I went to stroheckers and got my vial, AND 10 needles, AND ten alcohol wipes for I think 60 dollars.  and the people there are super nice. Im gonna keep going to stroheckers untill I die, or untill they go out of buisiness, only bad thing is they dont deliver to my north carolina, so I have to send it to my dad in texas, then he mails it to me.

[Adio]

yup! I bought my T from wallgreens two times, it was about 106, NOT INCLUDING alcohol wipes and needles, I went to stroheckers and got my vial, AND 10 needles, AND ten alcohol wipes for I think 60 dollars.  and the people there are super nice. Im gonna keep going to stroheckers untill I die, or untill they go out of buisiness, only bad thing is they dont deliver to my north carolina, so I have to send it to my dad in texas, then he mails it to me.

I feel the same way.  I've already emailed them and asked for a list of states they are unable to ship to.  Just so that I'll never move to those states LOL That's probably really sad, but I don't know of any other place that does it like that (vial, needles, alcohol wipes) for that price.

[Darrin Scott]

Does anyone know if Stroheckers ships to Florida?

[Henri]

Does anyone know if Stroheckers ships to Florida?

I second that question. That would be really sweet.

You don't have T factories (testicles) to boost. Your body makes some T but not near enough and you still have ovaries making E. You may notice a difference but most likely, not enough to not get shots. If you have PCOS it may work for you.


As to hysterectomy for bottom surgery, it isn't necessary. I felt it necessary for my sanity to have a hysto and remove ovaries too.

Since you got those surgeries done, it wouldn't be healthy for you not to be on any hormones, right? Like you couldn't just decide not to take anything anymore? (just for clarification, hope you don't mind me asking)

[Adio]

Getting a bit off topic, but for those interested, these are the states that Stroheckers cannot currently ship to:

North Carolina, Virginia, Arizona, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, West Virginia.

[LordKAT]

Since you got those surgeries done, it wouldn't be healthy for you not to be on any hormones, right? Like you couldn't just decide not to take anything anymore? (just for clarification, hope you don't mind me asking)

Since I have no ovaries I need to get T or E from an outside  source. I could go without but that would be medically devastating in the long run.

[Cowboi]

Getting a bit off topic, but for those interested, these are the states that Stroheckers cannot currently ship to:

North Carolina, Virginia, Arizona, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, West Virginia.

This is not accurate, I'm not sure if any of the other states are mistakes but they do ship to Nebraska. I live there and they've been shipping to me for almost 3 years now.

[Adio]

This is not accurate, I'm not sure if any of the other states are mistakes but they do ship to Nebraska. I live there and they've been shipping to me for almost 3 years now.

Glad to hear it.  That's just the list that Stroheckers sent me.  I didn't pull it off a website or anything.  It's possible that it was just a typo.

[Cowboi]

Maybe I'm just the only guy in Nebraska they like lol.

No, honestly I know my old endo recommended them to pretty much everyone after I told her about them and several guys here still get their stuff from them to my knowledge. I haven't been on  for 8 months so it has been awhile since I ordered anything. Maybe it's a newer regulation? Or a super old one they forgot to correct on their list? I'd be more curious but I'm moving to Florida anyways so, doesn't really personally effect me anymore lol.

[robokot]

This is one of the things that concerns me as well, I saw this video on youtube and this guy talks about the potential danger of your body not handling T very well after having surgery.

[LordKAT]

He also says that you have to lower your T dose after surgery, My endo says not. I have not experienced and problems post surgery and don't believe it to be a common problem. If you don't have T receptors maybe a problem but your body will turn T to E so having to get E instead makes no sense.

[N.Chaos]

The whole dependence issue is one (relatively small) part of why I don't want to go on it. That, and I'm afraid of needles to the point where I need to be sedated to get blood work or vaccinations.

The big reasons for me are that I feel like I really don't need it, and I could easily see myself not getting quick changes, and then overdosing (or trying to) on it. I've done that with just about every medication I've ever been on, specifically my antidepressants. I've kind of accepted the fact that me + drugs of any kind = bad news. So I'm just thankful that I don't want a massive amount of facial hair, and that my voice is damn deep already.

[Nemo]

Is it true that synthetic T depends on petroleum product for its synthesis?

Can't speak for all, but generally no. Sustanon uses peanut oil, there's another similar one which uses castor oil, as well as Nebido. The only one I can think of that may stem from petrol is Testogel (or Androgel, depending where you're from).

He also says that you have to lower your T dose after surgery, My endo says not. I have not experienced and problems post surgery and don't believe it to be a common problem. If you don't have T receptors maybe a problem but your body will turn T to E so having to get E instead makes no sense.

Actually, Dr Curtis in London (the guy who prescribed my hormones) had just this problem; he was very unlucky in that after an early hysto, no form of T would agree with him, and after about four years he had to go on E instead. However, I don't believe that kind of reaction is that common (correct me if I'm wrong). The only problem I've had post-hysto is low T levels - I had to double my dose just to stay out of lethargy.

In answer to the OP, I just see it as a necessary medication. Similar to the anti-depressants I was on for a while several years ago, although obviously T's more ongoing. I certainly function better on it than I did E.