Is there a particular reason why

[Kylo]

T is usually administered via injection or gel? I heard there are actually T pills, but it is not an option in transsexual HRT from what I am told by staff in the GIC. Pills would be more convenient than either of these surely, if they exist?

[Dena]

I have always felt sorry for the FTMs not being able to use pills but from my understanding, T is not handled well by the body when it goes through the digestive track. We have that problem with estrogen as the absorption is not as good and it's supposed to give us a higher risk of blood clots and liver issues.

[Tysilio]

Yes, oral T is very bad for the liver. Injections, gel, and patches all bypass the digestive system.  They may be less convenient, but liver disease is a major inconvenience...

[HughE]

Apparently there is a liver safe oral testosterone formulation called Andriol, however the absorbtion isn't particularly good so you have to take quite a high dose of it per day to provide adequate male-typical T levels (meaning that it ends up being very expensive). That's probably why the GIC don't use it.

[FTMax]

Yes, oral T is very bad for the liver. Injections, gel, and patches all bypass the digestive system.  They may be less convenient, but liver disease is a major inconvenience...

This. I know oral options aren't available in the US, but I think they are available overseas in parts of Europe. If you are looking for ease of use, see if pellets are available where you are. You'd have to go to the doctor to get them implanted, but generally we're there every quarter or so for lab work anyway. But once they're in, you can just forget about them until your next appointment.

[Kylo]

Ah, I see. That would explain why I found people discussing it who were cis men. I guess they were concerned with boosting natural T levels for whatever reason and wouldn't need to take this thing religiously in large doses like we do. It made me wonder if the pills weren't that effective why they were being made and for whom.

Thanks for the replies, all.

[Kanzaki]

Well, that's my first time hearing they don't give T pills to trans guys. I know for a fact that a bunch of people where I live initially start on them and only later switch to injections. I live in Europe though, maybe that makes the difference. That being said, I can't imagine it would be good for your liver at all, yeah. I don't know about you, but taking pills all the time makes me feel like there's something wrong with me and like I'm sick (not physically sick as in vomiting, but the general "Oh, I'm sick and I have to take pills every day for a long time now"), even if they're just pain killers or plain old iron supplements. (By the way, taking pills at the same time every day is quite bothersome and tiring in the first place, plus there can always be random changes in your schedule.)

Either way, to answer your question, I'd say injections. Where I live, I don't think gel is even used in the first place, and for people in the US, I always see them talking about T shots, not T gels.

[Elis]

Well, that's my first time hearing they don't give T pills to trans guys. I know for a fact that a bunch of people where I live initially start on them and only later switch to injections. I live in Europe though, maybe that makes the difference. That being said, I can't imagine it would be good for your liver at all, yeah. I don't know about you, but taking pills all the time makes me feel like there's something wrong with me and like I'm sick (not physically sick as in vomiting, but the general "Oh, I'm sick and I have to take pills every day for a long time now"), even if they're just pain killers or plain old iron supplements. (By the way, taking pills at the same time every day is quite bothersome and tiring in the first place, plus there can always be random changes in your schedule.)

Either way, to answer your question, I'd say injections. Where I live, I don't think gel is even used in the first place, and for people in the US, I always see them talking about T shots, not T gels.

I think gel now is becoming a more common type of HRT; due to it being more 'natural' as you get a consistent daily supply of T. Also i saw my doctor recently who specialises in trans patients and he said it was a myth gel is less effective which was partly due to Sustanon being the first type of T available to trans men; so the first is usually seen as the better option. He also doesn't prescribe Sustanon anymore due to side effects. You don't tend to hear of Americans using T because it's so much more expensive than injections.
I haven't heard of pellets being available where I am (the UK) or pills. I hope pellets will be available in the future though as it sounds like the most convenient option.

[Kylo]

I don't have a problem taking pills; I had resigned myself to taking birth control pills forever in the past, at a particular time of day (on pain of death...lol)  at least I'd be wanting to take these.

[AnxietyDisord3r]

Another reason not to use gel is that you can accidentally transfer T through skin contact with an intimate partner. If you live by yourself, why not?

[Elis]

Another reason not to use gel is that you can accidentally transfer T through skin contact with an intimate partner. If you live by yourself, why not?

I don't think this is quite true. I use testogel and it only takes 3 minutes for it to dry on the skin and then you're good to go; although you have to give your hands a good wash after applying it. I used Testim for a month and took 5 min or more to dry and was much too sticky and easily transferable to other people if they got too close.

[FTMax]

Another reason not to use gel is that you can accidentally transfer T through skin contact with an intimate partner. If you live by yourself, why not?

I don't think this is quite true. I use testogel and it only takes 3 minutes for it to dry on the skin and then you're good to go; although you have to give your hands a good wash after applying it. I used Testim for a month and took 5 min or more to dry and was much too sticky and easily transferable to other people if they got too close.

Dry or not, it can still transfer apparently. I asked my doctor about it when I started on gel, and she told me I could absolutely not share shirts or bath towels with my girlfriend (unless they were freshly laundered and she used them before me) or have any kind of skin on skin contact without washing the area first. It was one of the reasons I haven't gone back to gel, just too inconvenient.