Subcutaneous Injection vs Intramuscular

[Dana88]

I got an odd question for y'all! So, it's been a long time since I've posted on here regularly. Because of that, a little update. I'm nearly three years on HRT. I'm a little over one year post GCS. So, when I first started HRT nearly three years ago, I was started on just a small dose of estrogen orally. I had some nipple development but no breast budding. Then I was switched after three months to subcutaneous injection once a week. In those three months, I got breast buds and grew to a small A-cup. Then my endocrinologist switched me to intramuscular injections which I was on for a year and half. In that time, I got barely any more breast growth. There was no appreciable difference between month 4 of HRT to the start of year 2 of HRT. In fact, occasionally it would feel like I would lose breast growth. My nipples would get less sensitive and I swear I felt like what little breast I had would almost go away. I had a tiny tiny growth spurt after my GCS, but again, not much. So at a year post GCS, two and a half years on HRT, with my endocrinologist's permission, I went back to subcutaneous injections. The only time I ever had appreciable breast growth was in that three months that I was on subcutaneous towards the beginning of my transition. Suddenly, my breasts are sore again. Suddenly it feels like there's an ever growing and getting larger ball underneath my nipples again. Everything I've read is that intramuscular injections are anecdotally more effective. Has anyone ever had a better experience in regards to breast growth with subcutaneous injections?

[Gertrude]

Are the forms of estrogen with the injections the same? Are they the same amounts and frequency?


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[Dena]

One additional question is what did the lab results say with the different type of injections?

[Dana88]

Are the forms of estrogen with the injections the same? Are they the same amounts and frequency?


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Yup.

One additional question is what did the lab results say with the different type of injections?

Not sure, but I do know that when I was doing the IM injections, My levels were good and my endocrinologist was stumped as to why I wasn't really having breast growth. Also my endo is trans herself. That's not really relevant other than to say she's sensitive to the frustration and my concerns.

[SadieBlake]

My breast growth stalled after 3-4 months until I added micronized progesterone. I've only taken E by IM injection. The only difference between subcutaneous and IM should be the former has a slower release profile.

[Barb99]

I switched from pills to subcutaneous injection and my breast growth improved and continued until I had to stop for SRS. I restarted subcutaneous injection after SRS. All of my levels came back to where they were pre SRS but the breast growth never re-started.
My doc added progesterone and 4 weeks later the sensitive nipples and itching are back. My breasts now fill out a B cup and are continuing to grow.

[Dana88]

I switched from pills to subcutaneous injection and my breast growth improved and continued until I had to stop for SRS. I restarted subcutaneous injection after SRS. All of my levels came back to where they were pre SRS but the breast growth never re-started.
My doc added progesterone and 4 weeks later the sensitive nipples and itching are back. My breasts now fill out a B cup and are continuing to grow.

Yeah, I had a chat with my endo a long time go about going on Progesterone. My issue is that I'm pre-diabetic, and have been working on losing weight for the last two years (80 lbs down and counting). We spoke about side effects, one of which can be weight gain or more difficulty losing weight, and my body already has a hard time losing weight cause of my pre-diabetes. She was willing to prescribe it if I really wanted it, but in discussion, the conclusion I came to is that it's unlikely that adding P will give me so much more breast growth that I don't need or want breast augmentation. So at that point, if I'm gonna end up getting a BA anyway, why risk it the side effects. But now, with this new spurt of growth with the subcutaneous injections, I'm curious to see how long it lasts.

[Barb99]

I'm also curious to see how long my new growth spurt lasts!
My doctor did warn of side effects of increased appetite and/or mood changes, so we decided on a 90 day trial. I haven't had any problems with mood, but OMG I'm always hungry! It took me a few weeks to get that under control, but I'm doing ok now. I'll see how things are after the 90 days.

[KayXo]

This thread is interesting to me as I also noticed upon switching to intramuscular injections from pills, my breasts not only stopped growing but shrank. I felt psychologically better, however and my skin/hair improved markedly.

Recently, I added Estrogel, a small dose and my breasts have started to grow again. I feel good and my skin/hair are still in great shape.

It could be that with intramuscular, levels drop too quickly (mine went from 2,500 pg/ml to 1,300 pg/ml in just 2 days, from day 3 to day 5) in contrast to levels being more constant with subcutaneous. Pills and gel also deliver more constant levels and I've had success with both.