Estradiol valerate needle length...

[Daniellekai]

So, normally I'm given a 7/8th inch long needle for IM injection of estradiol... The ones I got this time were 5/8ths, and say for testosterone injection..  Granted I'm not filling them with T, but still a bit disconcerting. Should I be worried about this, or just happily use the shorter needles until the next refill?

[Dani]

For a deep intramuscular injection, you really should use a 1.5 inch needle.

To get to the muscle layers, really depends on how much fat is under the skin at your injection site.  Estradiol should be injected into the muscle, so I really do not think that a 5/8 inch needle will get you there.

Many people say "IM" when they really mean just under the fat layers and not into the deep muscle tissue.

[KayXo]

For injection into the muscle, 1.5 inch is indeed the minimum length, perhaps 1-1.25 inch if done in the thigh area. Subcutaneously, 5/8 th is fine, I think. Verify with the pharmacist/doctor.

[Colleen_definitely]

I use a 1.5"

[Margaret_B]

I uses a 1.5 25 or 27 ga with a 1ml syringe 3ml syringe too much pressure on the small ga needle and it is far esasier to get s correct amount with the 1ml

[Sydney_NYC]

I use a 1½" 25 ga needle for injection. When I was instructed by a nurse at Callen-Lorde, she told me that for most trans patients 1½" is the standard length, but for skinny transgender patients with little meat on their thighs, they will suggest a 1" needle.

[Daniellekai]

Seems 5/8ths is what they intended, the nurse said it's what they pretty much always prescribe so it's odd that I had 7/8ths originally. So far though, my levels have been good, even towards the end of a dose, so even though 1-1.5 is normal I'm not gonna ask for a change.

[SadieBlake]

You should be able to tell when you get to muscle. When I used to go to pharmacy for needles / syringes by prescription, I couldn't get 1ml with  a long enough 28 ga needle and so I had to have another script for 1" needles and change needles.

Now I get 1ml with 19 ga, and 28 ga x 1" needles in bulk and change the needle after drawing from the syringe.

[KayXo]

Seems 5/8ths is what they intended, the nurse said it's what they pretty much always prescribe so it's odd that I had 7/8ths originally. So far though, my levels have been good, even towards the end of a dose, so even though 1-1.5 is normal I'm not gonna ask for a change.

You are injecting subcutaneously. Some girls inject this way. It seems to be fine too.

[natasha]

Mine is a harpoon.......

[epvanbeveren]

I am using 25g 1 inch IM, as my Dr. prescribed. As far as I know, my levels are okay. I inject Tuesday around 6pm, because I see my Dr. on Tuesday mornings/noon time and he wants to measure my levels right before I inject to have the low reading, I guess.

[AlyssaJ]

I'd be curious to know what site you're injecting into with a 5/8" needle, that just seems so short.  I'm doing Ventrogluteal (into the hip) and my doctor prescribed me 1.5" 21 gauge needles (with 18 gauge for drawing).

[Barb99]

I'd be curious to know what site you're injecting into with a 5/8" needle, that just seems so short.  I'm doing Ventrogluteal (into the hip) and my doctor prescribed me 1.5" 21 gauge needles (with 18 gauge for drawing).

About 2 inches left or right of the belly button. Hold the needle at about a 45 degree angle and inject into the fat layer.
I love this method. 95% of the time I don't even feel it.
I inject once a week and have my levels checked every 6 months at the mid point of my cycle (I inject on Saturday mornings and do my blood draw on Wednesday mornings). My blood work is consistently where I want it.

[SadieBlake]

Barb, If I understand correctly that you're describing subcutaneous technique then I believe it's important to move the site around, never injecting in the same spot twice.

I prefer to stay with IM because the absorption rate is higher and so I can vary dose up or down fairly quickly, as I understand it sub-Q takes a much longer time to enter the body (which would be good if you wanted to really minimize fluctuations in blood levels).

From wikipedia:

Subcutaneous injections are inserted at 45 to 90 degree angles, depending on amount of subcutaneous tissue present and length of needle- a shorter, 3/8" needle is usually inserted 90 degrees and a 5/8" needle is usually inserted at 45 degrees. Medication is administered slowly, about 10 seconds/milliliter.

About 2 inches left or right of the belly button. Hold the needle at about a 45 degree angle and inject into the fat layer.
I love this method. 95% of the time I don't even feel it.
I inject once a week and have my levels checked every 6 months at the mid point of my cycle (I inject on Saturday mornings and do my blood draw on Wednesday mornings). My blood work is consistently where I want it.

[Barb99]

Barb, If I understand correctly that you're describing subcutaneous technique then I believe it's important to move the site around, never injecting in the same spot twice.

I prefer to stay with IM because the absorption rate is higher and so I can vary dose up or down fairly quickly, as I understand it sub-Q takes a much longer time to enter the body (which would be good if you wanted to really minimize fluctuations in blood levels).

From wikipedia:

I alternate left to right every week. The injection area is really quite large, about a 2-3 inch wide band left and right of the belly button and all the way out to each side so it's easy to hit a different spot each time.

Going by how I feel I would have to say that my levels are pretty steady. I don't have any ups and downs.