I used Testogel during the summer of 2010 and 2011, so was a while ago and kinda hard to remember what I did. Also I was self-medicating so had to go a bit on a whim with it. I tried to use it as properly as I possibly could though, cause my gender therapist denied me hrt at all back then, and I desperately dysphoric, but yeah that's another story.
I wasn't swimming back then though. I applied the gel to my upper arms, shoulders and occasionally on my outer/front thighs where the skin is thicker and less sensitive. It didn't sting there and I typically don't sweat in those areas.
Also, I did usually apply the gel at evening shortly before going to bed instead of in the morning. Then being asleep for at least 6 hours, I never had to worry about it being washed off or ending up on other people during the days. Although you would have to be able to stay cool (not sweating) while asleep then. Maybe keep a table fan on? I dunno.
Those two summers back then were not very warm here in Sweden, if I remember correctly. And I'm the sort of person who gets cold very easily so a hot summer is usually a perfect temperature summer for me. Although I do sweat very easily still, even when I'm not warm and also while not even taking T in any form. Meaning pre-T and now 6 months off it. My evening routine consists of taking a bath in deodorant... not literally, but almost.
I still take hormones these days as well, but just a low dose of estrogen in the form of a silicone ring being stuffed up in my hoo-ha, and releasing small doses of estrogen while just sitting in there. Cause my ovaries are slow to wake up from their 5 years long T coma (meaning my natural estro levels are still at rock bottom) and need a little bit of a boost to keep horrid menopause symptoms at bay. So no pills, patches, gels or injections for me anymore. But that ring comes with its own unique issues too, of course.
