Gel or injections?

[James42]

Ok first off, I had my first visit with my new doctor today, it was just an initial new patient visit. And he was really cool, asked me usual new patient questions and then asked if I had any. So I brought up the hrt and he was actually really cool about it all. He said he'll refer me over to the endo to get blood work done and he said Testosterone is easy now because they have the gel which is more expensive than injections, but he said they can have some generic gel mixed at the pharmacy there. So as we were walking out he said "Come on *female name*...you know what? I'm gonna start calling you Alex, come on Alex" lol I didn't mention my name is James, I figured I'd tell him at my next visit.

Then we went up to the receptionist and he said "Get Alex some information on these doctors (the therepist he recommended) and get him set up with Dr. ___ and fax over the referral." So I was kinda nervous cuz the lady had all my female info right there, and right away I wondered what she was going to think. But she was really nice and said since its policy to mail referrals, she'll run over to the hospital and drop it off in the mail box so I won't have to wait. She gave me all my papers and told me to have a nice day. I pretty much walked out of there with a big goofy smile and I didn't even get T yet lol

Ok so my question is...as far as effects go and rate of effects, does anyone know if gel is better/worse/somewhat equal to injections?
He said injections are old fashioned and can damage the liver and obviously cause high blood pressure and acne. but the gel doesn't mess with the liver.

Sorry for the long post :/ and thanks guys

[xAndrewx]

Hey man I PMed you a guy who does gel and he has weekly video updates. From what I have seen the changes have come slower from the people who do gel. Some people on gel say otherwise, they could be right I don't have experience just what I've seen. I went for injections because even my doctor said it will get the T into my system faster. Your doc sounds pretty awesome though and really it's all up to you. I think there are some old gel vs injection debates on the site somewhere.

[James42]

Hey man I PMed you a guy who does gel and he has weekly video updates. From what I have seen the changes have come slower from the people who do gel. Some people on gel say otherwise, they could be right I don't have experience just what I've seen. I went for injections because even my doctor said it will get the T into my system faster. Your doc sounds pretty awesome though and really it's all up to you. I think there are some old gel vs injection debates on the site somewhere.

yea I just got it, thanks bro. I'm not sure what weighs out for me more right now...liver damage or faster changes, but I can always just talk to the endo about it and I'm sure if I wanted to go with injections I can ask. But I figured I'd see if anyone here has any experience or heard anything.

[Carson]

I went on gel for a month and I loved it. But I had also already been on T for 10 months so I wasn't worried about fast changes. My changes did keep going at the same pace if not faster. It seems like a hassle at first to put the gel on every morning but I got used to it fast.

Also if you don't mind me asking what kind of generic gel it is? I stopped the gel after the first month because it is just too expensive.

[James42]

I went on gel for a month and I loved it. But I had also already been on T for 10 months so I wasn't worried about fast changes. My changes did keep going at the same pace if not faster. It seems like a hassle at first to put the gel on every morning but I got used to it fast.

Also if you don't mind me asking what kind of generic gel it is? I stopped the gel after the first month because it is just too expensive.

Well I can probably ask the endo if I can start injections until I've had enough changes then switch to gel for long term. I just fear the acne lol

I'm not sure what kind, he just said they can mix some at the pharmacy there. When I find out I can let you know

[Miniar]

I was on the Gel for a couple months and got my changes at a nice steady pace, plenty fast enough.
But it was just so much bloody fuss to apply goo every single day and make sure I have a shower before bed so I don't get any on my husband or in the bed where we both sleep and minding where I put it so I don't accidentally get any on my daughter and so on and so forth...

There's more than one kind of injection.
Nebido (also known as something else in Australia), the one I'm on, is a "new" one afaik.
It's a huge dose, but it's super slow release and so it's every 10-14 weeks instead of every week or two.

I do feel a difference in my tolerance to alcohol since starting T, which may be attributed to the stress the injections put on the liver, but I'm not a "drinker" and I take otherwise rather good care of myself, so I'm not all that concerned.
I suppose I weighed the added risk as less of a problem than the added fuss.

[Brent123]

I was wondering the same thing. If I were to start T, I'm not sure that I could self inject sense I have an irrational fear of needles. So I would be looking at gel as an option but I heard that it's more expensive.