Susan's Place Transgender Resources

ok so I finally finished my first vial of T and I called a refill. I went to do my shot today and when I opened up my T, I noticed that it says Testosterone cypionate but then in small print for IM use only/ for intramuscular use only. I do subq shots, not IM shots. Can I use this T for my subq shots? On the prescription label it says to inject subcutaneously. I'm a little nervous to use this for my shot, if its saying for IM use only.

anyone run into a similar problem like this?

Mine is subq and it always says IM on the label. I think it's just never been honestly tested so they don't advertise it as subq or IM

It was talked about on another thread and it seems like it is common for the bottle to say IM, even for people who inject their T subq (myself included).

When I started T I asked my doc about doing sub-Q injections, and she said that she doesn't prescribe for that use because there aren't enough data yet on whether it's absorbed the same or has other long-term effects. Injectable T isn't approved (at least in the US) for sub-Q administration, so it's pretty much an off-label use.

Do it at your own risk, in other words; I value my doctor's advice, so I'm sticking to IM for the time being.

First off Disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor do I have medical training What I write here is from my own experience. BTW I'm MTF

Testosterone pellets worked well for me, or at least raised my T levels.  Several  years ago I asked my endo to test me for low T, The test came back and indicated low T.  I was trying unsuccessfully to drown out my feminine side. BIG MISTEAK!!  It didn't work. I started out on T cyp injected in the muscle. It had to be done in the backside deep enough to get into muscle. These hurt like a #%^#.  I requested pellets after about 18 mos on injections every two weeks. My endo sent me to a urologist in the same clinic.  The pellets were successful in raising my T levels.  Anyway I hope the T works out for you

I am in Canada where is seems sub q it a more accepted/explored method ( or beginning to be) my Doc specifically prescribes me sub q shots but my label says the exact same as yours!

Quote from: Tysilio on January 07, 2015, 08:37:36 PM
When I started T I asked my doc about doing sub-Q injections, and she said that she doesn't prescribe for that use because there aren't enough data yet on whether it's absorbed the same or has other long-term effects. Injectable T isn't approved (at least in the US) for sub-Q administration, so it's pretty much an off-label use.

Do it at your own risk, in other words; I value my doctor's advice, so I'm sticking to IM for the time being.

There is quite a bit of new research being done on this.  I heard about newest studies at the philly conference in June 2014.  I am just curious to know how long ago this was you talked with your physician about this?

Brett, it was in February 2014. She's one of the WPATH folks, so she follows this stuff pretty closely -- indeed is one of the people who does the research on HRT stuff.

I think, too, that she's probably extra cautious with me, because I'm quite a bit older than the average person starting to transition.

Quote from: Tysilio on January 08, 2015, 12:54:46 PM
Brett, it was in February 2014. She's one of the WPATH folks, so she follows this stuff pretty closely -- indeed is one of the people who does the research on HRT stuff.

I think, too, that she's probably extra cautious with me, because I'm quite a bit older than the average person starting to transition.

Interesting.  Thanks, Tysilio.