Susan's Place Transgender Resources

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?

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.

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.

I use a 1.5"

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

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.

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 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.

Quote from: Daniellekai on March 28, 2018, 12:35:04 AM
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.

Mine is a harpoon.......

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.

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).

Quote from: AlyssaJ on April 04, 2018, 09:57:53 AM
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.

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:

QuoteSubcutaneous 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.

Quote from: Barb99 on April 04, 2018, 12:18:19 PM
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.

Quote from: SadieBlake on April 04, 2018, 04:51:13 PM
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.