I've been thinking about transitioning a lot recently, but I have a rather bad thing about injections... :embarrassed: I know specific medical advice here is a no-no, and fair enough, but just generally-speaking, have any of you guys transitioning *not* done T injections, but been able to use cream instead? If injections were necessary of course I'd do them, and I haven't talked to a proper doctor yet, so I don't know what they'll say (have an appointment in November, wheeeeeee! ;D), but until I get to talk to him and ask, is T cream a viable possibility? :-\
I'm a... bit... of a needlephobe myself.
I've been consciously working on overcoming those issues for the better part of the last ten years.. so I can pursue this.
The injections is by far the most effective (according to my research anyways).
I use gel but my doc recommended it as I started T one month before my hysto and I don't have estrogen to fight. Other guys do use gel and are successful with it, but some say changes are slower without the hysto.
Works for me. I hate creams and gels, but I hate shots worse. So for me it's the lesser of two evils.
Jay
The guy I'm going to for mine asked me which I would prefer. I'm doing the injections (not the intramuscular or whatever.. but whatever the other one is) because I'd be afraid of getting the cream on others like my cat. May seem a ridiculous worry, but I figure its just safer all around to do the injection as it doesn't bother me.
You get used to the injections. I was very concerned about it as well.
From what I've heard, clinics will usually give you your T-shots for you if that makes it any easier.. this is something I'm kind of worried about too, but other FtMs seem to get over the fear after a while.
There is often a cost involved in getting your shots done my a clinic. You can have a friend do it for you.
I had a terrible syringe problem. But, I knew I had to get over it if I was going to start T. I wanted to do injections because it's cheaper (from what I've heard cream can be very costly if not covered by insurance) and I'd only have to do it once a week instead of using cream 2x day.
One way I got over it was watching videos of guys demonstrating T injections on YouTube. It helped educate me and prepare me mentally.
I calm myself by realizing that it is a safe and effective method used by people all over the world. Needles are designed to be as painless as possible.
There's a gel, a cream, an implant and, in early clinical trials, a patch. I tried the gel and found it was way too annoying to have to smear it on (and wait for it to dry!) every day. Also, my lady didn't like the possibility of being exposed to the gel or cream and waking up as a baritone with a beard.
One of the doctors who does a lot of prescribing for T-men in my area is a big fan of the patch. Personally, I can't stand to have stuff stuck to my skin, and I've heard it's quite expensive, so I didn't seriously look into it, but it's another option.