Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Topic started by: RyGuy on May 04, 2011, 01:32:44 PM

Title: is t ALWAYS given intramuscular?
Post by: RyGuy on May 04, 2011, 01:32:44 PM
I'm not trying to talk about dosages or how to inject without a doctors supervision. I had
my first injection of testosterone today at my clinic and the lab technician who taught me how to inject myself sort of picked a random spot on the middle of my thigh and put the needle in. I checked the bottle and sure enough is says "------mL to be given subcutaneously every ------" It's just that I've heard so much about the exact location of the injection (intramuscular, outer upper thigh) to be puzzled. Is a subcutaneous t injection normal? By the way, even if everyone says that my
prescription is wrong, I'm not going to change dosing without my doctors help.
Title: Re: is t ALWAYS given intramuscular?
Post by: Ryan on May 04, 2011, 01:52:07 PM
Intramuscular injections are far more common but I've heard of a fair few guys having subcutaneous injections. I assume that IM are more common for a reason but I have no evidence to back this up.
Title: Re: is t ALWAYS given intramuscular?
Post by: wheat thins are delicious on May 04, 2011, 02:36:05 PM
subcutaneous injections are totally done.  IDK why most shots for trans men are done in the muscle. 
Title: Re: is t ALWAYS given intramuscular?
Post by: Flan on May 04, 2011, 07:32:04 PM
Quote from: Andy8715 on May 04, 2011, 02:36:05 PM
IDK why most shots for trans men are done in the muscle.

slower absorbing so less waste/longer time between injetions (since T metabolizes fairly quick)
Title: Re: is t ALWAYS given intramuscular?
Post by: FinnBear on May 04, 2011, 09:30:37 PM
Quote from: Flan on May 04, 2011, 07:32:04 PM
slower absorbing so less waste/longer time between injections (since T metabolizes fairly quick)
This.
Title: Re: is t ALWAYS given intramuscular?
Post by: joeybrogue on May 06, 2011, 02:59:12 PM
Without re-stating the above...

I recall a video on youtube a few years back with a guy who used to actually do his shots via his STOMACH.  He used a very tiny needle and did them that way.  I'm not sure why, but I think it was because he had health issues that required this.  I've only ever seen that done with antibiotics otherwise with serious infections.

Again, I wish I had more info. on that rare instance. 
Title: Re: is t ALWAYS given intramuscular?
Post by: RyGuy on May 06, 2011, 11:06:00 PM
alright i mean its not as if i can tell the difference since its been two days but i guess i shouldnt be worried
Title: Re: is t ALWAYS given intramuscular?
Post by: xAndrewx on May 06, 2011, 11:29:01 PM
That's interesting, I wouldn't stress too much man but maybe ask them when you have a chance. I've heard of intramuscular being done in the mid-thigh but that wouldn't be subcutaneous from what I understand so that's a little odd.
Title: Re: is t ALWAYS given intramuscular?
Post by: jxpx on May 07, 2011, 05:00:42 PM
Been on T for a little over a year and I started doing my shots IM and then switched to subcutaneous. 

My doctor suggested I try it out, simply because she said it's less damaging to the tissue in your leg and the effects/changes aren't any different.  So I went through one prescription IM, one subcutaneous, and now on my third prescription, I'm back to IM only because the pharmacy only had longer needles in-stock.  I didn't notice any difference between the two in terms of changes/effects, etc. 

I actually prefer IM, only because T seems to leak out less often and sometimes the subcutaneous shots seemed to burn a little more. Not sure why it was given to you in the middle of your thigh...regardless of method, I was told to inject into outer upper thigh.