Hey, guys! So I've been on Testim testosterone gel for almost a year now. I was initially using (as per my endo's instructions) too small a dose, but at around the 4 month mark, I got on what seems to be a decent dose: 50 mg of T a day, or 350 mg a week. How much of the T is getting into my system is uncertain, but overall, after I started the above dose, I started seeing a lot more changes: period stopped, grew facial hair, facial structure changes, slight change in body shape, etc.

However, my voice still hasn't dropped much and my body hasn't changed as much as I'd like. I can't foresee myself switching to injections permanently because I'm not fond of needles, but I'm curious as to what might happen if I switched to shots for a short amount of time and then switched back to gel. Maybe there are certain changes that injections accomplish quicker/more successfully than gel?

What do you guys think? Has anyone tried this? Is there any negative side to trying out shots for say, a month or two?

There's really no proof one way or another of the speed of shot effects versus the speed of topicals, so it may not help the slow changes, but I don't believe there are any negatives to switching temporarily beyond the normal risks such as possibly being allergic to the oil it's suspended in or things like that. A month or two probably wouldn't be enough to notice a difference if there is one, but if you want to and your doctor says it's ok, I don't think there's a negative.

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How much of the T is getting into your system should be certain in your blood work.

I have used gel for 8 months and had all the changes expected within that time including the elevated RBC. . . all the things and sometimes more apparently reported by those on shots. As long as the T levels are sufficient, it's probably a matter of how well your own body responds to the elevated testosterone, and how long it is taking to shut down opposing female hormone production, not the method of taking.

Your voice might just not get that deep right away. Listen to mine and it isn't that deep 1 year on T. https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,222988.0.html

Quote from: Viktor on June 28, 2017, 06:44:08 PMAs long as the T levels are sufficient, it's probably a matter of how well your own body responds to the elevated testosterone, and how long it is taking to shut down opposing female hormone production, not the method of taking.

That's true, but I'm wondering if maybe my body particularly would respond better/faster to shots vs gel. Do you think it's possible that some people respond differently to different methods of taking?

I've heard some people's skin is less absorbent. So that might be a factor. But you should know exactly how much T is in your system with a blood test before you assume it's not working. What's evident from being on T myself is the changes happen when they happen at their own pace, even on a higher dose (mine is now at the top end of male range). From what others on shots have said some are still waiting for various changes. Seems to be an individual thing and I don't see anywhere anyone reporting being able to speed anything up much or I guess we'd all be doing it. . .

From what I've heard there being differences between how effective shots are compared to topical is a myth. How I see it is just because you're injected yourself there's no guarantee at all that T will enter your blood stream and be absorbed into your body. Some of the solution could be left in the needle, some might leak out of the injection sight, some of the T may convert back to estrogen.

I'd just stick to gel and save yourself from the possible side effects of mood changes and your periods coming back from switching. Some transguys have fast changes, most others the changes take slower than expected.

You may want to switch to testogel if you can. I was given Testim a few times by mistake and found it to be impossible to get it to absorb into my skin. After a few mins my skin still felt tacky while with testogel it absorbs pretty much immediately.

Thanks for the replies, guys!

So last month, I found out that my T levels are actually "perfect" according to my endo. However, he said that my estrogen levels are still higher than they should be.

I'm seeing him again on Tuesday and am considering switching to either a different type of gel if possible or trying the shots. I'm still really unsure about it though.

Is it really likely that I'd have mood swings and other changes if I switch? Any other advice for someone like me that supposedly has perfect, male-range T but also too high of E?

Quote from: Bacon on August 18, 2017, 05:47:37 PM
Thanks for the replies, guys!

So last month, I found out that my T levels are actually "perfect" according to my endo. However, he said that my estrogen levels are still higher than they should be.

I'm seeing him again on Tuesday and am considering switching to either a different type of gel if possible or trying the shots. I'm still really unsure about it though.

Is it really likely that I'd have mood swings and other changes if I switch? Any other advice for someone like me that supposedly has perfect, male-range T but also too high of E?

My T range was perfect but my E was never within the male reference range until after my hysto.

I personally don't have mood swings on shots. I don't think my levels ever get low enough for it.