My therapist was telling me that the doctors he usually refers people to typically start guys on the gel form of T, and then decide whether to do shots later.  So I have some questions for any of you who have used topical forms of T.

1.  I've heard that the effects from topical applications are sometimes slower-coming.  How long did it take you to start passing most of the time?

2.  I know it's a problem using topical applications of T if you are in a relationship with a woman, but what about with a man or another FtM?

3.  I'm not planning to rush out and have a one-night-stand with a woman, but if I did, would she be exposed to enough T to cause her problems, or is it really more of a T build-up over time that is an issue?

Pregnant or young child put on a shirt, otherwise single exposures aren't a serious risk. The concern is that any one that has regular contact with your skin will absorb and process your dose. That shouldn't happen with anyone male or female because you don't know the effects small doses can have on that person. Just don't put it on your genitals, you will regret it.

I tried and didn't like the gels but other guys like it. I didn't like the daily application, fumes or the unstable levels. If your dose is right on the gel, you shouldn't have a problem but most doc start at one pack and that isn't enough for a lot of guys. The main benefit of starting with the gels is the ability to cease treatment in 24hrs versus 10 days for most shots or 2.5hrs with the pellets. You can have it compounded much cheaper and in higher concentrations which means less skin area to cover.

->-bleeped-<-boy

I have been on gel for a month and a few days.  Voice has deepened noticeably, overall sense of calm has settled in, and there has been growth.  I am on 2 packets daily which is the normal dose bio-males with hypogonadism are prescribed, according to my endo.  He prescribed this dose because I'm having my hysto on Thurs. and there won't be any estrogen to overcome.

I apply it in the morning after my shower and I'm clothed all day.  If I were in a relationship I'd probably shower before bed and there wouldn't be any issues with contact/transfer.  I have kids I hug but we have no skin/skin contact where the gel has been applied.

Higher doses are not necessarily better; your doc will pick the dose right for you.  Transitioning isn't a race, and each person's body changes at their own rate. 

I like the fact that I have a steady daily dose of T in my system and I'm not going wonky a few days before my shot is due.

Jay

I have just be prescribed gel after having shots for 3 months as my Dr said I was experiencing to many side effects with Sustanon. However my Dr told me to take one sachet daily in the morning after shower whatever and once I have been to work it should be fine to sleep with someone. As long as the gel has had time to sink in about 6 hours he said.

He said if they have only come into contact with you once then thats fine as long as its not on a regular basis. 

I am hoping the gel will work as good as the shots did for me

Quote from: ->-bleeped-<-boy link=topic=41966.msg272716#msg272716 date=1219761728
Just don't put it on your genitals, you will regret it.

Why?  What would happen?

i heard that androgel - a popular form of topical T - is alcohol based and will burn your senseive parts.  lol OW!

Quote from: Jamie-o on August 26, 2008, 04:54:33 PM

Quote from: ->-bleeped-<-boy link=topic=41966.msg272716#msg272716 date=1219761728
Just don't put it on your genitals, you will regret it.

Why?  What would happen?

lol, I was going to ask the same thing

What would happen?

How come they don't have T implants that release a small dose on a regular basis? Is anyone working on a prototype for such implants?

Quote from: Arch on August 26, 2008, 09:48:16 PM
How come they don't have T implants that release a small dose on a regular basis? Is anyone working on a prototype for such implants?

they do have those.  T pellets.  they are implanted under the skin and give off a steady dose for months at a time.

Quote from: Chet on August 26, 2008, 10:01:58 PM

Quote from: Arch on August 26, 2008, 09:48:16 PM
How come they don't have T implants that release a small dose on a regular basis? Is anyone working on a prototype for such implants?

they do have those.  T pellets.  they are implanted under the skin and give off a steady dose for months at a time.

Whoa. Why haven't I heard of them before? Guess I'll have to do some research.

I am on the T pellets as well as topical dht. Shortly I will have testosterone and dihydrotestosterone pellets instead. I love it but not for the beginning of transition. Check out my posts in the HRT section.
Androgel is alcohol based and burns quite a bit. The compounded version or 10% cream is safe on genital except you will convert quite a bit to DHT and may be at an increased risk for baldness and elevated PSA levels for whatever that means for a FTM.

->-bleeped-<-boy

Quote from: sneakersjay on August 26, 2008, 10:49:08 AM
Higher doses are not necessarily better; your doc will pick the dose right for you.  Transitioning isn't a race, and each person's body changes at their own rate. 

Very true.  The only reason I'm worried about the time frame is that, unfortunately, due to financial/insurance issues, I'm probably not going to be able to start T until next year.   

I'm planning to go back to school the following September, so I'm hoping to be more or less passable by then.  I don't need to be perfect, but I'd at least like to have plausible deniability.    (i.e., if I get ma'am-ed I'd like to be able to correct the person and have them think, "Oops.  Made a mistake," rather than "Wow, that chick's deluded." )

If shots will do that for me, and gel won't, I'll push for the shots.  But, if the difference is minimal, then I'd just as soon do the gel anyway.



T-boy -- Out of curiosity, why don't you recommend pellets for starting out on T?  (I know.  All these questions!  But I'm one of those people who has to know all the wherefores about everything.  )

Quote from: Jamie-o on August 27, 2008, 06:07:14 AM
T-boy -- Out of curiosity, why don't you recommend pellets for starting out on T?  (I know.  All these questions!  But I'm one of those people who has to know all the wherefores about everything.  )

I should think that it's because you can't adjust the dosage, something like that. You'd want to establish a correct and appropriate dosage by injection first. That's my guess, anyway. (Of course, you didn't ask me...)

The answer is more then adjusting dosage because realistically the dosage doesn't convert from injections to pellets. The two ways of adjusting the dose are max dose of pellets at initial implantation and remove 1 or 2 until dosage is achieved or start at the low dose and implant more. I did the max dose and my body turned out not to need the last pellet, so it was removed. Not a big deal. If you want to stop treatment you can within 2.5hrs but you need minor surgery.

The real question is why implant a long term treatment as a front line treatment. You don't really know that this is going to be what you want long term. Try out the injections and topicals first and then decide if you like it. If you do I believe the pellets are a better treatment then the injections.

Once they are in it is a stable easy dose without the ups and downs or trouble of remembering to dose. However important to remember that thought the pellets are cheaper theoretically if you have to pay for the implant process it can get more expensive. Contact me by PM for options in this matter. Also Canada doesn't have them and they need to be imported for Europe or the US.

->-bleeped-<-boy