I'm too much of a chicken to self-inject myself (or let anyone besides a nurse or doctor inject me). I heard the injection tends to work faster, but so what? Plus people react differently. I'd rather use something non-painless anyway.

The gel sounds best from what I've heard, but any advice?

Injections really don't hurt all that much. It's a little pinch.

I prefer injections. No mess (gel), no irritating glue (patch), only have to do it once every two weeks.

If you don't mind slow changes, then I would totally go with the gel, cream or patch.  It takes bio-guys like five years or more to get through puberty.  As much as I want fast changes and plan on getting on injections, slow changes are nature's way of doing it and to me that says it's probably the healthier way.  I've also heard that singing voices tend to come out a lot nicer when the changes are slower.

I don't know about non-painless, though.  A lot of people tend to get rashes/skin irratation from the patch and gel is just plain annoying.  It takes forever to dry.

I hear the gel is a messy pain in the ass. You have to smear it on, not touch another being, it smells, you get it on your clothes. I personally wouldn't do the patch because I don't want to have shave patch sized areas all over my body. You have to rotate placement.

I prefer the injection, mine is only once every four weeks, it's quick and pretty much painless.

For the reasons listed above by everyone I stuck with injections. I didn't wanna deal with the daily or weekly mess. My shots are every two weeks, barely hurts if it does at all, and takes all of five minutes out of my day. Plus although gel does reasonable changes for some I've found through watching videos of guys on the gel it doesn't work quickly at all and they at some point tend to switch to injections. Also the precautions that have to be taken for gel seem annoying: Having to cover it with clothes, not letting it touch your SO, pet, or family, and having to wait a certain amount of time if you decide to put it on after showering.

Ultimately it's gonna be down to what works best for you though. 

I was on injections from the beginning but did gel for a month. It really isn't that much of a pain. My doctor said that the patches don't work as well. I actually came to like how the gel smelled. I just went back to injecting because it is cheaper. Gel works great for some. Some say it works slower but just like injections it really just comes down to what happens for you individually.

Needles have always been my worst enemy. I've fainted and vomited from taking a shot before, I absolutely can't stand them. But for my transition, I'm definitely gonna man up (no pun intended!) and go with injections lol :p

injection. cheaper, faster results, less intrusive to daily life

but then again, I don't have a fear of needles

I'm on a T cream that I apply every day. I've only been on it for about five weeks, so I can't comment on the long term changes, but I've had some changes that are comparable to other that have been on T for the same time--my muscles have grown, my voices sound scratchy a lot and cracks. Maybe I would have more changes if I did injections, but like you said, everyone reacts differently.

I don't know about the gel, but the cream isn't messy at all and doesn't smell weird or anything. It only takes me a minute or two to put on, whereas I can imagine the injections turning into a 45 minute anxiety battle with myself. It was pretty cheap as well, about $20 for a two month supply from a compounding pharmacy.

If you want to try topical T, I'd say go for it. If you're not happy after a couple of months, you can always switch to injections.

Quote from: lostradio on February 23, 2011, 07:15:33 PM
I'm on a T cream that I apply every day. I've only been on it for about five weeks, so I can't comment on the long term changes, but I've had some changes that are comparable to other that have been on T for the same time--my muscles have grown, my voices sound scratchy a lot and cracks. Maybe I would have more changes if I did injections, but like you said, everyone reacts differently.

I don't know about the gel, but the cream isn't messy at all and doesn't smell weird or anything. It only takes me a minute or two to put on, whereas I can imagine the injections turning into a 45 minute anxiety battle with myself. It was pretty cheap as well, about $20 for a two month supply from a compounding pharmacy.

If you want to try topical T, I'd say go for it. If you're not happy after a couple of months, you can always switch to injections.

Is cream like the gel in that you have to be careful to stay away from people and animals after putting it on?

Injections as far as I know are the least expensive. I don't have much money and I don't have health insurance so it's the best option for me. I would probably be afraid of a low absorption rate if I used a gel cream or patch. I do have anxiety with my injection that I probably wouldn't have with a gel or patch. I don't like the idea of having to wait to put a shirt on because the gel has to dry.

I havent started yet but I was wonderin whats the cost difference between it all. injec. sounds like the best way to go and to be truthful I dont mind getting stuck. I have a lot of pets runnin around and my dog and cat chew on anything that is paper/foil like and I dont think I want to risk the chance of them findin an old patch.

Quote from: BrandonJames on February 23, 2011, 08:30:35 PM
I havent started yet but I was wonderin whats the cost difference between it all. injec. sounds like the best way to go and to be truthful I dont mind getting stuck. I have a lot of pets runnin around and my dog and cat chew on anything that is paper/foil like and I dont think I want to risk the chance of them findin an old patch.

According to a manual I received from my doctor regarding T costs in the state of California, injections cost roughly $10/month, vs gel at about $100/month.  I believe that's with the help of insurance. 

I used to be on T due to a natural deficiency (had not addressed gender issues with my doc).  I was started on the bi-weekly injection, later went to patches and then switched to gel due to irritation from the adhesive.  I noticed a bit of a roller coaster feeling when on injections - I could tell when it was a few days from my due date for an injection.  You get a more stable daily dose of T with the gel than you do with the injections.  As far as drying, I used to stand in front of a little fan to speed it up.  Everyone has their own preference though.

QuoteIs cream like the gel in that you have to be careful to stay away from people and animals after putting it on?

There's no specific warning on it about contaminating others, but I assume you should still be careful. however, it absorbs very fast, and mine came with a plastic applicator to put it on so I'm not directly touching the T. I put it on in a place that is covered with clothing-top of my thigh or stomach area usually, and I'm the only one who does my laundry so I'm not too worried about it.

I get injections, way less hassel and apart from the sore arse afterwards its a hell of alot easier i think.
Think mine are every 4-5 weeks?

**pokes her nose into the boys room**
Sevan went from injections to gel because the trough a few days before the next injection was getting to be too much for hir.
With the gel there is no trough. Daily aplication of the gel prevents it.
Personaly I don't like the gel on hir. Once it is on intimacy is a no go for at least a few hours. It takes at least 20 minutes to dry and that has caused us issues in the past.

As for patches, we never had Sevan on patches but I was on E patches last year and I find them to be a pain in the a$$. They don't always stick and they always leave a ring of stiky dirt in their place.

Ty I was just wounderin. I am tweeky bout plans and like to plan ahead. It hasnt gotten compulsive or anything like that but its a pain not knowing for me.

The idea of the gel weirded me out a bit.  I personally like the shots.  I've injected myself since the first shot [the nurse asked if i wanted to do it or watch.]  Once a week and its done [and many are every two weeks or even less frequent than that] I'm pretty sure the gel you have to put on every day. 

I don't know much about the patches, but I think i'd rather not have a patch stuck on me always