Hey everyone its Sam well wednesday was my first testostrone injection, i didnt feel much differernt just exicted my doctor had never given injections to anyone one like me (ftm) he gave me a low dose. It was on my arm and i have to go get it every 5 weeks and pay $70 For the shot and the consult. I am very greatful becuase i started something i have always wanted but it just sucks that its a low dosage and along wait for the next time 5 whole weeks. also i dont like the fact that i have to pay $70 each time. Does anyone know what i could do? Or what can i say? What is the highest dosage, and could i get insurance for this. Also by which number of injections do i start feeling like its working? if anyone knows or have experienced this i really appreciate your adivse thank you all by the way i live in Los Angeles California.

For me it's odd that it's every 5 weeks and a shot into the arm. You can ask to learn how to self inject. You can also tell your doctor that the high and low of waiting 5 weeks can be harmful to your health (as well as promote mood swings). I can't say what the highest dosage is and I don't know if you can get insurance for it. I would check out www.laglc.org/ and see if they have any info for you.

I agree, it is odd every five weeks and in the arm. I assume you have no coverage for hrt? Well anyways it shouldn't work like that. A vile of testosterone in Canada is 64 dollars, I assume it can't be much higher in the US, but I wouldn't know. However because of coverage and it being prescribed by a doctor it's only twelve. Let me tell you something that may interest you, these viles last for 3-4 months, given you take every two weeks. So honestly I have no idea what the hell is going on with your doctor but perhaps you should ask for a prescription instead so you can just pay for the vile and bring it in instead, have the doctor to teach you to self inject and prescribe you a box of needles! 70 bucks every five weeks is ridiculous. Also I don't know how much needles would be where you live, but I got a box of a hundred from my doctor (prescribed) however because needles are not covered, it cost like twenty bucks, very cheap, plus a got a cool free bin for used needles! Anyways do remember, I'm from Canada, things are different but even from the stories of people in the states about trans guys, I've never once heard of anything like this!

I have little knowledge of this, but that sounds strange. 5 weeks is really far too long from what I've come to understand through much research. Nygeel is right. The arm injection site is a bit iffy to me, but I've heard of it being a reasonable site for injection, just not the favorable.

What I did want to say is, if you live in LA why not go to the LA Gay and Lesbian Center? They have informed consent and so have worked with many TG/TS. It seems they would just be very knowledgable to all this rather than you being the doctor's first patient. It's just a suggestion really, I'm sure you have your reasons.

The doctor doesn't know what he's doing.

5 weeks is way too long and the arm is the wrong place to inject. $70 a time is just a rip off.

Going to second Wolf Man's suggestion.  I've been a patient at the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center since I started T and have been happy with it.  The doctor there works on informed consent and works at the center strictly with transgendered patients and is actually transgendered herself.  From my understanding, it can be a bit of a wait to get an initial appointment with her, but it's worth a shot. They also charge for services based on a sliding scale that's determined by your income, so I'm sure it'd be less than what you're paying now. 

If you have any more questions about it, I'd be happy to help.