I hear a lot about people starting with T-gel but not much on people who start with shots then eventually go to gel. So I started wondering, could a guy do injections for the first few years and then eventually keep his levels by using gel later on in life? It sounds like it would work but I'm just wondering if there would be a reason that this wouldn't work.

I don't see why that wouldn't work. Isn't it that T-gel produces changes slower than injections? I would assume that once you've been taking injections long enough for all of the major changes to take effect, switching to T-gel wouldn't be detrimental at all. I hope I'm making sense, haha.

You're making sense Morgan and that's exactly what I was thinking

I guess it all depends on whether you'd rather have cheap, clean, biweekly injections for the rest of your life or expensive, messy daily gel.  I don't see why it wouldn't work, but it does seem like more hassle.

you can always switch which method you use.

I was on the gel for a bit when I ran out of injectable T. It should work.

<negativity>

Like others have said, it was messy and inconvenient and you have to use a surprisingly large amount of the gooey stuff to get the same effect as the injectable T. If you just wish to do this because you find the shots annoying and painful, I'd say it's likely that you'd find the gel even more annoying.

(It dries on your skin funny and feels crusty for awhile after you put it on, even if you rub it in really well. It's alcohol-based so it stings if you get it on any cuts or backne. It feels slimy on your hands until you wash it off. Maybe I'm just too much of a compulsive hand-washer for it and it might work for you if you're not.)

Having to take T every day also tends to have the effect of reminding me that I'm trans every day (and not in a good way), which I didn't like.

</negativity>

I'd rather have one shot every two weeks and get it over with, personally.

But, as with everything, don't take other people's words for it; I recommend trying it yourself and seeing how it goes.

Thanks everyone

After reading Devin and Leeks comments somehow I think I'll end up sticking with injections even if I do use gel at any point. I knew it was gross but it sounds really awful

I would have said exactly what Leek said. I started on Androgel & not only was is very expensive, it was a total pain!

Buuuuut I would think that once you reach a certain point, one could use gel as  maintenence ...

Testosterone gel is expensive. Injectables are much cheaper.
The amount of testosterone gel requires gooping a large area.
In addition, there is also the problem of it rubbing off on people who would prefer estrogen.

Transwomen and ciswomen are sometimes prescribed much smaller amounts of testosterone gel for libido problems.

On the positive side: It seems that some women are attracted to the smell of testosterone gel.

Many women have been very much affected by the smell of Sevans Tgel. (Testim) Personaly I find the smell to be rather nice when my estrogene is high.

The gels are a pain in the ass if you have a female lover. Once the stuff is on it is pretty much hands off for a few hours at the least. (you risk getting the T on your lover)

However....(there is always a however)
With the gel you avoid the trough that you go through a few days before your shot is due. With daily aplication there is no trough ever. That is why Sevan has gone on the gel. Hir troughs were rather brutal.