So as I'm getting closer to taking T, I've been having trouble figuring out what FORM of T I'd like to take. I've just gotten a huge raise in my job, so money won't be an issue, I'm more or less looking into how these different types of T are used.

Gel:
I know you apply it to one part of your body(I guess your arms or stomach) and let it absorb into your skin. The dose needed is already measured out in a little sachet(right?), so you don't have to worry too much about measuring out the right amount. Am I missing anything else?

Injections:
These come in little vials of varying volumes(?), and you need to draw up the prescribed dose before injecting it into either your thighs or your butt. These are typically the cheapest form of testosterone, but there are shortages of it in the UK and Canada apparently? And what of the needles? I know needles come in different sizes, but do you also need a special prescription to get these(in the US)? I've seen some needles for sale in pharmacies, but I don't know if you can just up and buy them over the counter or what. Are there any other things about taking injectable T that I should consider and know about? Oh, and are the vials like...supposed to be a month's supply or a week's? My doctor couldn't really give me a straight answer. How long the T lasts is important to me because I need to plan Rx fills with care, due to my work hours. :/

Cream:
I guess the cream is like the gel, but cheaper depending on where you fill your prescription? It's applied to your skin and you let it settle, but do you have to measure out a certain amount of cream to get your full dose? It seems weird and I've not really heard any doctors talking about it in my area. Is it no longer in production?

Pills:
I know there are E pills, but some people have said T comes in pill form, too. Dunno if I'd like to go this route, if at all possible, because I can't find anything recent about them.

What other info can you guys supply me with? Personal experiences? Recommendations? Advice for someone who's new to taking T? Thanks, dudes!

There are also pellets, that are surgically implanted but are expensive, I just read up on cost and it's about 20-50 bucks per pellet and you need 6-12 pellets implanted at a time.  I'm not sure if insurance pays for that or not.  Pros: don't have to keep up with a schedule.  Cons: one bulk cost at a time rather than a lower cost spread out (like injections are), somewhat painful after they are implanted (they basically insert them with something like a huge needle.)

*cracks his knuckles*
I'll give this a shot.

Gels and creams come in different concentrations. The amount absorbed is hard to determine. Doses tend to be measured out based on "pumps" or something similar. I know of a few places that sell gels and creams, and there are some compounding pharmacies that will make 'em for you.

Injections: there's intra muscular and sub....something. One into muscle, one into fat. I think most people do shots into muscle. I had no problems getting my T (and there are compounding pharmacies that are good with providing T). They come in vials of various concentrations (usually 100mg/mL or 200mg/mL). I've needed a prescription of needles but I know there are medical supply places where you can buy needles in bulk (I believe without a prescription). My vial is 10mL of T, and can last a person anywhere between 5 months to a year (depends on dose).

Pills: These are the least efficient. Your body processes most everything in the pill so by the time it gets absorbed, you have a very tiny amount (you would need to take 10x the amount compared to injection to get anywhere close to the same result...I think...or something ridiculous like that). It's also very hard on your organs, especially the liver. I forgot what the cost is, but it's expensive.

You're also missing patches. These are similar to gels and creams but you have to worry less about application (some people can give contact T by shaking hands if they apply gel or cream without gloves). I know some people have problems with the adhesive.

I do muscle shots and my vial lasts 5 months. Needles in my state don't require a prescription and cost 3 cents without a syringe and 5 cents with at the pharmacy closest to my house, and they come in a range of sizes.

I think if you go topical you should consider whether lovers or children will be touching you very often, and be sure to keep the area covered if so.

I think I'll go with a gel or cream, everything seems a little nicer on that side of the fence. I don't really need to worry about lovers or kids touching me, and I can isolate myself from my pets/use gloves until the stuff is absorbed. Thanks guys!

Quote from: Zerro on June 19, 2012, 09:38:21 PM
I think I'll go with a gel or cream, everything seems a little nicer on that side of the fence. I don't really need to worry about lovers or kids touching me, and I can isolate myself from my pets/use gloves until the stuff is absorbed. Thanks guys!

At the same time, the available dosages for gels and creams are significantly lower than that for injection.

I've heard that about the dosages with topicals, Nygeel - maybe it has something to do with the complaints I have heard that topical T doesn't produce changes as quickly as injected T?

Quote from: Liam Erik on June 17, 2012, 10:57:12 PM
When you inject a bunch at a time, say every week, that means your T levels peak and trough and peak and trough on a weekly basis, and it can affect your mood.

Hmm, I and some of my friends only had this issue when we injected biweekly. When we went to half a dose weekly, our moods were stable. I'm curious: has your experience been different?

Quote from: Arch on June 19, 2012, 11:47:23 PM
Hmm, I and some of my friends only had this issue when we injected biweekly. When we went to half a dose weekly, our moods were stable.

This is how it went for me too.

Most guys I know inject. I have only met two guys IRL who were doing gel. One switched to injectables because his changes were too slow. The other guy has mental health issues and needs a very stable dose.

I like injecting weekly. Personally, I would hate having to slather gel or cream on myself every dang day because it's a hassle. Anyway, it would remind me of my past medical problems. I have always had eczema and chronically dry skin. When I was in my twenties, I had to put on four coats of hypoallergenic goop after my shower (not counting the medicated cream) and stand around for ages before I could get dressed. In my forties, right before I started T, I still had to put on a coat of lotion and sometimes had to follow it with thick cream. After some time on T (maybe two years?), I was able to just towel dry. It's fantastic. I feel so free not having to smear goop on myself anymore. So T gel wouldn't be a good fit for me. Besides, it's expensive.

Quote from: Liam Erik on June 20, 2012, 12:00:16 PM
I'm on gel, so I defer to your experience with injections.  My endo mentioned it and it affected my decision to go with gel because I already have mood issues.

I'm certainly not ruling out the possibility of mood dips on weekly injections; I just haven't encountered anyone who had that problem. Nobody I remember, anyway.

I like doing T weekly--it's regular enough that I don't forget (it's a day to look forward to), yet I don't have the daily hassle. At least, it would be a hassle to me, but I have certain associations that other guys might not have. What has been your experience, your process, with using gel? Do you ever forget, or have you stitched it into your daily routine? Any particular pros and cons? It's one thing to talk about gel from an outsider perspective and another thing entirely to experience it firsthand.

I was previously on injections but haven't been able to obtain any injectable T due to UK shortages for about 9 months now, so I have been switched over to using gel.

If I had the choice between the two I would choose injections, with no hesitation whatsoever.

Whilst it is apparently better for your body and mood to have a consistent dose and levels, I dislike smearing myself with gel every day and it makes me skin irritable sometimes. It's also in the back of my mind all the time that I might transfer T to my girlfriend. All in all it just takes a lot more planning - swimming/showering/possible skin contact/sex etc. With injections it took me 3 minutes every 14 days and then forget about it... gel I have to remember EVERY DAY, which I don't always manage, then the dose isn't consistent anyway.

Quote from: Liam Erik on June 21, 2012, 12:24:20 PM
I am not imagining the absurd amount of sweat that is this second running off me.  I never used to sweat at all, and no one else is sweating any extra...  and I stink.   It's lovely.  I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon enough, though.

I like my body scent now, as long as I don't get too rank--but I hate the sweating. If it were just my underarms, that would be one thing. But it's everywhere.

On the other hand, I used to break out when I sweated too much--more of my skin allergy issues--but the T took care of those allergies. The T giveth and the T taketh away. It all balances out in the end. 

Guess I need to move to a cooler climate.

Im on injections ( didnt have a choice). I have one every four weeks (didnt have a choice on that either) and its always a few days late because my GC always books me in a few days later then my next shot. They give me 3 vials which im only allowed to get through them, not through my doctor. But they wont inject me and Im not allowed to inject it myself so I have to go to my doctor. Its a lot of messing around.

Having said that, I am yet to notice any real difference in mood other then being more energetic after my shot.

this maybe a dumb question, But do you have to go through a Doctor to get T? or could i buy it online?

Quote from: Ashley on June 21, 2012, 11:37:34 PM
this maybe a dumb question, But do you have to go through a Doctor to get T? or could i buy it online?

That's not dumb. Your supposed to go through a doctor. They need to check your bloods regular anyways do you'd have to get that done with them even if you did get the T online.
I would go through the doctor even if it takes longer cause you'd have no way of being 100% sure what your getting online.

Quote from: Ashley on June 21, 2012, 11:37:34 PM
this maybe a dumb question, But do you have to go through a Doctor to get T? or could i buy it online?

FYI, buying steroids without a prescription is against the law in the U.S. (and other countries as well), and we do not discuss illegal activities on this site.

If you HAVE a prescription from a doctor, you can often order from online companies like Strohecker's and...what's the other one I know...it's something like The Apothecary, or something like that. Do an advanced search of Susan's to find out.

You can get the prescription through various routes--endo, family doctor, GYN, and so forth. Some of us go to informed consent clinics or Planned Parenthood or special gender clinics.