Under treatment

[James80]

I'm currently using a topical testosterone cream from a compounding pharmacy, because I don't like the ups and downs of injecting. I had good results with this method when I was getting gel from India and managing my own care; however, now, my T levels are a lot lower - down to 700 - and my changes are slowing down a lot. It's discouraging.

I'm doing other things to try and compensate by trying to raise my levels naturally. I'm taking zinc orotate and exercising almost every day, including lifting a couple times per week. These are sensible things to do anyway. I'm going to a much more skilled doctor in a couple weeks (August 15th) who will probably be able to adjust my dose properly, but in the meantime, I hate this feeling of stagnation.

So in the meantime...Does anyone have any T-boosting tricks they'd like to share?

[FTMax]

Natural transitioning methods are generally a waste of time, money, and effort. The only way to boost your T levels to increase masculinization (especially if your body is naturally still producing estrogen) is to take testosterone.

[Ryuichi13]

Even if you're on low dose T, your body's still changing, just at a slower rate.  I'm on a daily gel dose of T, maybe you can ask for that.  (I simply don't like needles!)

Wait for the appointment and ask for T in a gel form.  If you're in the US, you might have to jump through some legal hoops, as its a Schedual III (3) medication, but hopefully your insurance will cover it, as its expensive.

Good luck, and tell us how your appt went!

Ryuichi

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[James80]

I'm using a prescribed testosterone cream. It isn't the alcohol-based androgel, but something a compounding pharmacy compounded to be a more affordable substitute for androgel. It's $100 for 90 days instead of $875 for 90 days, the latter of which I could not afford.

I have injectable, but I can't seem to get it into the muscle or at least it doesn't feel like it goes into the muscle. It feels too much like a subcutaneous injection; I'm a Type I diabetic, so I do lots of those. I know the feeling. Plus, when I did deltoid injections a couple months ago, I had several days of uncomfortably high T and then the onset of fatigue.

The current treatment is just not getting my T levels to where I think they should be. It's probably adequate for maintenance level, so I'm not that worried, but I am impatient.

[FTMax]

If you're doing gel and applying daily, and your T is at 700, I'm really not sure what the issue is. 700 is pretty middle of the road and you should be experiencing masculinization.

Have you had your E checked? The thing with dosages and levels is that everybody's body chemistry is unique. That's why there are dosages that work for most people, but there are still folks who need unique doses to get to comparable levels. You want to find the lowest dose possible that gets your T levels to a range you like while simultaneously is not so high that it is converting to estrogen. These are numbers that should really always be looked at together. With just one, you're leaving a whole portion of the picture out.

[James80]

It's just really slow now compared to when my T level was at 1440. That was uncomfortable, but definitely showed good results.

I am getting care through a clinic that doesn't really have anyone with background in this. They treat me with respect, which is really a first for me so far, but their clinical skill is lacking. I'm going to drive two hours to a provider that has trans care experience, but that's not until August 15th. My ability to be patient has been worn down.

My estrogen levels should be fairly low, but I haven't had that tested. I have a Mirena and don't experience shark week on a regular basis. Plus my moods are pretty stable. My new provider will likely be able to order the appropriate tests, but I'll ask about this if she doesn't mention it.

[FTMax]

1440 is well above the top of the male reference range. I don't think you should use that as a positive benchmark for success.