Started injections a few weeks ago. I am currently on .25 twice weekly. Haven’t felt a difference yet. At what dose did you all start to feel a difference?

I've been wondering how much of the testosterone we inject actually ends up being absorbed by our bodies. For example, if I inject 5mg twice a week, sometimes I notice a bit leaking out of the skin afterward, or there's still some left in the syringe when I’m drawing in air to clear it afterwards.

Does anyone know how much effectively gets under the skin or into the muscle?

My wife is starting her 3rd week of test C at 10mgs per week and 100mgs of progesterone daily.

She’s 38 years old.

Initial results are less brain fog, more energy, better sleep. Libido is still the same to slightly improved (was probably a 5 out of 10 before starting and 1 time a week sex). Slight more desire or could be placebo as of now.

She seems to be pretty irritable and straight up aggressive sometimes. Is this normal and does this plane out? She’d like to be a little more level and we both think it’s because of the hormonal changes happening.

No other sides or results yet.

I'm posting on behalf of my partner (she's not a redditor). But she wanted to share her experience, and this sub was very helpful for making her decision to try TRT.

My partner struggled with PMDD for a long time (most of her adult life), she's in her late 30's now. It varied from ruining a couple days to weeks each month. As anyone who suffers with PMDD knows, this puts a serious strain on interpersonal relationships. It effects your life in so many ways.

Her PMDD got to a breaking point where suicidal ideation was normal during those few worst days out of every month. It was like clockwork.

She read about treatment, and in the literature there's one option that is 100% effective... A historectomy. She was seriously ready to pull the trigger on the elective procedure, but finding a doctor that takes women seriously for this sort of thing proved to be very difficult.

At some point she read an account of FtM trans men no longer experiencing PMDD once they went on hormone therapy. She read up on TRT for women and started doing injections (9mg/week). PMDD has been gone for over 6months. No symptoms at all. Seems very effective!

Im 41 yo and I’ve been on T pellets for about 2-3 years. At first, I loved them! But over time, my body started to spontaneously expel them too soon. Like about 4 weeks in. Not even long enough to get the benefits. But I kept going back and my specialist used a steroid injection along with the lidocaine. Worked the first time. But didn’t work the next time. It’s so frustrating and so expensive. Now for the last 2 months I’ve had 2 periods per month with all the symptoms (fatigue, moodiness, achiness). Decreased libido. So where I’m at currently, waiting for my labs to come back. Still on nightly progesterone 200mg (I take off the week of my period). I’m not on estrogen. I’m either going to ask to try topical or injectable T. Any thoughts?

I’ve been on compounded cream for maybe 5 months now and I’m about ready to throw in the towel. My desire to masturbate is definitely a lot higher (although unfortunately hadn’t extended to a desire to be intimate with my spouse). But the weird thing is that I basically feel like my clitoris is numb. It takes SO LONG to have an orgasm and I really don’t understand. I blamed it on being on a new SSRI, but I’m off it now and no difference at all. I’ve had some other bothersome side effects like super oily skin that has mostly resolved and I’m now getting a bunch of unwanted body hair. This just isn’t going like how I imagined it would. Has anyone else experienced the numb feeling or difficulty orgasming? I’m 41 and T was at 11 when it started. It went up to low 100’s after 2.5 months and my doctor said was willing to double my dosage so I’m guessing I’m in the 200’s now, but don’t know for sure of course. The SSRI I was on was Trintellix. I have taken adderall for years and years for ADHD but nothing else at the moment. I’m not on E or P as doctor didn’t feel I needed to be. Should I just go off it? Stay on a small dose?? My doctor is local but costs so much $$ and I don’t really want to make another appointment.

Has anyone brought in Testosterone gel into the US without a prescription in their check in luggage? I’m in India & hope to travel back with 3 boxes of Cernos gel (each box has 14 sachets). I’m not sure how they screen for testosterone gels at airports in the US? X-ray, dogs, something else? Advice appreciated!

So I just started T injection last week. 200/ml and 10mg/week. I should split the dose @5mg which supposed to be 0.025cc or 2.5 units. But I accidentally took 5 units twice a week, two weeks in a row which means I’ve been taking 20mg/week. I feel great though, libido is back. No brain fog, so much energy. I was previously on pellets but didn’t like it. Is it bad to take 20mg/week? I kinda like it but I don’t want my voice to change. I am wondering if I should stay at this dose which is 20mg/week or back to my prescribed dose which is 5mg twice a week @2.5units.

Please help! Thanks before!

Hi, I am starting my pellet therapy in 2 weeks. I am a bit nervous because I don't know what to expect. My free t was 0.1 and total was 15 when I checked them last month. I am in my early 30's. I am estrogen dominant so I just started supplementing oral progesterone to help with that and hopefully reduce slightly high shbg at 112.

With that said, I haven't had much of a libido since I can remember as this has likely been going on for years and I just tested my hormones for the first time only months ago. The lack of libido has been a challenge for me and my husband. This is not the only reason I am starting trt, but definitely an important one.

I've seen the other posts here tagged as libido, I've seen the pinned poll, and I've looked through this subreddit extensively. My question becomes -- do you feel like trt improved your mental state in more than one aspect of life? I mean did you feel like a different person? I will be intimate with my husband, but it takes a lot to get going and it's more of a thing because I love him and not necessarily something I need. I am a bit nervous because I don't know how this will effect me, but hoping for the best in multiple areas of life.

I’ve seen conflicting info for a few things regarding the use of gel/cream and am wondering if this sub has a general consensus on any of the following:

1. time of day to apply. My clinician told me in the morning but I see many of you prefer evening.

2. placement. I am supposed to use every other inner thigh, but I see others using behind knee or on arms. My inner thighs probably have the most fat on them than anywhere else in my body, would that make any difference in absorption?

3. how much to rub in. Should we be applying to as large of an area as possible, or be more concentrated in one area?

I understand that a lot of this is user trial and error, and I’ve read through a lot of previous posts.

I have been on testosterone gel for about eight months. I’m on a very low dose that apply in the morning on my thigh. It says not to shower for five hours after the gel was applied. I’m going on holiday where we have a private pool and I would like to use it as much as I can. Not being able to use the pool for five hours after applying the gel made me think maybe I will just skip it for four days. What are your thoughts and recommendations? I read that applying testosterone gel at night could cause poor sleep. Thanks much

Spouse and I are backpackers who travel outside the US (usually to hot climates).

Anyone have experience with TRT that does not have to be temperature controlled?

I'm starting cream next week. I'm so worried about side effects. Has anyone had any issues with the side effects? Weight gain, body hair growth, acne, etc? I'm worried the side effects are going to add to my insecurities and anxiety, not fix them.

Not to mention the heart attack and stroke side effects. It's all so scary.

Curious if anyone else has a Biote pellet, stays in for 3 months. My levels are at 125 now after stopping it for a few months and was at 112 when I did have it. I’m feeling pretty down emotionally 2 weeks after getting it in which didn’t happen last time. Wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience

Hi all- I hope I don't break the community rules with this post. I know it needs to be about testosterone specifically, but I also know the usefulness of TRT depends a lot on your other hormones being right too. Is there another sub that y'all know about where that can be spoken about more? Or does anyone have a good resource for (and I know different labs say different things) reference ranges for female hormones? I'd like to get a better feel for what is normal (I know "normal" isn't always optimal, but I want to get a general since for how off base I am) and what isn't with all the labs I just had done.

Delete if not allowed, thanks!

Week 4 of injecting TRT weekly and I am feeling a little irritable. I just feel like I am a lot less patient than my normal self. I also feel a little anxious probably because I am more irritated. I’m considering dividing the dose and injecting twice weekly instead of once. Anyone else?

I’ve been prescribed 1% testosterone gel. It comes in 5g tubes that contain 50 mg of T each. My provider has instructed me to take .5mg (1/10 of the tube) every other day on my inner thigh. So one tube lasts me 20 days if my math is right. My questions:

1. How can I be sure I'm dosing correctly? Is there a syringe I could use that will work better than others? All the syringes I've seen are in mL, I'm not sure how to convert that. So far, I've been eyeballing a pea sized amount but would like to get as precise as I can.

2. Is every other day pretty standard? From what I've read on this and other subs, most folks are using it daily. I think with something like this, less is more, but are there drawbacks to not doing it every day?

For reference, I'm 41F and my bloodwork came back as 8ng/dL. I’ve been taking the gel for a few weeks now and haven’t noticed any changes, though I know it can take longer to feel effects.

Today I paid AUD$113 for a 50ml tube of AndroFeme testosterone cream. What in the price gauging fuck?! That’s $2.26 per ml, FFS. The pharmacist said it’s just been removed from the PBS. Has anyone else recently been stung by this price increase? I’m so angry and upset that I may have to stop using the one substance that has finally alleviated my perimenopause brain fog and fatigue.

Hi friends, I'm starting TRT next week!! My doc is starting me on cream and I'm wondering how dosage timing works for yawl. I imagine I'll get instruction from the doc regarding timing but I'm too keen to know! Is once a day in the morning better/more like how our body does it or twice a day? Thanks!

Hello ladies. Husband here (on TRT myself) and asking for perspective. My wife got her labs back today.
Total T was 13.
Free T - 0.3 Prog - 3.8 E - 52.7 TSH - 1.86 T4 - 7.9 T3 - 3.0

Edit- adding SHBG - 68.3 Albumin - 4.3

The provider doc is known for hormone and weight loss meds, so I'm sure they will prescribe T. (Fingers crossed at least).

Are there any questions she should ask at her follow-up tomorrow? As her spouse, is there anything I can do to help her through this? If you were starting your journey over, what info would you like to have known from the beginning? How long until sleep/anxiety/libido improved?

Hi, I’m 41 and just started a low dose testosterone cream. A year ago my levels were 10 and this month they were less than 3. I’m hoping this will help with libido, low mood and low energy. I’m terrified of getting acne. I’m only on day 4. I made mistake of starting the day before my period so I felt super depressed first night. I’ve been doing 1/2 the reccd dose bc I’m nervous lol. I’m curious how long it usually takes to see negative side effects like acne, and how long to see positive side effects. TIA!

I've been using around 3mg 1.62% Androgel on my upper arm for a few months and it is definitely not hurting and possibly helpful. If I apply any more, I get grouchy. Are there any rock solid indicators that it is effective? I might be more focused and more clear but that could be other things I'm taking. My libido isn't huge but it's certainly adequate.

My wife has been on TRT therapy for about 6 months. Started with cream and about 3 months ago started a 20mg shot once a week. Her sex drive definitely increased but she is having a hard time getting to orgasm. Is this a common issue?

Background: I've been on 100mg of progesterone and .4-.8mgs of testosterone for the last 6 months because my labs came back with both being undetectable in my body.

I'm on 0.8mgs of testosterone (vaginal suppositories) nightly. I have my last one left for tonight, and they won't refill until I see my provider again. Up until 3 months ago, I've actively seen her as we try to get the dosage right. It's right, I feel great, and now I'm about to stop cold turkey for at least a week until they can see me again, I can get labs, and the pharmacy can then fill it.

Should I anticipate any side effects during this 1-2 week period of not being on it? Anything I can do naturally in the meantime to try to offset it as much as possible?

Hello all! I have recently (as in 3 days ago) started T only injections. I inject 4mg every 4 days. Prior to this I did one round of pellets and had lots of side effects I loved, but also some I didn’t. I also didn’t like that I couldn’t quickly change/control the dosage with pellets so I moved to injections. My question is, has anyone found T cyp injections have less of the negative side effects than pellets do? TIA!

Can someone shed some light on this? My estradiol is 36 and my total testosterone (after 10 weeks of TRT) is now 100. I feel some benefits, but no increase in libido. I’m not sure if I should increase my T dosage (currently 7.5 mg once a week) or try the estrogen patch.

I just filled what I thought was an early refill of my test cyp 200 mg/ml prescription and I asked the pharmacist why my insurance was letting me refill it before I used up the last one and he said the FDA changed their recommendations on the vials and that they’re only good for 28 days and need to be thrown out after 28 days regardless of whether there’s product left.

I only use 10mg/week, which means a vial could last me several months (I’m still using my first vial and I’ve been on it since July). Apparently the 200mg/ml is the smallest container they make, so the pharmacist said to just throw out any remainder after 28 days.

I do have some concerns about shelf life bc I have to put my vial in hot water to loosen it up enough to draw into my syringes, and wondered if the heating and cooling of the oil was problematic.

Does everyone here only keep a vial for 28 days and dispose of it after that, even if there’s plenty of product left in it? Seems like such a waste!

Been on TRT for 6 weeks. First three weeks were IM injections of 10 mg Cypionate. Last three weeks have been cream. Cream was prescribed for everyday, but I’ve only taken every other day.

Noticed a drop of breast milk today. Thicker, like maybe colostrum. I see no one has posted about this issue before.

Has anyone here experienced this?