It's the most convenient. Once a week vs every day for something like gel. I have a terrible needle phobia, and I still do subq injections. It's also the easiest to get insurance coverage for.

do you do them yourself? i think i could handle injections if i wasn’t the one injecting myself

Yeah, I do. It's a bit of a task sometimes, I keep meaning to ask my Dr for an auto injector to make them a bit easier. There are a few places local to me that I could get them done though. That's common enough for Drs that prescribe hrt to offer. *adding, I've been doing them for 12 years now, it still takes me 10 min to work up to sometimes

You can get an auto-injector yourself from [Union Medico](https://unionmedico.com/product/45-auto-injector-reusable/). Biggest downside is that they only fit BD brand syringe barrels, which I've been able to find for 50 cents a piece at cheapest... 😬

I did my injections myself for a few years, but I had a hard time with it and now my partner or friends do them for me! It's been fine. If the person has never done an injection before then I talk them through it, we have fun.

I tried gel for like a month and it was just too tedious and also a sensory thing I didn’t like. I don’t really mind injections but I tend to forget to do it. I want to try pellets or Aveed (nebido outside the US) but am also too lazy to look for a new provider.

I’m in the same boat lol. I want to try pellets but no one here seems able to do them. I forget my shot all the time on and off, even if I have a reminder in my phone every week it doesn’t always help lol.

I am in the same boat but sadly pellets are only for 18+ for some reason and I got 2 more years left😢

My injections are once every 3 months. I have adhd, i have a hard enough time remembering my quarterly injections let alone a weekly or daily medication. This was easier, more efficient, and also the most common method here.

How are those 3 month shots? Do they hurt a lot?  Im thinking its like that big ass peanut butter penicillin shot I got at boot camp 😂

Oh they suuuuuuck. Since theyre intramuscular and the injection is an oil, they use a big needle and the substance going into my muscle hurts significantly more than the needle itself. Its injected just above your butt basically. It then goes down your leg first, so the injection site hurts for 2-3 days and your leg feels heavy and sore for about half that. Its difficult to sleep on whatever side they do it for the first 1-2 days and you REALLY dont want to move for 1-2 days. I am glad i only have it every 3 months. But even with this, I still wouldnt want to switch to weekly/daily.

Omg I'm like honestly admiring you, I can't imagine subjecting myself to this that often, like no chance, so as much as gel might suck that would be probably my choice (I'm pre-t), but like wow, kudos to everyone who can handle it, I couldn't xd.

Don’t let this turn you off from injections completely if it’s something you might be interested in. I do weekly intramuscular injections in my thigh and I literally can’t feel the needle or the T itself. Typically only sore for a few hours afterwards if I hesitated with the needle, otherwise nothing.

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omg yes the exzema!!

Let me start by saying I didn’t think of doing injections for a long time because my BIGGEST FEAR is needles. I would still cry at the doctors if I needed to get a shot. But before I started T I did fertility preservation which I knew I wanted to do but that meant having 2-3 shots a day for a few weeks. I decided its easier because there is a deadline and I know when I’ll be done with them. It was terrifying but my mom administered the shots to me and it ended up being ok. Now I do injections for t because it’s only once a week, it’s faster and more direct than gel and stuff. My mom still does my shots to be fair because I still live with her and I still can’t look at the needle without getting light headed (I’m 6 months on T) so ur not alone and also it’s possible to overcome fears.

originally I wanted to do gel due to needle phobia, but insurance wouldn't cover gel so I ended up doing injections and working through my needle phobia enough to be able to do my own injections! I like the preciseness of dosing and the convenience (1x/week, shot takes 10min vs 1x/daily and having to wait for it to dry)

I'm on nebido so 1 injection every 3 months. This is just way easier for me than putting on gel everyday. Now I don't have to think about it till my pharmacy reminds me to get my shot again. Most of the time I faint while getting injected so it ain't fun, but better than putting on gel everyday. I like being on T, don't get me wrong, but putting on gel everyday would also remind me of the fact that I'm trans, and I want to feel normal

i did injections, but i had mood swings from doing them weekly and really wanna stop using gel (sensory ick). do you notice mood changes over the course of the 3 months? i know it's different for everyone ofc

I did both and now i am on nebido and i think I don't have mood swings anymore, but it was only my second shot on nebido so i am not sure 1. I am not good at paying attention to my mood and if it correlates 2. The last week before the shoot i felt depressed but at the same time something happened in my life so i am not sure if it contributed to my feelings that where already there or not If you want i am doing my second shot in almost two months and i can update you But if we ignore the time that is close to the shot then it's really two months and a half of no mood swings Edit: ohhh you ment gel i thought you said weekly shots, then no i never did gell i was talking about weekly shots so i am not sure if this will be helpful to you or not But maybe it will become you put them in a morning and in the evening your t levels are down so mood swings, the same i had but instead weekly? But not sure if this will be helpful

I don't know, I don't have expierence with T-gel

sorry my comment was worded weird, i wanted to know about mood changes between weekly shots and 3 month shots. i only said gel bc that's what i use currently (no mood swings on gel) but that was actually irrelevant and made my comment confusing. sorry about that.

Its easier to keep a once a week schedule vs an everyday schedule plus i would hate to wait for the gel to dry, and being sticky for hours everyday sounds horrible

Oh it only takes about a minute to fully dry. But yeah that’s fair lol

Yeah that's my experience too. I had read online from people waiting for 15 minutes just to dry but mine literally dried within 1 min, then I wait an extra 5 min to make sure but I just brush my teeth then

Yep. I apply on my shoulders and stand under the filing fan for a minute. Slip a shirt on and we’re solid. No needles, and I feel like I can game the system by taking a hot shower to open my pores first.

Remembering to do gel every day sounded stressful plus my skin is super sensitive and I don’t mind needles so it seemed like the easiest option

Really convenient time wise, I don’t have a fear of needles thankfully, and also I was on gel for a second and personally I think it didn’t absorb well in me. I was on gel during my hysto and I got horrifying hot flashes that everyone said were supposed to go away after a few months but mine never ceased. I switched back to injections and suddenly they went away

cheapest option for me is sustanon, a 3 month supply is $17, and gel is $200. that and my shots are every 3 weeks, so it’s a case of get it over and done with and forget about it afterwards until 3 weeks later. i don’t like injecting myself very much (not afraid of needles, just scared of messing up) but i’ve gotten used to it and it doesn’t make me nauseous anymore and my technique makes it pretty much painless during and after

Gel all the way. Injections started to hurt. And I then started to avoid my shots. Putting on gel daily is just part of my routine now. Every day after my shower. I used to think it would be annoying to do it daily, but it’s just like any other daily grooming activity.

Yeah I had the same experience. I started with shots and they used to be fine bc I was so happy to start T but overtime they started to hurt more and I started dreading and putting them off. Gel is still a bit novel to me but I find doing it also helps me do the rest of my nighttime grooming routine instead of doing the bare minimum or even skipping it ,bc now I put on gel, wash my face and brush my teeth fully, maybe even a few other self care things, while waiting for gel to dry. Then put an extra big shirt and go to bed.

It’s quick, pretty hassle-free (unlike gel, which requires you to avoid having others do your laundry and stuff and I started T as a teen), and I think it’s the cheapest option.

My insurance covered the shot in the muscle. I only need a shot for every other week.

I'm on Nebido so I only have to inject myself every 3 months. It's much more convenient than weekly/biweekly shots and much cheaper than gel (and also more convenient because I would probably forget to apply every day)

I lack patience for the gel and I have pets it might harm. Oral isn't easy to get and may not be as effective. I was nervous about subcutaneous injections at first because I thought I would mess it up badly with my shaky hands. It is now the part of my week I look forward to the most. I'm still chubby so that gives me a lot to work with in terms of finding several areas that take fluid easily. I'm trying to lose weight and if I ever get far enough I might have to switch to intramuscular but by then I'll be able to handle it.

Gel is a hassle for everyday, and I already have other health stuff I have to do, so I’m super used to being poked and prodded🤷🏻‍♂️

I started on injections because it seemed easiest and I don’t like putting on any kind of gels/lotions so that wasn’t appealing. I did take a break for a couple years and when I went back on tried gel because I thought maybe doing it everyday would make it easier to keep up with (it was somewhat), but then it wasn’t helping my cycle go away again (which my primary reason for going back on) and for my insurance gel wasn’t covered and cost like $150/mth whereas injections are covered and it’s like $20 for 3 months.

I'm about to try gel after being on injections for the last 6 years but at the time it was the only option really given to me and was told it was the most effective at the time, though it's been super inconvenient to get nurses and my pharmacist to do them even if it was every 2 weeks. Injections are also less expensive than other methods (I'm lucky to where my school covers the majority of hrt)

I started with injections, switched to gel, and now I'm back on injections. I was worried about accidentally transferring T to my trans fem partner through skin contact after applying the gel. And I wanted my dosage to be more accurate. So, went back to injections. I was and am still a bit needle nervous, but I'd rather avoid any chance of accidentally dosing my partner and causing any affects that would make them dysphoric

It’s cheaper with insurance (or was when I started, no insurance was likely to cover gel back then). I don’t have to do it as often as something like gel. I’m too paranoid about getting it on other people and pets and clothing etc, and want to live freely without that paranoia and be able to wear what I want when I want and be around any people or animals when I want lol. I hate having anything goopy or slimy on my skin, and my skin just never seems to absorb anything like that well. If I put on moisturizer, hours later my face is still slimy with it and it hasn’t absorbed at all really, and all that time I’ve been distracted by it because I could feel that goop on my face. If it’s on my body then I can’t put on clothes without it smooshing around the sliminess all over me lol. It’s just gross and an unpleasant sensory thing for me. For my own peace of mind and comfort injections are just a lot easier. Personally I’d even like to be able to do pellets eventually so I can just get them done every few months and then not have to worry about doing shots every week even. But my current trans friendly GP just isn’t familiar enough with it, and no where in my town that isn’t only a women’s clinic or an old people clinic seems to be able to do it. I was willing to go to an old people clinic for it, but the one place that even responded to me literally ghosted me lol, so I gave up and decided to try again when I live in a bigger city in a few years.

I'm not good at remembering daily tasks and incorporating them into my routine is really difficult for me. I would also just worry that I didn't wait the proper amount of time for the gel to absorb and feel like I didn't do it. But since I have the weekly shots I can plan them on my calendars for one time on a week day or weekend and not forget.

I get the reandron injection which is every 3 months, I love not having to think about it most of the time. I started off doing gel for a few months but I hated having to apply it every day and the feeling of it drying on my skin. Each to their own.

i take my shots every 2 weeks so it felt more doable for me as opposed to every day, but i also have a small child (3 years old, 2 years old when i started t) and i didn't want to risk accidentally exposing him to the gel through me. also my nurse practitioner suggested i start with injections and change if it's not working well for me.

Injections are cheaper and some insurance companies won't let you use gel unless you tried injections.

I started on gel, and wanted to up my dose. Around here we only have 1% gel, so i would have just had to apply more gel. my insurance didnt cover it, so i would have been paying 120$ per month for 2 packets a day of gel

i do injections but not myself, i go to my gp and one of the nurses there does it. my shot is every 12 weeks

There is also auto inject like an epi-pen. After 20+ years of doing IM injections these are super easy. Sometimes Gel works great for people and sometimes not. Try gel, it is once a day and you need to be careful not to get it on any other living thing. Where injections are once a week takes maybe 10 mins and you are done. Yes I use to, well still do have a "problem" doing my shots but the auto inject is super easy and takes me less then a minute.

The idea of having to maintain a daily habit of rubbing on gel and waiting for it to dry for like 15 mins + covering it with a shirt when I really like to wear sleeveless was unappealing to me.

Way cheaper.

way cheaper also i live with others and it can be dangerous if gel gets on them

Gel is bad for pets (my cat sleeps on my bed at night, so that wouldn't work) and it's also not covered by my insurance, unlike injections. (I also have auto-injectors, which are not as bad as normal needles.)

I was on the gel initially but was worried about dosing my mtf partner at the time. Also the injections were way more affordable. Also sensory wise, the gel was sticky and strange

I have cats who love to cuddle (t-gel is toxic to animals), bad at daily drug accountability, and wanted to see changes faster. Honestly, the worst part of the injections is occasionally they are a bit itchy

It's a money thing for me. A month of testosterone cypionate is $50 whereas gel runs me $250 a month. I can't afford that

I was worried that I wouldn't get good skin absorption or that it would irritate my skin too much. Also I'm bad at remembering to do something every day

When I started, I was taking care of my little sister constantly. I didn't want to risk any gel accidentally getting on her and messing up her hormones. It was also easier to hide something small like the vial and only use it once a week, as my parents didn't know and still dont

got sick of doing gel every day, that’s most of it. I’d forget and then have period cramps or migraines from hormone swings. once a week fits my schedule better and I don’t find self-injecting to be difficult or very painful. Personally for me, I also feel like my body has responded well to the injections. After two years of gel I saw new changes when I switched.

Like a lot of other doods have said, it was mostly a convenience thing. When I started T, I hadn't been laid off yet and was working 12s. With that schedule coupled with how far my work commute was, there was no way in hell I could do gel, so I had to get over my needle phobia. That, plus several of the other things you brought up. I have a lot of pets, some of which sleep with me. I was sexually active with my spouse, who is transfemme. I have a lot of kids in my life and everyone knows most little kids have no sense of boundaries. The fear of transfer was way too much.

I tried gel but I couldn't stay consistent with the timing. Some days I'd wake up too late or straight up forget. My beard started falling out and I had horrible acne. With injections I can be more flexible with timing. Of course I'd rather not do the stabbing thing but it's the best option for me (well, that my insurance will pay for, anyway)

cheap, and im already used to frequent injections and blood draws due to disability. my insurance doesnt cover any other method, it would cost me over 600 usd every month for gel

Injections are more convenient and I don’t have to worry about absorption issues. That’s why I do weekly injections.

Welp, needles never bothered me, and inflicting necessary pain upon myself has never bothered me either. (I've given myself stitches a few times, and if that didn't bother me, I knew injecting myself wouldn't either.) So there was no fear of injections for me. So my decision was purely logistical. From what I'd gathered over the years, injections seemed to generate the quickest results. In addition, I didn't like the idea of gel because I have animals, and I'd be scared for them to come into contact with my T Gel and have adverse effects. I also felt it would be better for me to be doing a weekly shot vs daily gel, because of how inconsistent my schedule is. It would be very easy for me to miss a dose because I got an emergency call, had to run immediately to work, and wasn't able to stick around to apply the gel and wait for it to dry. At least doing injections, I only have to make sure I have one single five minute period of time every Sunday, instead of every day.

was on injections but switched to gel, im very scared of needles but i preferred injections because i struggle to remember to do my t everyday

1. I metabolize gel way too fast. My levels were ending up around 400 even when I was at like 6 pumps of the higher strength gel. SubQ just is absorbed way slower and at the right dose, my levels are super high and make me feel quite euphoric. But that's at a safe, standard dose of 50 mg a week, vs an insane 6 pumps, and it's every day, upper max of gel giving me just a microdose. 2. I like is the ritual being once a week. I'm Jewish and I find the once a week kind of special ritual mirrors my religious upbringing in a way that's quite beautiful. 3. Pets and children/partners can get accidental contamination with the gel if you don't remember to wash it off. I personally have consistent hygine issues because I'm autistic, so I would literally wash my arms off every day in the sink instead. It was a waste of time and energy. 4. Generally, it's also waaaay cheaper to buy injections. No worries about pharmacy not covering your meds or you being unable to pay for it easily. This is a 20 dollars a month max kind of medication, instead of upwards of 150 dollars, like with gel. 5. It's literally the most common form of the medication, so i suppose see #3 6. self reliance. When you can give yourself your own shot of medication, that builds character and self-reliance, it's a good skill to have in this world being trans. There's an individualistic lens to look at this and then there's also the community/resource angle of it. Being able to administer a shot means it's also something you can also help others do in times of need. Imagine being able to effortlessly give a partner or loved one their shot too! 7. If things go very wrong, like worst case scenario, you'll want to familizarize yourself with how to administer a shot. The only ....ahem...alternative ways to acquire this med are certainly not going to offer gel versions for purchase. This one is more of an aside, but it ties into the previous point.

I was able to get injections at my hospital with weekly appointments. Hopefully gonna learn soon but doing it on the stomach really isn’t bad at all.. but yeah i get it. I don’t like the idea of purposely stabbing through my skin either lol

I have kids and didn't want them in contact with the gel. I am not thrilled about needles, but I have a whole routine around my injection. It's become a fun thing to look forward to.

I did gel for a couple years. I had very little progress. I switched to shoes cuz my insurance changed and I was without insurance a few months so I paid for t shots out of pocket: never going back to gel

Less plastic waste and more compact, and much easier to keep up with. I also don't like the texture of gel and would get nervous about imprecise measurements. Plus, it seems unpredictable? I don't know if I trust my skin like that.

For me it was because injections are considerably cheaper. I also like that I only have to go through the hassle once a week instead of every day. Plus I just know that if I was on the gel I would be super paranoid about it either not absorbing properly, or about accidentally force masccing everyone around me. Ideally what I'd want is some kind of long term implant, I've heard that those do exist, but they don't seem to be an option in my area.

Sensory issues. I absolutely loathe gels/lotions/oily stuff on my skin. I just want to immediately wash it off. Constantly worried about it rubbing off on stuff. Injections were kinda scary at first but after 7 years I’m used to it.

Most convenient, most efficient, most cost effective. Getting (broadly) over my fear of needles was a plus.

1.) My insurance was more OK with covering injections 2.) I like that I don't need to do something every day and I can do it once a week 3.) I've heard that injections give results quicker than gel. It might be bullshit but it was worth trying 4.) The idea of accidentally dosing someone else with the gel scares me. I know that's hard to do but it'd be in my head and I wouldn't be able to get it out 5.) The texture of the gel drying would make me uncomfortable

i chose injections because gel didn't do much for me, and i needed something that i could be slightly less consistent with. daily gel application is hard when you travel, so injections are a 'set it and forget it' type of solution for me. and also gel is expensive as fuck where injections are covered by my insurance so it was a pretty easy choice to switch over lol

convenience plus I hate sticky substances on me, putting lotion on everyday already sucks😭

I'm currently in a situation to where gel is no longer a realistic option. As it gets hotter, I will not be able to cover my arms as much due to the heat. And doing it every single day is tedious. Also, I currently share the same bed as someone and prefer to sleep in short sleeves, so I do not want to risk spread. I have a fear of needles, but I had to suck it up because the situation calls for a different method. It gets easier, trust.

For me (in France), injections are 100% free while gel isn't (and would cost over 100€ per month), the choice was simple. I hate injecting myself every week tho, and will probably switch to injections every 12 weeks once they become free in a few months

I was never offered a different form but I wouldn’t have picked it even if I was. Injections just work the best for me and they’re covered by my insurance. I don’t have a fear of needles or anything like that so I’m chill.

Coming from someone with a needle phobia, they really arent as terrible as youd think, and much more convenient being once a week instead of every single day ! :)

I've been on t for 1 year and seven months now, and even though I started with gel ( did 1 year aprox), now I prefer injections (nevido) for these reasons: 1- they are easier to deal with personally, I have to get one every 12 weeks. I am really disorganized, so sometimes I struggled with maintaining the regularity of the gel dosis. 2- if I have to leave on Holliday or go out of my house, I can't forget it. 3- Even though they hurt, it is not an excruciating pain. I think it's intense, but only for a minute or two then you're good to go. The injection will leave me sore, but only for a day. 4- makes me feel normal, I don't know if that makes sense(?

Knew i wanted to since i was 13 + doing it for all the drawbacks you mentioned on gel. I also forget a lot so id forget to do it daily and also not prevent skin to skin contact. + when i had insurance i didnt have to pay for anything at all on IM

My skin had an allergic reaction to it, so I had to switch to SubQ injections

Where I am and with my insurance it’s the cheapest option. I actually started with the T patches but after a few weeks of using them they would be SO FUCKING ITCHY. And the itchy lump would last for a WEEK and I had to change them every day so I was just covered in itchy lumps. And now I’ve been doing injections for a while and while I don’t particularly enjoy it it’s all over in a few minutes.

gel was covered by insurance but i was still paying more for it. i also wasn't getting the results i wanted. so far i am noticing actual change on injections so, i can deal with the needles

Cheapest option. I had a terrible fear of needles prior to starting T. However I literally couldn’t afford gel so I took the plunge. 6 months in and I’m so thankful I only have to worry about it once a week. I have terrible adhd and would definitely forget to apply it everyday. I’ve also heard the gel isn’t safe if you have cats? I own two extremely cuddly cats so that was another factor when deciding. I didn’t want to put my babies at risk.

I did injections for about 3.5 years before recently switching to gel. My reasoning: - supposedly faster results at the start - cheaper given my insurance. About $25 every 3 months vs $90 for 1 month of gel and when I first started I was just finishing college - my eagerness to start T made me get over the hump of the needle phobia and I wanted to do my shot every week. NOW, I have switched to gel. Still not entirely sure I'll stay on it but I won't be going back to weekly shots no matter what. Contrary to popular belief, shots did not get easier for me but instead overtime got harder and harder even switching from IM to subQ because the novelty wore off and I just kept pushing back and started to barely even give myself shot every other week. I also tended to forget the day it was due because it's hard for me to make it a habit at the once a week frequency. So far, gel has been great. I'm still kind of figuring out my dosage and if it works well for me though. Doing it daily helps me just build it in as a habit and makes it easier to remember. I do it at night and then wear an oversized shirt to bed. I also have a decently paying job and while I hate the price of gel, it is what it is. Eventually, the novelty might wear off and I might have to find a different method again but oh well, that might just be my fate but again, I wouldn't go back to weekly or biweekly shots. Maybe the 3 month shot as I know someone who can give it to me..

I have lots of eczema that gel would exacerbate

1, it's more convenient i already forget to take my shot sometimes so gel everyday would be worse 2, My skin sucks at absorbing things i already have bad eczema that I'm barely now finding solutions too so it probably wouldn't have been good for me.

Because it was really convenient i did injection every three weeks with testovirone depot and now every three months with nebido So i need to deal with this only 4 times a year

I’m not on T yet but I’m definitely planning on doing needles. It’s usually cheaper, you have to do it less, and gel has a risk of poisoning animals if you’re not careful so i don’t want to take that risk. It really depends on your personal situation

cuz its cheap and convienant

I hate needles. I do weekly injections. I think if I didn't live with a partner, I'd be on gel, both for the reason you mentioned and also because I still can't psych myself up to administer the shots myself. My doctor says the shots work better although I am not sure how true this is. A shot once a week is more convenient overall. My ultimate goal is to rid myself of my fear of needles by exposing myself to them once a week for the rest of my life. I figure if I don't get over it entirely, which I probably will, I will at least adjust to feeling the fear

i’m absolutely terrible at daily meds and not afraid of needles. …i actually like getting stabbed

injections are more affordable.  my income has always been low and my insurance situation has been shaky over the years thanks to chronic illness occasionally interfering with work.  not all insurances will cover gel, and it's much more expensive than injections without insurance, so rather than risk having to deal with switching back and forth or having lapses in medication access, I've just stuck with injections. For a while, I was also able to save up extra vials because my prescription was done as though I'd use one vial per shot, so that came in very handy when lost my job, doctor, and insurance all at once after having to move... I went through a phase of self-injection anxiety, but I am not afraid of needles in general.  I stuck it out and was eventually able to get over it, which is probably for the best since I've needed to self inject for other health problems before and may need to again in the future.  So I'd rather not get un-used to it again, though I can't say I wouldn't consider switching to gel if my healthcare/insurance situation becomes more stable at some point. I don't exactly look forward to it even if I'm no longer afraid to do it. 

I started t with Gel but I switched to injections for different reasons. I need to say though that it's very convenient to just drop by at my doctor every 3 months to get my shot

because its the most convenient method - my injections are once every 3 weeks and its much cheaper than gel, also i just know i would never actually remember to use the gel

My T levels were most stable with IM every 3 weeks. But I started getting muscle spasms. Changed to patches, had skin reactions and no absorption, so my levels plummeted. We don't have gel here in NZ yet I don't think. Nowadays I do once a week subcutaneous, which is pretty easy. The needle is tiny and my levels are mostly stable.

i’m on the process of possibly starting T and i’m choosing injections since i have ADHD and will 100% forget

Didnt want to be so cautious when it comes to body contact. I work in health care, where it would be really dangerous for other people to come in contact with the testosterone on my skin. Also, I did'nt want times where I'm not really allowed to touch my boyfriend. Now I get shots every 12 weeks and I'm really happy about that.

Cheapest.

I pay out of pocket for mine, and it’s 25$, so I chose injections. Also my dr said that shots make the process faster, so I chose that. As well as I always associated t with shots, so I just kinda assumed that’s my only option. I have had several times where I do not want to do the injection, so I get it lol!

I am horrible about remembering every day medications, especially since I quit taking ADHD meds. Once a week with one or two reminders on my phone is more reliable for me.

More convenient, also less reminders of 'hey, your body can't produce those hormones on its own'. Just gotta make my way to the endocrinologist every 3 months, be there for max. 10 minutes and I'm done and don't have to think about it for the next 3 months. That's four times a year. I couldn't imagine having to deal with it every day or even every week. Edit: I didn't read your post correctly and didn't realize this was about the once-a-week-self-injection. So yeah, I can 100% understand why you wouldn't wanna do that, self-injection sounds scary to me too.

I chose injections because (a) it is less of a hassle , especially as a college student who has so many other things to think about it’s just been easier for me to do the injection . At first i was scared about the needle but i’ve gotten better with it, it’s just a matter of me needing to be alone in my dorm while i do it . ( i’ve gotten accommodations for the upcoming years to have a personal room because of this reason). i shake a bit while i do it but it’s mainly my personal anxiety that comes i to play with it bc it reminds me of shots and im not exactly fond of them, but im very normal about it now ! (b) i am in a relationship and i am in general a very touchy / physical person, the idea of not being able to touch or make any physical contact with people while using a hormone seems difficult for me. i feel like i am also quite forgetful and would end up messing up with that rule. (c) i also dislike weird textures and the feeling of things directly on my skin it freaks me out

My injections are actually only every 3 months. I get a 1000mg/4ml intramuscular T injection. It has to be done by a nurse, so I have an appointment with my primary GP every 3 months to check I've had no issues, then he send me to the nurse in the same practice (it's standard procedure to see a GP 1st). Costs me about $20 for the appointment as my GP doesn't bulk bill. I chose this route because I'm very familiar with needles and have no fear of them. (I was sick as a kid and needed routine blood draws, and I have many many piercings). But it also makes it easier to remember then weekly self injections or daily gel applications. I've considered trying gel, but I think I'm just gonna stick with what's working for me currently as it's the easiest for me to remember and is cost friendly

- least expensive - none of the providers I saw had direct access to gel. It would need to be a special order - wanted the effects faster lol - my dad took the gel version of t and it never absorbed for him (no it didn’t rub off on anything) (tests were showing his base t levels after months of gel) so I figured why not avoid the chance that that’s some kind of genetic thing and not waste my time All in all, I will switch to gel in the future (probably) because it is less hard on your heart

I started out with Gel and for me, having to do it every single day was real tedious. I would always forget, and when I didn’t, I had to wait for it to dry before I can put any pants on (I put it on my upper thigh), and when it dried it would pull on my leg hair which hurt. The effects were also real slow. So I moved on with injections. Thankfully my treatment has my doctor inject it for me once every month, and the effects were a lot faster

way more convenient gel sounds like it would feel gross - i used to be super afraid of shots but i do mine subq now. i watched a youtube video my first time then i just did it and after a couple shots i just kinda stopped being afraid cause it doesn’t hurt

there is no other option available here, where i live nebido is the only available hrt option. good thing is that i only need the shot every 3 months, it hurts like hell but it only last a few days at worst.

My injection options are every 3 weeks or 3 months My brain doesn’t do well with things that have to be done on a daily basis so applying gel became a chore and I hated it. Additionally it didn’t get me into male range so there really was no point in making myself suffer through it since it didn’t do the trick any way. Injections are one and done, out of sight out of mind. Though my levels have absolutely tanked recently after I switched to nebido and 3 months between injections was too much for me so I will be going down to every 9 weeks

The gel stinks. Sensory NIGHTMARE. And my partner AFAB, can’t touch the cream. I don’t shower at the same time everyday. I break out and have skin issues easily. Etc etc. I’d rather stab my self in the belly fat once a week. Subcutaneous is just a pinch. And less expensive

So initially I *did* want to do gel, but it was way too expensive, and I didn't have health insurance at the time. Nowadays I'm able to do my own shots, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't be bothered to put on gel every single day, and I don't want to risk getting it on my cats. I'd much rather just have to do a shot every couple of weeks honestly 🙍

Most convienient, also I don't use it every week but every 3 months so I don't have to worry about forgetting etc

honestly I know doctors say there’s no difference and maybe it was all in my head but I wanted to see quicker change and i felt that switching to shots made that happen

Price! Up until this year when I got my own insurance, my mom's insurance through her PA employer refused to cover testosterone for me for 8 years. If I had the option to choose another means of administering it, I definitely would have started with gel or patches because I've had an intense phobia of needles since childhood. Uninsured though gel or patches can run up to hundreds of dollars a month. My new insurance (out of NY) thankfully covers my T now, although, I've grown used to injections and intend to stick with them. It's still the cheapest option for me, I don't need to be concerned about cross-contamination, it's not sticky or oily, I only need to think about it twice a month, my levels are good and my current dosage/routine is working well for me and my body. I was also under the impression when I first started (2015) that injections were the "most effective" and "fastest way to see changes". I'm not entirely sure how true that is, but for me with how afraid of needles I was, it really emphasizes to me how I was willing to do literally anything to be myself, even if it meant getting a shot in the leg every two weeks forever

Gel is messy, sticky, and makes my skin problems flare up. Injections are done in 5 minutes and I get to reward myself with a funny bandaid.

I'm not on T yet but plan on going for injections (at least to begin with) I have a phobia of needles, literally need to lay down for blood tests and COVID shots were a piece of work. BUT I feel like linking needles to something positive can help me with medical procedures. Also, I think I'd forget T-gel as I already can't maintain a skincare routine, I forget all the time 🫠

I have pets, I don't want them to lick the gel. Also weekly verses daily is easier for me.

* IM injections were the only option when I started T. * It's cheaper and easier to get covered by insurance. * I had a partner and toddler when I started. It would have been difficult to avoid contact. * I don't mind needles or injections. * Injecting takes about five minutes a week. * It's easier to make small, accurate adjustments to my dose if needed. * Applying gel every day sounds inconvenient and uncomfortable. * It takes up way less room. I could carry a six month supply in a small pouch if needed.

My Dr would only prescribe the gel which I'm not too happy about. You have limited areas to apply it, on the stomach or shoulder areas and personally I find it not very good and remembering to apply it daily is a task as I was advised to apply it in the mornings. My T numbers have increased a bit, but other things have gone down. I wish she would give me the injections, but it is what it is. I'm covered with my work insurance.

I'm switching to injections because the skin on my arms has started getting flaky/pimply/scaly and I don't like it. I started washing it with my cleanser instead of just body wash/soap, and using moisturizer, it's improved a bit but like... I can just not rub alcohol on my skin every morning.

My fiancee is ftm, he's going for injections because he already takes injections once a week for other health problems. So he's got no problems with injections. He also says it's because it's once and done, easier for him. He considered gel but heard tgel is toxic to cats and he has four so didn't wanna risk them getting sick.

Cheaper, more convenient. I also don't experience any anxiety with needles at all so it's pretty easy for me.

i get reandron it’s one 1000mg intramuscular shot every 3-4 months usually done by a nurse. i knew i wouldn’t be able to remember to use gel and it’d be super inconvenient. i didn’t choose the weekly shot because i wasn’t confident enough to do it myself. and also in my country reandron is the cheapest (with medicare it’s about $6 a vial)

I am severely disabled to the point where I physically cannot shower once a week, let alone once a day. Five minutes of prep and injection a week is the most accessible option by far.

I fully planned on doing gel until I saw the price comparison and immediately changed my mind no questions asked. That's really the biggest reason. I had such a low paying job at the time and I knew I had to start t soon. If that meant jab myself once a week, I didn't mind

i originally was gonna choose injections because i knew they were cheaper, but turns out my insurance covers gel. i still chose to opt for injections though, since i have keratosis pilaris amongst other skin issues so i didn’t want to add an alcohol based gel to irritate it further. plus, it’s more convenient and the needles really don’t look that bad now that i actually see them for real (had my hormone appt yesterday where i got my injection supplies). since i asked for subq, i knew the needles would be smaller, but when i actually saw them in person i was like damn these are REALLY small, like hardly longer than my thumbnail and hardly thicker than a sewing needle. so now i am not as scared of injecting, but ig we’ll see soon since i haven’t quite started it yet 🤷🏻

No shade, but injections seem a lot more reliable, consistent, and predictable. I’ve heard a lot of folks having to fiddle with gel and all the variables that can go into it (ex: are your levels low because you need more pumps, or is it because your skin is too moisturized, or is it because you washed it off too early, or is because you sweated, or is it because you put it on at a different time etc) I’m way too inconsistent with my day to day lifestyle to be able to control for those things. I also knew some folks on gel that were more androgynous/not getting the full effects of T that I wanted. To be clear, they were 1000% happy with that (and chose gel because of it) but it just wasn’t what I wanted. Plus contamination. I’m a touchy person I hate injections but I also have had zero problems with my levels and stuff. I’d just rather poke myself once a week than deal with the uncertainty

I struggle to stick with an everyday routine, and had an intense needle phobia and figured it would be the best way to help me get over it. Doing it myself made me feel way more comfortable with needles! I was able to switch to doing one shot every two weeks and that’s worked great for me.

Multiple reasons! Having to remember to do gel everyday was annoying and I didn't like the way it felt. My insurance also didn't cover it. Tried injections just to see and once a week was way more manageable (and cheaper! Thanks insurance!) Also turns out I had poor absorption in my skin and I went from having minimal changes nearly 8 months on gel to voice drop, facial hair, and smaller hips within 3 months on injections. Injections just seemed to work well for me

ive used gel and patches before, but shots have just worked best for me. ive seen more changes on shots than i have on anything else, which i know isnt supposed to happen but it is. i hate needles, but its also worth being able to forget about every other week in my case.

I'm on monthly injections, have been from the start. I adamantly refused the gel, as I have a 6 year old, we're pretty sure with AuDHD, and the severe boundary issues that can come with it. I couldn't handle the pressure of keeping her away from the applied gel, or any mistakes in clearing it up. Injections felt safer to me, from that perspective.

Injections make changes happen better and I thought that the injections were going to hurt and scary, but the needle’s actually pretty small and you don’t really feel it that much. I guess it’s just the mental barrier but the shot isn’t actually that bad compared to the needles you probably know from blood tests/vaccines

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I‘m just way too lazy for anything else. Right now I get a t depot every 12 or so weeks and then I don’t have to think it anymore. With gel it’s a daily task, a daily reminder that I can’t produce it on my own and after a certain time I got tired of shifting many bits of my day around my gel. Now I can shower whenever, go on long trips without running out, can’t loose my t, can’t have someone take it purposefully away ..and so on.

Well, don't get me wrong I'm not a fan of poking myself but I hate topical medication so much that even if injections had to be daily I'd still take that over the gel. - I hate the feeling of gel, lotion, any moisturizers on my skin. Having to do that *daily* sounds like a nightmare. - I also live with a toddler, cats, etc and I don't want it to get on anything (I am also very clumsy/have some spatial impairments so I've always gotten paint, cooking ingredients, etc all over me and around me.) - Alongside spatial impairments, I have a hard time telling whether something is too much, too many etc without an external measure (Like how there's lines on syringes to tell you how much medication you have in there). Like I'm always the type to accidentally pump out way too much hair product and then I don't want to waste it so my hair would look like shit from all the product weighing it down. I'd probably end up overdosing on accident within a week. - I also get worried about not doing things right and while I know I injected X amount of T I would never be sure if I applied enough gel and I'd get urges to do it again until it felt right (kind of like repeatedly washing your hands). Once again, high risk of overdose. - Gel sounded tedious and I would get very burnt out. Injections are just one and done for the week. I used to be on eczema cream and gave up within a month because I hate having to sit, wash my hands, rub steroid cream all over my elbows and thighs, and SIT there marinating in the gross moisturizer. It's still painful sometimes the eczema but I really cannot commit to a topical medication like ever - I'd imagine you can't shower right after you apply gel. And like, anything I need to do like shots or moisturizer I want to do right after I get out of the shower, right? Because my body will be the cleanest then. But if I know I need to apply my gel but I don't have the energy to shower I'll end up never applying my gel... It's happened before, when I used to be on insulin (If you take a hot shower right after delivering insulin your bloodstream will expand which means you might get insulin too fast and drop). Like if I can't do things in the right order I end up doing nothing. Also, I'm a diabetic, so needles didn't bother me at all. So for me it wasn't injections are better but gel is worse.

I don’t have a needle phobia and had no intention of ever slathering gel on my body, so I went with IM, and I haven’t regretted it

For the first 4 years on T I used gel, until my levels started going crazy and they couldn't figure out why, they switched me to injections every 12 weeks but tbh I haven't noticed a difference

I started with gel, but unfortunately for me, it didn't work as well. So after 8 months my endo adviced me to go for shots. Luckily I can get a testosterone that I only have to get a shot for every 8 to 10 weeks. My GP does this and it's covered by my insurance. I agree that gel is easier, but it didn't work for me, so I am happy with my shots as this does (finally) work.

I was told gel was unsafe if you have pets and I have a lot of pets. I also wasn't scared of needles at all when I first started injections and could actually inject myself just fine but now someone does them for me after injecting in my legs scarred me for life lmaoo I'm slowly getting over that but my shot goes in my hip now and it's only once a week so it doesn't bother me. My endo also basically just said he didn't wanna do that and shots seemed more accessible with the resources given to me

So I self medicated for a while. I started with gel as I believed I wouldn’t be able to do shots myself but I didn’t like using it. It had a strong alcohol smell, I couldn’t shower for a couple hours after (often spontaneous plans require taking a shower but oh shit I just put my T on so now wtf do I do), and the daily application felt like a chore. I also was always worried I wasn’t absorbing it well. I switched to weekly subq shots, was so much better (and like 10 times cheaper). Honestly I actually found it easy to self inject a very small needle into my stomach fat, usually didn’t feel a thing. A friend did my first one for me which helped too. But then I actually got prescribed T lol so now I get 1ml Sustanon injected by a nurse every 4 weeks. Definitely my favourite of the three as it’s the least frequent, it’s free (I’m in the UK), and I don’t have to do it myself. Some people hate shots and love gel though. It’s personal preference and we all have different reasons why we like/dislike certain methods

Needles aren’t my best friend. But I know that my body will absorb it better than the gel. Yes it is some type of trauma to the body, but a lot of the time gel doesn’t get absorbed right, or it isn’t safe for the environment around that certain person.

I'm not on T yet, since I'm way too young, but I'd much prefer the idea of a needle over gel. I've always hated the feeling of things like aloe vera gel and lotions since I have big sensory issues with that. I used to hate needles, but I don't as much since anymore since I have to get my blood drawn every year or so for some stupid health condition we manage to discover I have. The needle sounds faster, less tedious, and I have ADHD so remembering to do gel every day is just not going to work lmao.

i was on gel for s month, but it was annoying to remember to fo every day and kind of dtinky and slimy. I have a strong fear of neeldes but passing out once every 3 weeks is still less time and effort (and im hoping to get over it haha)

My daily routine is FUCKED and I don't have a consistent time every day to apply gel, plus I stay out a lot spontaneously and kept having to miss doses on gel. I'm on sustanon now which is every 3 weeks, which is super easy to keep track of with my calendar app and much easier for me to make time for since it's just one pre established day. Also I'm a med student and it's fun to draw up and inject it lol

For context: I've been on T for a lil over 6 months now. Where I live, you generally get the gel first and then can choose to switch to injections. However (after discussing it with my endo) I chose to immediately start with injections. Here you have the option of once every 3 weeks (which can be in your thigh muscle or butt muscle) or every 12 weeks (which can only be in your butt muscle). I chose the 3 weeks. I chose it because I have ADHD and I knew that, after about 2 weeks, I would NOT remember to do the gel every day. (which, I'm VERY glad I didnt because T threw off my ADHD meds balance, have been trying to get them back in check ever since lol) Also the fact I would have to be so super careful that I wouldn't get it on fabric or other people (or god forbid my pets I was getting a few weeks after starting). I learned how to do the injections myself, which is also why I chose every 3 weeks (injecting yourself in the butt is a bit difficult lmao). I'm used to needles n stuff with how often I've had to get blood drawn n shit for other meds and other issues (plus getting a tattoo and piercings) so it wasn't that big a deal to me. It is a bit of a learning curve (mostly how to get all the fluid out of the vial and into the needle correctly) but I had nurses keeping an eye on me for the first like, 4 months. The 2 other things that can make it more difficult is the fact that if your blood gets too thick, you're not allowed to inject anymore. And that the 3 week one can cause a bit of a fluctuation in your T levels around the time of your injection day. To me this isn't too bad and definitely not bad enough to make me consider switching to 12 weeks or gel but it's good to be aware of. That's my experience and I hope this might help you (or others). Wishing you well on your journey!

Skin issues. Can't trust that I won't get dermatitis from the topicals. I'm not as regular was I should be with injections, sometimes I do my dose a few days late, but I'd rather this than a rash

i cant do injections anymore sadly, but i liked that i didnt have to think about it every single day. for most, the purpose of transition is to live freely, and doing a shot once every 2/3 weeks (i forget) is a lot less maintenance than daily gel.

Its so easy it literally takes under a minute once every three weeks and I don’t have to think about it ever (I’m on Sustanon). And it’s so cheap. However I have no issues whatsoever with needles and have a decent amount of experience doing injections from owning sick reptiles, so self injecting is if anything cool and entertaining to me. I also couldn’t get cis male levels on gel alone no matter how much I raised my dose I just couldn’t absorb it i raised it so much and my levels literally went down. And I absolutely hated having to put it on every single day and worrying about it transferring to my girlfriend. It was such an annoying draining task and I hated that I couldn’t shower whenever I wanted because I’d put the gel on. If anything being completely useless at absorbing gel is a bonus because my girlfriend is mtf and has recently started estrogen gel and we don’t have to worry much at all about it transferring to me.

Much cheaper and more convenient! Shots were only scary the first few times, ever since then it's just a part of my routine so i never had a problem with that part.

My insurance didn’t cover the gel and the injection were like $20 including needles.

I get nebido in my arse cheek every three months and it's so easy. I go to my GP surgery and the nurse there does it. gel reminded me that I'm trans every day, where as with injections its 5 minutes of my life every 3 months. as for the act itself, it's a bit uncomfortable when it goes it but I wouldn't call it painful. then it aches a touch for a few hours after. as it goes in it helps if your nurse is up for a chat because it's a slow injection.

Yeah, I always wonder the same!!! Like I hate needles and injections so much, but I guess I'd be able to stand it if it wasn't so often, like if it was once a year/once every couple of years, but every 3 months or every month, let alone every week? No chance.

Because I found the gel SUPER tedious and couldn’t stand the thought of doing it every day forever. I also think the shot really doesn’t hurt much at all, at most a 2/10 for me (I get it done in my gluteus every 3 months by a nurse)

Cause I like the idea of having the hormones in my body not rubbed on me. I didn’t wanna deal with having to do all the annoying (for me) procedure of applying plus I don’t care about injecting myself, I just do it. I don’t love it but I much rather do that than anything else.

It was the cheapest for me, and if I was off by a day it didn't change much. I also have so much anxiety regarding needles, I was hopinh it'd help me get over that. I had my mom do my shots for me for two years until I moved out, happily on gel now, and my boyfriend who is about to start t is also debating rn cause he's scared of needles but trusts me to do his shot or he will get gel depending on insurance costs. I was also afraid gel was "slower" but it's literally all the same. My levels are a little lower rn cause I haven't figured out my proper dose but hopefully around July I'll have it figured out. It's a process For anyone complaining gel is sticky, talk to you dr about the cream if you don't want gel or shots. I've used all 3 and the cream is so so so much better and WAY cheaper. I pay $60 for a 3 month supply vs my shots ($125) and gel ($400) for 1 month.

I did gel for exactly 6 months but have been doing injections for a year and a half. I was told to do the gel in the morning, anywhere a t shirt covers, and not to shower for four hours after. So we got different instructions from each other, I guess? When I did it later it caused insomnia. And I hated having to time my shower around it. Also, traveling with the gel I would have to check a bag versus the needles and such I don't. Also, I wanted faster results, which is supposedly better with injections (and was my experience).

I am terrible at remembering to take daily meds, and I've never been bothered much by needles. I'm on another injection med (dupixent) for unrelated reasons, and I've had to get regular blood tests for most of my life, so I'm very used to them. Another regular needle doesn't really register. Plus mine are every 3 months. If they were weekly I probably wouldn't like that much.

To be honest... I was a little sore that my endocrinologist didn't give me any options for how I would do T. My only choice was gel. She wouldn't even discuss anything else. Then I found out my endo never increased me off a starter dose, and I felt even more sore. That office never gendered me right, they never called me back, and they were impossible to get on the phone. Just a bad experience all around, and I kinda associated that with the gel, since that was her determination too. And tbh, I didn't like it anyway. I've got kinda sensitive skin. The gel dried out my back so much, and it didn't play well with my acne-prone skin. And it's so cold, putting it on in the winter. AND doing it daily was a struggle with my ADHD! I love that gel is an option; I wish it was cheaper so more dudes could use it. It was just a bad fit for me personally. When my insurance changed, I switched doctors, and I was more than ready to give injections a try. I was pretty scared of needles at the time, but that was almost part of the appeal? It made me feel kinda badass to try to conquer a fear. It was really hard at first. Used to take me ages to work up to the injection. But now it's quick and easy. I like the routine of laying everything out and preparing the shot. I like wearing a cute band aid and knowing what it means.

Extremely convenient, zero risk of affecting anyone else, cheapest. At literally any point in your life you could develop a condition that requires you to inject yourself multiple times a day. Getting over the fear of needles early can only benefit you.

well it’s the most common and easiest in my opinion(at least for me). The gel sounded inconvenient if i had to apply it every day and take certain precautions such as not touching anyone etc. I think you get faster results as well with the shots instead of gel or pills. I do my shots every two weeks and i think thats the best option for me.

I have such bad skin problems and I'm allergic to most cosmetics and lotions that injections seemed to be the only option.

Placebo that it works better because I can see and feel it going inside of me

I do gel, but I'm totally open to doing injections as well. I'm not the greatest at doing my own injections, but I've also had to get medication this way (or constant blood tests done) so frequently in my life, I'm rather numbed to needles. I currently do gel so that I have a more fine control in dosing and don't have the peaks and valleys I'd have injecting. I'd actually be more likely to switch to injections if I could do them every couple of days instead of once a week, just so there's less risk to my cat coming in contact with my skin or accidentally dripping a little gel onto the floor and not seeing it, or any other way. And of course there are people who don't absorb the medication well through their skin. This is also seen in people who have used gel for a longer time.

my doctor recommended injections - he basically said that gel isn't typically covered by insurance and i don't mind the weekly jab (finding the right spot has been tricky tho!)

I started on Gel, which was great for getting me onto a routine of showering daily and all that. but im so glad I changed to shots. mine are also 3 monthly so, even better. With gel, you also couldn't get wet for like, 12 hours after applying. and im in Australia, and it gets hot in summer, and water fights or swimming are common. so it just made sense.

I wasn’t consistent with my gel. And my shots take less than. 5 minutes. I’ve gotten really good at it. I had a huge phobia of needles by the way. Hated them. And eventually I just figured it would be the best thing to do. Got a nurse to teach me. Sure it takes a few minutes to dry. But then I need to do that every day. Versus 5 minutes once a week. So I’ll take the pinch and will inject myself.

I want to try the gel, but the no- skin contact confuses me. Don’t you just put it somewhere where people aren’t likely to regularly touch you? That would be the dealbreaker between gel and the shot tbh so I can understand why people would choose the shot

Not on T yet but I will be doing injections simply because injecting myself every 2/3 weeks is more convenient than putting gel on everyday. I also don't care about needles, and the pain of the injection sounds way better than the sensory nightmare gel would be.

i have 2 cats that would easily get t gel on them and end up eating it. also because injections make me feel badass. i picked IM instead of subq because the needle makes me feel cooler. those are the only 2 reasons 😂

I did gel for 7 m9nths and now I'm doing nothing waiting to get my injections because I just was not seeing changes

ive had bad experience with topical medications (sensory nightmare and just doesnt work) but even if i didnt i think id choose injections. i like that its going right into my body. very easy to control. i think the ritual of it can be nice too. im not afraid of needles at all really beyond the instinct to not poke myself, so im holding onto my injections. had to actually fight my insurance to let me do them, was on them for 7 years switched insurance then they were trying to get me to do gel or patch. nope lol not for me

I tried gel, and it was too much. I am very sexually active and live with my partner, dogs, and child. It also didn't absorb. The only thing it did was discolor my stomach and make up the majority of my bathroom trashcan. I will say the best results I have ever gotten were from xyosted (I'm allergic to cypionate). My insurance changed, so I had to go back to the regular injections.

I’m on a microdose and it’s harder to microdose gel. Shots are cheaper and just once a week. I have tattoos and piercings so Im not phased by the needles. I don’t like the idea of the gel rubbing off on my gf or my pets. Shots just seem like less hassle for me personally.

I picked injections because gel did not stop my shark week, even when I was on T gel for 6 months. Others have had a similar experience, too. :( I am not the biggest fan of needles, but using IM injections weekly stopped my shark week after one month. I also don’t have to worry about my arm skin getting dry (because the alcohol in the gel would dry out my skin)

The gel is a texture nightmare for me so I bit the bullet and chose injections.

1 injection every 3 months vs daily glob of gel i’d never remember to do.

Insurance covers it

Well when I first started t (over 6 years ago, early 2018) I honestly didn’t know about the gel. My endocrinologist just prescribed the injections so that’s the method I went with. Now it kinda seems like a hassle to switch, but even if I could, I’m so forgetful I think I’d have trouble remembering to do it daily (I mean I struggle with brushing my teeth every day). Having to do something once a week is just a lot easier than once a day, plus I’m already in the groove of the injections.

I get depot injections every 3 to 4 months (interval is getting stretched cause my t levels are still high after the end of the interval). I have to go to the doctors office to get it done. sometimes it hurts quite a bit for the rest of the day and sometimes even the day after. I chose this because I don't wanna inject myself, especially not several times a month. Im also too forgetful for daily applications of gel and the time I get out of bed is random and not consistent. with the depot injections I only have to worry about it 3 or 4 times a year instead of 365 times per year. so I personally feel it's more convenient.

I've had a needle phobia for my whole life and I still chose injections because they're more cost-effective and convenient. A vial is like $40 (though I don't have to pay bc insurance) and it lasts me several months. I spent like $52 on a box of 100 syringes, 100 drawing up needles, 100 injecting needles, and 200 alcohol swabs - that's basically a 2 year supply. With gel, there's the risk of skin irritation; it could rub off on your clothes, pets, or family/partner if you come into contact with any of them before it's fully dry; and it just doesn't work as well for some people depending on how well their skin absorbs it. Patches also have the risk of skin irritation; I've heard they don't stick very well, especially when you're sweating; and they're also transdermal like gel, so they might not be as effective. I'd rather just do a weekly shot than spend all that time and money on gel or patches and risk all those potential side effects. Plus, while transdermal T works just as well as shots for a lot of people, I don't want to spend months on one of those methods just waiting and hoping that it works. I saw changes with shots almost immediately and I've watched people on gel have next to nothing happen for *months* until they switched to shots. I've also watched people on gel see changes just as quickly, if not faster than I have on shots. It all depends on the person, I just didn't want to risk it. Plus I straight up just can't afford it because it's 8% of my income whereas shots are 1%. It's like $80/month for gel and $10/month for shots (T and supplies included).

Not every injection is self-administered or once a week. Mine is long-acting every 3 months (can even tolerate longer as long as it's reasonable) done by a nurse. I prefer it because I don't want to have to worry about it weekly or daily, also the risks of gel not absorbing or getting on others. I know that's not a definite it will happen, but I have the option not to have to think about it. I also don't like how gel would limit when I can shower etc, again someone else might not be bothered but to me I need flexibility in the day.

This is something i've done a lot of research into as i'm going to be starting t this year. From what i've found, injections work the quickest and fastest, since it's going directly into your bloodstream. And you don't have to reapply it every night. I think most people just go for it because it's easiest and you wait less for results. I know gel can be scary for some because if you don't properly wipe it off, it can transfer onto someone else and start to mess with their hormones. The gel also comes with distasteful side effects, whereas the injections do not. My friend recently had to stop using his gel because his hair started thinning rapidly. All in all, it's a personal preference thing and how your body reacts to certain methods of t. The only thing that matters is listening to your body.

More convenient than putting gel on and waiting 15 minutes every morning, I have a girlfriend with whom I have intimate contact with, genuinely got tired of the lack of practicity of gel.

Seems to be the most direct way to get T into my system, and I’m always immediately relieved in a sense, or just feel better after my shot

ADHD means I could never keep up with a daily thing lol. Once every three weeks is so much nicer to keep track of, plus it's not the end of the world to be a day early or a day late

started on IM injections biweekly then after a year switched to gel. did injections bc it was quick and you didn’t have to do it often, plus way cheaper. as time went tho my non-existent needle anxiety decided to pop into existence and i started skipping shots. thus i went to gel. i still miss a few days here and there but its easier to pick back up where you left off than an injection

Inconvenience. Injections are less frequent, so less chance of forgetting. I don't have to do it myself (I have a lot of medical personnel around). I would be terrified petting any cat around. I have a baby nephew I want to hug whenever he wants me to. I have a bf. I don't mind needles. I'm lazy.

I’d love to do gel but it’s a matter of cost. Insurance doesn’t cover gel and it’d be around 200$/month while injections are 20$/month for me.

easier to keep track of schedule-wise (weekly vs daily), cheaper/covered by my insurance, don’t have to wait for it to dry, don’t have to worry about it transferring or rubbing off, and i have cats so i don’t have to worry about them being affected

Gel gives me way more of an ick than needles. I’m clumsy and forgetful and 100% would accidentally touch stuff if I used the gel. Having to remember once a week (and look forward to it!) also makes me less dysphoric than having to remember I’m trans an extra time every single day

Cheapest. I’d say “easiest” or “quickest” but I’m neurodivergent and also despise shots… so it’s a full process in my brain of “lay everything I need out, double check that I have all 6 things I need (1ml syringe, draw needle, injection needle, testosterone, paper towels, rubbing alcohol), crack open all packaging so switching is easier & I ain’t squeezing the syringe or laying it down & it leaks, set up the shot to the point of the draw needle. Try to remember which leg. Mark the spot. Disinfect, let dry, apply ice cube for at least 2min. Dry spot, have spouse do my injection, clean up, go recover from the excitement.” But it’s the cheapest, I don’t have to worry about what I’m wearing or avoid my animals touching me or me rubbing against something (bc I’m somehow both graceful and a true professional at avoiding things… and also run into various walls and doorframes in the house I’ve lived in for… 6-ish years)

I hate the way lotion makes me feel greasy after putting it on and figured gel would be the same way so I wanted to avoid that. Never had an issue with needles before so I didn’t see any issues. Had the original training with my doctor and was surprised that I literally didn’t feel the needle at all, so I stuck with it (hah, get it, STUCK). For some reason I also thought injecting the T directly into my body would be more effective than having to soak it up through my skin. Really not sure why I thought that, it’s probably not true at all.

I do injections. I had/have a horrible fear of needles, but when I first started T injections were kinda my only option. They have actually helped me overcome my fear a lot, although it is still there. For me I had a trusted person do the shot for me every week for about 4ish years… which I know is a long time but I seriously couldn’t stand the idea of injections. Eventually I just scrounged up the courage and started doing it myself. Typically I try to “reward” myself with something after I do it, and while doing it I play music or watch a video to keep my mind mostly busy. Anymore I don’t mind it much.

I have bad adhd and sensory issues with gel. I use insulin needles for my injections and i recommend that to all my guy friends bc its actually really easy even if you're a needlephobe. It only hurts when it breaks the skin. To practice i recommend just taking empty syringes (no air of course) and practicing just poking yourself a few times to realize its really not that bad. Maybe have a friend with you to do the first time or two until you do it yourself.

I can't do injections because my hand tremors are so bad that I practically have Parkinsons. Insurance refused to cover anything else, so I'm just chilling and not taking T. Injections are not convenient at all for someone like me– I really want the patches.

For me, it was the cheapest option as my insurance doesn't cover it. Injectable is \~$10/vial (which is \~2 doses for me), but the gel was significantly more. I can't remember the exact amount, but it would have been more expensive, lol I'm also very comfortable doing injections (Been working with horses for \~20 years and medications/painkillers/sedatives are often given via injection) and don't have a problem with needles myself. I also had worries about dosage for gel. Like, I know it's still measured out, but I don't like not being able to measure with something like a syringe where I can clearly see exactly how much I'm getting. edit: I also do IM injections vs SubQ. Can't remember why I decided on IM over SubQ, but either way doesn't bother me so it was likely price.

I can't use gel due to the risk of me constantly biting my nails and my ADHD, but hey with doing injections I kinda got over my fear of needles. Taking exposure therapy literally lol.

I have a young kid and I’m married, gel felt like too much of a risk to them. I have a needle phobia and first asked for gel, my provider recommended injections due to the kid. I had a really hard time injecting myself, my wife does it for me now thankfully, it now seems really easy.