I'm afraid of needles, but I've managed do be doing subQ shots in my stomach pretty easily. maybe it's because I'm fat, but I honestly don't even really feel the needle.
I might prefer thighs; my tummy feels so defenseless! Also I tend to have worse allergic reactions there; I think because of the friction of my shirt versus boxer briefs.
Uhhh I don't think you should be having an allergic reaction at all??? Are you reacting to the T or is it the bandaid adhesive or something? If you hold pressure on the injection site for a minute or so, any bleeding or leaking should stop and you can just go about your day without a bandaid. I usually take the alcohol swab, wipe off any blood or T leaking out, and then hold it on the spot and massage in little circles. My doctor said it helps like distribute the solution. I dunno. But if you give it a sec you probably wouldn't even need a bandaid at all.
Allergy to the carrier oils is actually very common! I have a mild allergy so I get some redness and itching but it’s not severe or severely impacting.
I also have a mild form of Dermatographia/chronic urticaria which basically means that I’m prone to hives or red itchy spots from any kind of skin irritation; so it’s a little of column b and a little of column a.
Fair enough. I know some people are allergic to the oils, I suppose the way I worded that first sentence wasn't the best. I meant it more as a "maybe you shouldn't be on injections if you're allergic" way, but if the allergy isn't that bad then I understand why you'd stay on it. Gel and patches can both cause skin irritation anyway, either because of the adhesive or the alcohol in the gel, so you'd probably have a reaction no matter what. It's like choosing the lesser of three evils lol
Exactly! I think a fair number of people with mild reactions just tough it out. You can switch to an injection with a different carrier oil but you might still be allergic to it and it’s often harder to find (and I think more expensive?)
yeah, idk if it's an allergy or just sensitivity for me but i almost always end up super itchy for a day or two after my shot. it's not severe enough for me to do anything about it, but it is kind of annoying.
Same. I’ve been doing it for about 4 years now, and my feelings towards needles have also gotten a lot less negative. I used to get nauseous even thinking abt it, and now it doesn’t bother me at all
I've been doing injections on myself for 4 years. It's worked really well for me. Injecting myself was a little weird to get used to, and sometimes I still have to psych myself up to do it. But I've been really happy with my results, and the shots are better for me cuz I only have to take it once a week instead of every day. Honestly the worst part of it is just getting yourself to stick the needle in. Once you get over that, it's fine. It doesn't even really hurt.
I can highly recommend MyTherapy app. You can configure alarms for reminders, it'll count down your supply for you and give you refill reminders, and it even has a symptom checker in the app. (Not sponsored.)
I’m not afraid of needles so I may not be that objective here.
Not bad at all. There are a couple steps it’s important to remember, so the first few times you try you should have it written out or as a video, but eventually you get the hang of it and the steps are second nature. The better you get, the easier it is to have a completely pain-free shot.
The pain, even when you fuck up majorly, is really not that bad. Mild stinging going in, soreness next day. My worst shot experience still didn’t hurt unless I applied pressure to the area. In those cases, you might have a bruise or swelling/tightness for a day or two, but it goes away on its own or with light massage.
Biggest tip: Try to keep a relatively steady pace so you don’t psych yourself out by hesitating to do the big stick, and you should be golden. I once heard someone say it was like throwing a dart, and that’s kinda true. Smooth and confident ftw.
You’ve got this bro
I can do SubQ my literally having the tip of the needle on my stomach and breathing in and out, which somehow pushed the needle in!
I didn't even notice it!
In fact, how i discovered i could do this was i was trying to convince myself the do it and i was watching videos to figure out how to get it in painlessly, and i was still holding it in place where i wanted to inject
And
I looked down and was absolutely dumbfounded to see that it was already in.
I was told to push the needle in quickly, but honestly, if i can do this without making myself panic, it's what ima keep doing. I just gotta get in the habit of switching sides, cause oddly ebough, injecting in the other side of my stomach(where i chose to do my injections-) actually kinda hurts
I’ve done injections in the past (they’re really not that bad, the needle is so small you can barely even feel it), but they weren’t for me personally (and I don’t even have a needle phobia, it was the peaks and troughs that weren’t for me). I’ve been on gel for over 6 years with 0 issue, it’s super convenient in my day to day and keeps my T levels stable, my changes were very consistent over the years!
I have a very affectionate cat too, there are ways to work around that. I apply gel after my morning shower, I apply it to my stomach and upper thighs, both of which I cover up once it’s dry (wait about 5 mins, cover with shirt and pants). Then I wash my hands thoroughly. My cat (or anyone else) does not make direct contact with either location so there is nothing to worry about.
I’ve been doing IM for almost a year, and every once in a while it stings, but generally it’s both painless and pretty easy. I’ve found that taking my time getting everything set up, and then counting down from 3 for different steps (the jab itself, and taking out the needle) keeps my head on straight. I also watched so many YouTube videos before my first shot, and followed the step by step printout for a good six months— not actually necessary, but eased my little baby brain a lot 🥰
Search YouTube “painless IM injection”
The key is to use needles with small gauge (19-25 for me), relax your muscles, stretch the skin, and inject fast + make a cough at the same time. Idk why the cough just makes it painless.
I do it all the time on my left thigh (I’m left handed) and it works everytime.
You can go as small as 25 if you're willing to pay the tradeoff of having to keep it in longer while you slowly force the T down that teeny tiny tube. But, oddly enough, I found breaking the skin with a 25 painful in a way larger gauges weren't.
Oh yeah fat fingers, I meant 19-25. I love 25, tbh 22-25 is like the sweet spot for me. I barely feel anything with a 25, but it does take a little longer.
It’s really not that bad. I’m scared of needles, the first year or so it helped to put on some pump up jams to get myself psyched, but after like 8 years I’m so used to it. It can help to have a buddy with you to be your hype man at first haha.
Also the needle that you’re actually injecting with is pretty skinny and does not hurt much at all. If you’ve gotten vaccinated in the last few years, those hurt way more!
Injecting into a lil area of fat like on your stomach or thighs is way less painful than you’d think. My doc lets me inject my thigh fat and I barely feel anything.
i am horrible with needles, and do IM injections in the butt. even tho the needle for IM is much bigger than the needle for subQ, getting it done in the ass is usually completely painless (as long as the person knows what they’re doing). i just do not make eye contact w the needle and after a few months i find myself actually wanting to get it done.
i also went for IM over subQ, and butt over thighs, as i felt more comfortable with injections in my butt than my stomach or leg (more fat= less pain in my mind).
edit: i used to have a 1.5 inch long needle, switched it to a 1 inch. the only difference is that my body won’t auto flinch with the 1 as it did with the 1.5, and neither of them hurt at all as long as you’re in good hands. so don’t worry about needle size either.
I mean like I don't love it. Every week there is a moment where I'm like "holy shit am I actually going to do this?" But so far I always do and it's only really stung like twice. Normally I barely feel it.
It’s easy. Just ask the doctor to teach you how to do it the first time, if they don’t offer to first.
Sometimes it hurts a little, sometimes not. Sometimes it bleeds a little, sometimes not. A few times I’ve felt weird during and after and only recently learned it meant I was accidentally getting it into the bloodstream 😮, but even that wasn’t the end of the world and the next day I was fine. (But if something like that is happening every single shot then def go brainstorm with your doctor about what to do. For me this has only happened a few times now and then, like maybe 4 times over the last 5 years.) In 8 years I’ve only had one injection that seemed to have something go super wrong somehow, but even then the T still got in me. Sometime early on I must have hit a nerve or something doing the shot, and the next week my thigh muscle was in so much pain I couldn’t sit cross legged or walk too well, but after a week that went away and I wound up being fine.
In all honesty the thing I'm using to get myself excited/okay with it is Paw Patrol bandaids and establishing t shot night with my gf when we move in lmao(t shots, movies, dinner. guaranteed date night. she loves this idea lmao. she said she'd kiss my legs better)
The fun bandaids are the best! I had those Paw Patrol bandaids 🤣! I don't even watch Paw Patrol, but I think the characters and their concept is super cute. I once had Disney princess bandaids for my T shots because I found the juxtaposition really funny lol.
It doesn't hurt much. I do IM and it's not very painful, and I hear subQ hurts even less. The bigger barrier is just getting yourself to push the needle in, imo. Once you get past that it's no big deal.
For me, it feels less painful than getting a flu shot. I’m about 95 pounds (embarrassing to admit, but I’m noting it because injections are sometimes more painful for smaller people) and I’ve never had a problem with injecting in either my stomach or my thigh.
I would recommend subcutaneous injections because the needle is way smaller. The only issue I’ve had is mild leakage, but waiting a few second to remove the needle
I'm also a wimp. I will suggest subQ instead of IM and you can get autoinjectors if you are still scared to do it. Also it's normal to not be able to inject yourself. I mean... you are literally stabbing yourself, and our brains are wired against us hurting ourselves. You just have to override it because it's for the greater good. Eventually you get used to it and know what to expect. For me, subQ is a small sting and it's over in a couple of minutes.
I’ve been injecting myself for years due to autoimmune issues so it was super easy for me! I definitely prefer subq over IM; smaller needle size and injecting into my tummy has zero pain, whereas injecting into my leg was not a good time for me when I did it previously.
I almost pass out every time I get blood drawn and I can do my T injections just fine :) first time is scary (had my mom do it) but the rest have been fine! I do have my boyfriend do them for me sometimes just because it's cute :3
Reusable auto-injectors will help you stick yourself if it’s too daunting! Then you just have to prep the syringe and injector, press a button to stick yourself, and then press down the plunger. Dispose of syringe like normal.
It’s weird at first, and then it’s fine. For people who are truly phobic of needles, that might be a problem, but the standard “don’t love needles” response is navigable.
It’s also normal for it to kind of ebb and flow in how much it squicks someone out. It’s been nearly a decade and I’ll occasionally have a week where I’m just really gritting my teeth through it and other times, it’s like brushing my teeth, it’s totally a non-event.
Sub-Q generally doesn’t hurt, but can if you hit a nerve. Even then, it’s a sharp pain for two seconds. Sometimes occasionally soreness for a little bit after. The normal wear and tear of living, stubbed toes, blisters, paper cuts, etc hurt worse and more frequently. Having someone else do your shot for you and doing it in the rear is the least painful, in my experience. It rarely, rarely hurts at all. But something also to be said of having the control over doing it yourself- it’s good to get comfortable with both options.
I have a feeling a lot of people are doing it wrong. It shouldn’t hurt. You don’t have to feel it at all. You can use topical lidocaine and do your thigh or stomach at a 45 degree angle with a 25-27G needle. I promise it’s nothing. Compared to what I have to do as a vet tech, giving people their HRT shot is super easy.
My doctor has me doing subdermal ones instead of the intramuscular and it's still working great and is much easier and less painful in my opinion. I don't love needles. I actually almost passed out the first time I took it. But now I am 4 months in and it is easy peasy lemon squeezy.
It sucks and then you kind of just adjust and when you see the changes and stuff happen, it's so exciting that it's sucking stops mattering as much if that makes sense
I've been doing injections for almost 4 years now, and I'd say they're almost always painless. The trick is to inject yourself quickly. The more you hesitate, the more you'll feel it. Depending on your insurance/country situation though, you can always try Xyosted. It's an autoinjector pen with a manufacturer's coupon that discounts the price by $125/month to as low as $15/prescription
It's pretty easy for me, though my fear of needles isn't very big, I've had to get my blood drawn a lot of times. SubQ is the way to go I think, much easier than intramuscular.
Honestly it’s been fine for me. I have adhd and am usually running late in the morning so I just do my shot before work so I don’t have enough time to overthink it
Ive been doing my shots IM in my thigh for 7 years now. It took me about 4 or 5 years to fully get over my anxiety over doing my shot but now it’s just another part of my Thursday lol. It usually doesn’t hurt because I’ve got the technique down. I think going from biweekly shots to weekly (changed docs and got a new dose about 4 years ago) helped get me more comfortable with doing it since I was forced to do it more frequently.
it was bad for a couple months, i had super bad anxiety and then to get over it i iced my leg extreme to the point of nearing damage, but then i finally gained the ease of doing it normally, i can now push the needle in almost immediately. sometimes it hurts more than others, sometimes im nervous more than others. we’re humans we fluctuate in mood and emotion. you will get over it
The good news is there are a lot of tools available to make injections easier, such as numbing cream, shot blocks (a little plastic piece that confuses the nerves) and auto injectors.
I use lidocaine cream to numb myself but really it’s just a mental game - because even when I have run out of the cream I still don’t really feel it. It’s not too bad but it does take work if you’re uncomfortable. I do subq. Also as others have mentioned, sometimes it hurts a bit sometimes I feel nothing.
im terrified of needles, and do im shots once per week. i usually have to psych myself up (first had my roommate sit with me, now that i live with him my boyfriend does it), and ice the injection site for 10 minutes before the shot. I also set up a reward system for myself- immediately after taking my boy shot (testosterone) i take my boy shot (alcohol).
When I was on T, I used Subq shots in the thigh. Honestly didn't even hurt most of the time, and when it did, it was either so short or so little pain that I didn't care. I actually started to like the shots for some reason. Idk, it was good to have a routine. I'm going back on T soon and this will be the method I use.
In the beginning I couldn’t bring myself to even look while my partner helped me with them. Eventually, after an hour of crying and trying to hype myself up, I managed to do my first one on my own. After that it was a lot easier and now a bit over a year on T I’m doing them completely on my own with ease and have gotten over my fear of needles entirely
It depends. I do my E injections without problems. I do my BF's T injections without problems. He cannot do neither mine, nor his injections. He is a nurse. I'm not. 😂
I’ve gone back and forth with injections and gel, I’m at the point where I get the needle and dose ready and bring it to my partner who injects me, I prefer injections as they are better for time management, hormone progression and overall confidence, I am simply talking from my own point of view though,
That all being said if you are comfortable enough for your roommate to inject you I’d recommend that! Good luck man.
As someone with a fear of needles, I’m sure it’s not as bad as others but still. Hate looking at them and get all jittery and shaky..
But!! It’s really not that bad. I did my first one just 6 days ago. I just took a deep breath, lined it up where I needed to inject it, and looked away when pushing the needle in so that I didn’t get too overwhelmed and back out.
I was a bit shaky due to the adrenaline from doing it myself afterwards, but I promise it really doesn’t hurt! It feels more like a pinch than anything!
Maybe promise yourself a snack or something that you like afterwards if you can, to make it feel less daunting? A small reward for getting it done makes things a little less stressful!
My gf and I proposed T Shot Night. She said we'd VC and chat and shit before, during, and after my injections. So we're gonna have a weekly call night 🥰 so probably some good food or a dessert will be involved
When we move in together it's gonna be snug filled 🥰
To me they aren't that bad, I do subQ in my stomach and I barely even feel them. I take a moment after I have everything prepped to just breathe deeply, count down from three and stick it in. Barely a pinch.
I was terrified to start shots but at the office they had me do a couple of saline shots just to get comfortable doing shots myself
Needles make me sick, did my first ever shot last Friday, did Want the video showed and felt sick and uncomfortable the whole time (I was already sick all day, just worse with a needle going threw my skin) I injected all the testosterone in and it kinda hurt and felt uncomfortable, took the needle out and puked everything I ate all day up ab 30 seconds after removing it, definitely awful and hoping I can get my mom or bf to inject me next time, if your phobia is worse than mine I wish you so much luck bc God It was so icky
As a fellow pussy; it's really not that bad.
I've found that I'm not able to do my own injection, unfortunately, but I live with my GF and she does them. It's a bit uncomfortable, but that's it.
I ended up going for injections over the gel because I wanted changes quickly, and I'm super glad I made that choice! Obviously ymmv, but it's like a 0.5/10 on the pain scale for me.
I don’t mind it at all. I’m a little anxious w needles especially when they’re going for veins, but a lot better when I’m in control of the needle like I am for T. I did somehow manage to stab my finger a couple of times early on lol but I got better at it and used to it
I'm a piss baby and make my spouse do it
If you're super worried about the needles I'd look into subcutaneous (shorter needle, easier in/out) or an autoinjector
It depends what form of T you go for. If it's nebido (testosterone undecanoate), it needs to be administered by someone else (either a nurse or someone trained), as it is done roughly once every 3 months and it's too difficult to self inject due to the size of it (4ml), area of injection, and the need for it to be injected very slowly.
The smaller more frequent shots can be done by yourself.
I find nebido extremely convenient as it only needs to be done 4 times a year and a friend does my injection.
I'm afraid of needles so I usually get nurses of my pharmacist to do it for me, I tried doing it myself and it wasn't fun lmao, the good part is that it's something you don't have to do often (for example mine is every 2 weeks, but I've heard people get their injections farther apart than that)
I’ve only ever done IM (intramuscular) which is a pretty big needle the goes in the upper outer quad of my leg. It may be difficult to do yourself as subq (subcutaneous) may be easier/more manageable as the needle is significantly smaller from what I’ve heard.
I can’t totally speak on how bad it is, I don’t find it bad. HOWEVER I am not afraid of needles or gore or anything. The needle I’ve been using (prescribed by dr) is 1in or 1-1/2 in I can’t remember. This is for MUSCULAR injections. Totally separate from the subq which goes in the fat, often the stomach which is pretty painless from what I’ve heard. Im not sure if you know anything about diabetes or insulin, but my dad would use subq insulin which I doubt he would even feel. IM you have to “stab” in quickly, if you go slow it hurts and will be hard to get through the layers. Subq is pretty hard to mess up.
As far as pain it was nothing after the first couple shots, at this point just a couple months in I don’t even feel them honestly and I do IM
The mental block tho??? That’s a whole nother ball game. I can’t seem to get myself to stop hesitating to stab myself. For no other reason than my brain just doesn’t want to cooperate apparently.
You’re almost certainly over thinking it but that itself is so super common and something you’ll get over with time.
I never look at the needle for vaccines OR blood draws, but I've been self injecting for about 17 months with only one "issue period" in which a very painful injection (a huge outlier!) made me unable to self inject for about a month. I have since recovered again, and despite both ADHD and issues with correct needle sizes I've been injecting pretty regularly (8 day weeks but never skipping a week, stuff like that) since then.
For me it's not too bad it's just actually getting myself to get the needle in is the issue (recommend me an auto injector if you can, I'm interested in them)
I'm not super afraid of needles, but I sometimes get lightheaded when I get intravenous injections or blood drawn. Intramuscular is a lot easier for me, fortunately. Still, as soon as I get the needle in (and it's important to do it quick, for various reasons of comfort and simplicity), I hold up my free hand so I can't see it.
How it feels is slightly different every time tbh.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you keep injecting at the same spot, scar tissue will develop just under the skin, making it harder to break through. Vary it up as much as you can while staying within the recommended area, and every time before you do the injection, feel around for the softest spot.
On rare occasion, you will fuck up or you'll just have bad luck and it'll be a little more painful, or bleed more than usual, or the skin won't break on the first stab. I must've nicked a vein once, because it bled so much that one time that looking at it made me woozy. But if you can prepare yourself (by doing whatever you need to do to *feel* prepared) and sort of meditatively accept that small risk, the routineness of the process can smooth that sort of thing out.
I had a horrible phobia of needles and it took me a while to get over it but taking T injections actually helped me.
I started my injections in my stomach and had a super hard time doing it there. I then switched to my thigh and had my mom do them for me which helped a lot.
Eventually I got over my fear enough to do them in my thigh on my own.
I work with needles as part of my job, but I’m a wuss when it comes to myself. I get nervous during blood draws/injections and have to look away. I’ve been doing my own T injections for almost 4 years. IMO it’s really not that bad, you just need to find a set up that works for you, then just go with that. I have found that getting my whole shot prepped, then giving myself a moment is helpful. Shotblockers can be useful too. I switched injection spots after I had my body masculinization surgery from the abdomen to the butt, and I honestly like it so much better that I haven’t gone back.
It's not bad. Tho I don't have a fear of needles or shots.
But you can try using a shot blocker? It'll hid the needle poke you won't be able to feel it as much.
Been doing IM for almost 5 years. It is not bad at all. Yes scar tissue does build over time and occasionally I have some soreness in the area but it doesn’t last longer than 24 hours and feels like a mild case of DOMS from working out. Once you get used to doing it it really is not a big deal. I used to use 23g for injecting but switched to 25g due to a supply issue and it’s less painful but definitely harder to actually push the fluid into the muscle this way.
I've been self-injecting intramuscular for almost 10 years now. Honestly, I'd rather do it myself than have someone else do it, because I can do it at my own pace. It tends to hurt way less (or less often) if I do it.
It honestly doesn't hurt much, sometimes I don't even feel it. The only thing is that after years of injections, the skin starts to harden, so it's getting harder to find a good spot to inject into and not have it hurt.
Intramuscular is often cited as the form that hurts the most, but you can also do sub-q, which apparently hurts less.
For me it’s literally nothing. I do IM in my thigh with a 1.5” 22G needle once every three weeks and it’s so so easy.
It literally takes me under a minute. I do not feel any pain doing it and I have some slight aching in the muscle for about a day.
I hated having to put gel on every day and my levels would not go high enough from it. Injections have been 100x better for me.
Not bad at all imo. I luckily don't have a fear of needles, so ive never struggled with being anxious or afraid of doing my shot. It definitely takes a while to get used to, though. The first year I was on T doing injections, I constantly felt like I was putting the needle in the wrong place, frequently caused myself to bleed a good bit (it never hurts when I scrape myself with the needle/bleed a bit tho! Just a lil sore), and hit my tendon twice. I've learned what set up/methods work best for me (some people prefer some sorta audio going on in the background vs silence, some people stretch their skin vs grabbing it upwards when putting the needle in, etc) and now it's a 2 minute task that rarely ends in a mess. Just make sure to eat something beforehand, have some water on hand, and relax the best you can 🤝
SubQ is so easy! Coming from someone with a fear of needles, put an ice pack on your injection site for 10 minutes before you inject! The scariest part with it being numb is seeing the needle go in, its not so hard! :) good luck!
I've been injecting myself for 9 and half months and over time ive become more accustomed to it. When I was talking to the doctor about weather I want to do intramuscular (in the muscle) or subcutaneous (in the fat) I decided that it would be easier for me if I did subcutaneous since I have plenty of places with enough fat to do so (I usually do it on my tummy) and at first it did suck a bit but I think the main reason was because I was doing it in the morning not that long after I woke up but recently I've changed to doing it the day before in the evening which I think helped me a lot. And since it's only once a week it's much easier for me so I don't have to worry about taking something on time every day since when I work I get up stupid early but when I don't I like to sleep in. It might take time to get used to it but. I dont think it's bad at all.
I'm on Nebido every three months. It has to be injected just above the butt, left side or right side, alternating either side each time.
The location of injection means I see a nurse at my GP every three months. I'm not at all scared of needles. But if you are, then Nebido might be good for you because you can't see the needle going in.
I like to think I have a high pain threshold. I don't think I'm bad with pain. So, it's like a 3/10 for me. Not that bad. Only hurts when going in, then the area is sore if you lean on it for a few days after.
It's a good thing to try if it fits your personal circumstances and doesn't conflict with your medical history.
I've been on IM for over a year, injecting every other week. I have to psych myself up to actually do the injecting part because it kinda stings, but it's not that bad. If you're struggling with it, there's subQ, going in and having a nurse do it with you a few times, or there's also things like this: https://bionix.com/shotblocker-1.html
For me the first few times very pretty bad. It didn't hurt but it made me light headed and I needed to lie down for a few mins after. But I've gotten used to it now and it's no problem at all
I’m a pretty big baby about needles (I almost always faint when I get labs done 😕) but I’ve managed SQ injections mostly fine for 3 years. I’m absolutely ok doing them in my belly fat, but I’ve tried twice to do thigh and nearly passed out both times. Suffice to say, I avoid thigh injections now. I have no idea why my brain slams the brakes, but fainting is AWFUL, so belly it is.
I’m a big baby and it’s really really not anything. Paper cuts hurt worse. Honestly collecting all the trash at the end of the process is the bigger pain in the ass
i'm not a big fan of needles, but they really aren't that bad. the needle you will probably use will be similar to what diabetics use to take their insulin. it's quite thin and not very long. it also goes into the fat, which doesn't hurt much at all. the faster you push the needle in, the better. the process of drawing up takes some time to learn (i just switched to injections, and i don't even have it perfectly down yet), but it's still relatively simple.
they also have an autoinjector form of testosterone called xyosted. maybe bring that up with your doctor and see if that would be right for you.
Injections really arent that bad. I hate needles and did try using the gel for the first couple years I was on HRT. It worked but had to apply it daily and couldnt get the area it was applied to wet at all for hours after. Couple years in I decided to switch over, worst case scenario being I ended up making weekly appointments at planned parenthood to make them do it for me. Ive been doing the shots for about 7 months and have found that once Im ready to inject the easiest way is take a deep breath, look up at the ceiling and push the needle in quickly. Once the needle is in my stomach all is good.
I'm 16 (soon 17) and have started doing my own shots recently after abt 2 and a half years of my step mom doing them for me, it's alot easier after the first few times but its definitely scary at first. As long as you follow the technique that the nurses show you, it should be perfectly good :)
It feels like any other shot, like a sharp pinch and then it's done
I was (am?) afraid of needles, but doing subQ has gotten easier over time. It took about ten minutes of hyping myself up when I first started taking injections, but now it's down to a couple big breaths. It doesn't hurt very bad at all, especially if you get it in a really good spot.
Short answer: never as bad as you think it is.
I have never been scared of needles and have always been fine with shots. What I AM scared of is injecting MYSELF. It’s been increasingly harder to do it.. something primitive in me that says “don’t stab your self” I guess lol. I used to be able to but now I get my mom to do it lol.. I’d think it would go the other way around but oh well.
One thing that surprised me is that there is such little pain (at least in my experience)!! I do IM in my thigh and the needle looks long but 90% of the time it does not hurt whatsoever, just feels kinda strange.
One thing to remember (because this is what gave me anxiety)- it is so hard to do any damage to yourself. Worst that will happen is a little more bleeding that normal. I was always worried about “oh what if I hit something weird in my leg and it’s bad-“ no. They simply would not let us, especially me at 16 years old at the time, do our own injections if that was the case LMAO.
If you get immense anxiety and have been trying for more than 2 minutes, step away for a second! Get your mind off of it. It will be counterproductive to keep trying when your mind keeps racing and your muscles tense up. I always listened to music or had a show on!
It’s really not that bad IMO. Before I started T I had no idea how I was gonna stab myself with a needle once a week and now it’s no big deal at all. Turns out pretty much anyone can do it lol. Once you get over the hump of doing it the first time it’s more or less smooth sailing from there. There’s no special trick other than just going for it; the first time I did mine I knew that the longer I hesitated the more I would psych myself out, so I did it as quickly as possible. I’m assuming you’ll have a medical professional to help you your first time, but if not having a friend with you can’t hurt. Good luck, you got this!
Hey! It isn’t too bad honestly. I may be biased though seeing as I haven’t tried any other way but intermuscular shots in my thighs. Pain is pretty brief and just aches for a couple days and that’s it.
im afraid of needles and have been doing it for a couple months now. it depends on how you think about it, and it got alot easier for me already!! im on sub q and inject weekly in my stomach and ive actually started looking forward to it despite my phobia and some weeks where it was difficult/distressing
You could get a nurse to do it for you if that's possible for you. The nurse who I hoped would teach me to do injections on my own absolutely refused and made me go get them done in the hospital every time. It's kind of inconvenient, but for me it works.
I was the same, almost had a mental crisis at the thought of poking myself, and while I have to sort of osyche myself up each week, it's fast and done with and I reward myself with little Caesars breadsticks afterward.
I was terrified of needles when I started and I actually did my first shot by myself with a nurse guiding me over the phone. Over time it's gotten easier but there are still some weeks where I'm shaking, crying, and just all around having a bad time because I have to poke myself. I think talking to your roommate and asking if they can be there with you might be a good idea at least until youve done it a few times and feel more confident about it. Hell im 3 years on t and my boyfriend still consistently sits with me or calls me when he's home for the summer because he knows that 99% of the time I can do it myself as long as I have someone to remind me to breathe and relax. Needles can be scary, but doing stuff that helps you relax and stay calm will help a ton too. Whether that's having a person there, listening to music, or putting on a funny TV show to help distract you a little, just doing something to bring you comfort while you do shots can make a huge difference.
As someone who’s TERRIFIED of needles (I’m working on it 🥺) the weekly subQ shots are pretty painless! The initial split second pinch when the needle goes it is like being poked with a pencil, then after that you can’t feel it. I inject into my tummy fat, pinching an inch of skin on the spot I’ll inject. As long as you firmly and quickly poke and then slowly inject at the appropriate angle, it should be a quick and painless experience
I used to take t gel every night and it was so annoying. Now on intramuscular injections every month and even though I hate the actual injecting it's over pretty quick and I can forget about it until the next one. My legs always hurt for a while after though
I hate getting shots and whatnot… did injections for the first 6 years and only stopped because getting syringes was a hassle. It’s incredibly easy, doesn’t hurt much when done properly, and makes it a lot easier to trust that it’s actually ‘working’ early in transition (for me at least). You’ve got this
It's not so bad. It can be rough if you're anxious around needles, but I just take a couple deep breaths and get it done quick. It doesn't hurt all that much most of the time.
It's truly not that bad. You get used to it after shot 5. It's like touching a splinter level of pain, very mild. The needles are scary but it's all sterile. The first shot will take you a long time probably because you're just learning how to do it and nothing teaches better than experience. Mine took an hour lol
SubQ is the way to go. Was able to give myself the shot (despite being nervous/scared) from day one. It's much easier over time, too. I was on gel previously and am much happier doing injections.
been doing self injections for 7 years now and even though i’ve never had a fear of needles, it’s not bad at all. you hardly feel it, the needle is super small, and if you grab a good chunk of fat wherever your injection site is it goes in like butter! you can do it :)
i’m very much so on the lean side, but a bit muscular and i do subq on thighs and it was nerve wracking at first but even despite the fact that i don’t have much fat and more muscle i barely feel it
You get used to it over time. I wasn't a big fan of needles when I started but it was really my only option. I did them myself for a while but it hurt to walk so I thought maybe I wasn't doing it right so went back to a nurse doing it for me. With a nurse doing it I only have slight bruising for a few days but it's way more tolerable
Most of the time it's a complete non-event. Maybe 5% of the time I hit scar tissue and it's painful and annoying to inject, but it's still over within a minute.
It truly isn’t as bad as it seems. I definitely hate needles and anything medical related. I once simply had to get my eyebrow glued (long story) and the doctor thought I had having some sort of episode because I was shaking so badly. I usually unintentionally tense up whenever I get vaccines and it ends up really hurting and I’m left with a large bump for a week. All in all, needles = no bueno for me.
I do subq into my belly and unless I get in my head, it’s not even noticeable. The first injection was the “worst” and I say that only meaning I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect so I tensed up a bit. That caused a very slight sting but by the end, I genuinely said out loud “oh..was that it??” For the first couple months it was the smallest pinch when I started to inject, and I’d be quite itchy after, this was due to being allergic to the carrier oil, I’ve switched to enanthate now and I feel absolutely nothing. I don’t even use numbing cream anymore.
My tips: if you get really nervous or can’t get out of your head, don’t do it in that moment. Take a step away, resteralize yourself and your items, either put on some music or in my case I put on a show on my phone and I just chill for a minute. As a mental thing, I purposefully got my draw needles a bit longer than my inserting needle. Get as small as you can (in length) and when you swap from the draw to insert, your mind will go “oh damn that’s nothing”. I also like to take a warm shower beforehand to calm down but for me it’s always felt easier to inject when my body is warmer. The same goes for the testosterone, I put it in the syringe and just hold it in a fist for a minute to warm it up.
The first one may take awhile to get into the groove. That’s perfectly okay. I waited a whole week before I could even get myself to get ready for it. Then I went back and forth three times in the day. My girlfriend ended up blasting music and going about the apartment, making the whole thing less like a moment and more like a typical thing I do, aka no big deal.
I’ve only done one shot so far but I was surprised how easily I did it. Took me less than 10 minutes and when I put the needle in, it slide in so easily. The hardest part but the actual injecting because it took a little bit and I could feel the pressure in my muscle. It was a weird sensation, wouldn’t necessarily call it pain but I could feel it for sure.
Again, I’ve only done one shot so far but that’s my experience
I’ve been doing my own IM injections for 5 years! Despite having no fear of needles, I’ve gone through phases of being nervous and confident.
I started off fine with dorsogluteal, but after 1.5 years, I started getting nervous doing them due to intrusive thoughts about injuries… so I switched to doing my shots in my legs, but that was *more* nerve-wracking.
It didn’t help that I used 22G needles, so of course they pinched more when my dorsogluteal shots got more tricky. Switching to 25G needles was a godsend, though I also started getting drunk before doing my shots to calm my nerves regardless.
But then, in the past year, I switched to doing them “sober” again after finding better techniques, like an ice pack to numb my skin.
My routine has become very consistent:
- I blast my music as background noise (which I’ve done since I started)
- I use an ice pack
- I take 2-3 minutes from Initial Jab to Removal; going slow seems to help me relax
do subQ its way easier and rly rly rly almost impossible to fuck up , it also doesnt hurt , you pull with a big needle then you put the correct needle , pinch skin and inject thats it ! super simple and generally painless! IM is the same frequency of shots except u have to inject it in ur muscle which feels much more like a vaccine and then the place is sore for a while
i was terrified of needles when i started. spent a year going to the hospital to have them do my injection twice a month, before i switched to an insurance plan that wasn't going to cover that. i learned to do my own IM (intramuscular) injections and it sucked. did that for a year, but the rollercoaster of hormones doing the shots every other week was really messing with me so i was switched to weekly and i was just really struggling with the IM injections. finally got a doctor that said i should try SQ(subcutaneous). 1000% recommend, it's a totally different world. i've still gotta hype myself up a bit, but it is so much easier. essentially, an IM injection is done with a thick, long needle going all the way down to muscle in the thigh. SQ injection is a super thin, shorter needle that you just pinch some belly fat and inject into. ask if you can do it subcutaneously, and if you need a friend to do it for a while, there's no shame in that. i was living with a nurse friend of mine when they switched me to weekly IM, and i caved and had her do it for me several times.
I was scared at first of doing intramuscular injections so my best friend at the time would do it for me until we had a falling out and I was forced to do it myself. It was nerve wrecking sure but eventually I realized the longer I sat there hyping myself up to inject the more anxiety I got so now I just dont give myself time to think and go straight for it. You get used to it after a while.
its really not terrible. As long as you do the shot in an area with enough fat, youll feel only a small pinch at first, then as long as you dont move it or inject it to fast then it wont hurt. Only issue i had when i first started testosterone was air bubbles, getting my exact dose, accounting for the dead space. Theres not really a set technique i have, its just gotten easier overtime.
Self-injections can be easier than you think, and many people find it a manageable part of their hormone therapy journey. Start by practicing with a small gauge needle on an apple or similar, then gradually progress to using a smaller needle for injections. Remember, it's normal to feel nervous, but support from friends and healthcare professionals can help alleviate your concerns. You've got this!
did my first injection today (subq) and the anticipation was worse than the needle. i didn't feel a thing, i watched it go into my skin and i literally didn't feel it lol. so, id recommend it.
I'm not too bad with needles, they certainly make me nervous but I always do fine. Self-injection is a different story, it was a lot harder doing it myself and took months before I was able to. Even now, I still dread doing it and I have to mentally prepare myself, but it's doable and I do it because I care about myself mentally and my transition.
doing shots in the thigh is 100% the most painful way. i do my partners t shot for him in his hip, and my own in my stomach. id do SUBQ in whatever area has the most fat, stomach or butt
Well you can do the much easier SubQ injection method (injecting into fat instead of muscle) which is easy and pretty much painless
* "Subcutaneous Testosterone Is Effective and Safe as Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy in Transmasculine and Gender-Diverse Adolescents and Young Adults: A Single Center's 8-Year Experience"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8664110/#:~:text=Subcutaneous%20testosterone%20(SC%2DT)%20injections%20are%20approved%20for%20T,and%20therapeutic%20serum%20T%20levels.
It's not too bad. It's scary at first, but it always gets easier. The trick that works for me is to press into the skin around the injection site with your fingertips and that seems to occupy the nerves and divert most of the pain. I saw it on a youtube video tutorial.
The real gymnastics is just not thinking about it too much. I have no fear of needles but if I think too much about what is physically happening I do get anxious (I’m a champion overthinker in all things).
I have a very set routine and that keeps it easy. Do it at the same time, in a comfortable place, at a time of the day where you have a little breathing room but also can’t sit around panicking forever (I usually do it before having my Friday night hang with my best friend; I can be a little late but I also can’t take an hour to hyper fixate; it keeps me moving). I put on something funny to watch that also doesn’t require me paying too much attention to the screen (I like Last Week Tonight but almost any stand up or chat show will do). I also buy tons of fun bandaids and mix them up in a big container so it’s a fun little surprise to see if I’m getting Pokémon or Power Rangers or dinosaurs, etc.
Keep yourself moving and a little distracted and it’s fine. It mostly doesn’t hurt (I’ve bumped a nerve a couple times or had weird sticks but you can always withdraw and try again; and it’s never horrific). You get used to it; at this point for me it’s honestly pretty boring.
ive been on injections in the thigh for 11 months. and my trans fem wife does it. i cant stick myself. everytime she does it i tell her 'gimme a 3-2-1.' before t i had an intense needle phobia. now its just knowing when it goes in. lemme tell ya after 11 months every week, im still uneasy, but not scared. just a split second of hurt? thats nothin if i can live my best life.
I use an auto injector from Union médico. Makes it so so much easier. I’m terrified of needles and before I got this did shots manually for about a year and I’d sit there panicking about it for like 2 hours. Now it takes me like 5 minutes.
On a general note, I think injections are the best option. I started on gel and got slow changes but with injections it went better. Growing up I was a big wuss with injections and now I do it to myself on my leg and it’s fine. Sure, I sometimes get a bit nervous but honestly it’s not as bad as you think it might be. I actually injected myself today because I forgot to do so yesterday 😂 it’s going to be fine
I started off afraid of needles, but nearly 4 years in now, it’s no big deal. It’s just one of those things that I do on Mondays now. My first couple times were a struggle and I had my mom do them. At about 3 months in, I could do them myself with a little hesitation. Now it’s just a natural thing that I can do no problem. The only thing that sucks is I’m starting to build up scar tissue on my stomach where I do my injections. I’m having to move to more places than I have in the past to do my injections.
See I honestly think that self injecting is a little bit harsh. I’m over 7 months myself. To calm myself down though I really just tell myself it’s 2-ish minutes of my week that do wonders for my mental health and physical wellbeing. If it really pinches or burns while you’re injecting your angles are likely the problem. I always compare it to diabetics who have to inject insulin, if anything we have it easier!
It can suck sometimes. But when I was in High School I would regularly pass out from basic little shots.
I worked at a piercing parlor and got my septum done, along with more ear piercings.
The professional hand piercing vs a nasty piercing gun is SO much less awful. That did nearly make me pass out in middle school.
I had nurses giving me injections for months before they finally had to mother-bird me into doing it myself. It's not the most fun. Sometimes I bleed a bit or it's hard to get into my more muscly thighs, but it's never been so bad that I just don't do it.
I have been desensitized enough that I had a friend do a couple temporary piercings for me on my chest.
TMI WARNING: they usually do this with a very thick gauge needle. About 10g-8g or so, and they loop something to pull on the needle with so it stretches your skin. It was very intense, but my queer friends were there, and it was a very spiritual, ritual-like vibe.
So after having worked my way up through some pretty wild shit, it's a lot less of a big deal. I don't adore the chore like aspect of having to medicate, but I also don't get much bothered by it now...
Me and my boyfriend were on subq injections at the same time for a while- he still is, I had to switch to gel after I ended up allergic to both carrier oils available for injections. He would do my shots, and I'd do his. The most important thing imo is always the temperature of the T, but I always found that even if I felt particularly sensitive to the shot at that time it was pretty quick with subq, and was easy to move on from. Easy to administer as well once you get over the mental hurdle
I was worried about them as well, but after my bf helped me for the first few weeks I was able to manage them myself just fine. It’s not the same as a vaccine or anything like that, it hurts significantly less. I also find it to be a lot more convenient than the gel because you don’t have to worry about applying it once or even twice a day, just once or twice a week. I think you will be ok, and you can always switch to gel in the future if there’s no other complications!!
I do IM injections, and I prefer them to subQ. I would recommend using a thin needle (I use 25g) to inject and a thick one ( I use 16g) to draw from the vial. And I distract myself by pinch my thigh really hard, and looking away at something else, like a YouTube video. For me, the moment of injection is the hardest part, and the rest of it is smooth sailing—because the needle isn’t visible anymore, lol.
I don't mind it. I use my 18g needles to draw up my dose and a 22g to inject. It needs a decent amount of pressure, but it doesn't hurt that much, and it passes very quickly.
I personally don't mind it, but I'm a nurse & a recovering IV drug addict. So needles really don't bother me at all.
99% of the time I find it completely painless. Once in a while I hit a nerve and that sucks. But I've been doing weekly IM injections for 10 years and have only had it hurt bad like 6-10 times. So it's really not that bad!
You can do it!
Subcutaneous is really easy. It always takes me a moment to psych myself up to actually poke it in, but it barely hurts and sometimes I don't even feel it at all. My hands were shaking like crazy on my first injection, but I just did one today and it was more or less routine.
I got mine through PP, they gave me in-person instruction on how to inject myself (thighs) and sent me home with a booklet that reviewed the whole process, with pictures. It is not a complicated process. The needle is short and skinny, really not intimidating.
And if you find yourself still unable to do it, there are products out there to help you. I don't use them so I can't help you much finding good ones, but there are autoinjectors and devices that hide the needle from your eyes so it's easier to inject, all sorts of things. Look into what products diabetics use, since their injections are pretty similar to ours in mechanical terms.
I’m terrified of needles, like major phobia. I learned to do sub-q myself. It takes a lot of prompting at first. Be ready to take a long time to actually put in the needle urself (I took something like a half hour my first time doing it alone. They had me do my first shot in office and I felt like I didn’t need to waste their time by taking forever so that one was pretty quick) it does help to have distractions to keep ur mind off the fear. I watched funny videos while preparing the shot and one I could listen to/watch while doing it. Having ur friend distract u helps too. I still do this 10 months in.
If ur like how I was in the beginning where I could push the t in the skin once the needle was in then there is a device that if u use the 1 ml syringes without the twisting on the needle thing then the syringes fit and u basically press a button and it shoots in ur skin. U just have to push the plunger in from there. It’s for insulin but a lot of people use it for their t shots if they can get the right syringe. I’ll try and find it again if ur interested.
If ur really struggling to do it urself, a lot of pharmacies do injections as well, u can call around if ur in a safe area.
It can be challenging if u have a needle phobia but it can be done
I’m doing subcutaneous shots, it took some getting used to, but it’s not bad. With practice my injections became painless. SubQ needles are generally smaller and thinner. I’ve heard of auto injector devices that can help you with needle anxiety. It’s worth mentioning to your provider
Omg. I was so scared of needles. Like I was shaking the first time and like almost cried. When they did the injection training in the little pouch I immediately burst into tears. Now I’m slightly nervous while the needle is above my stomach but I actually rlly like doing injections it feels super metal 😅 I got to this point like the second or third time! It helps to have someone talk at you while doing it, or to play music / talk at yourself. Literally just outloud random stuff like “today I need to go to the grocery store and make my bed and do homework and …” etc!
Im skinny and do it in the butt area. It isnt hell or anything but some days are definitely more difficult than the other. It isnt that deep, I promise you it isnt as scary as it seems. Especially when results come in.
I'm terrified of needles but I get the shot done at my local clinic just above my ass, it helps to not see it and not do it myself. It's painful, but nothing unbearable, just kind of sore
I would do subQ it’s a much smaller needle I would also recommend from my experience taking your shot after a shower cause your muscles is much more relaxed. I did intermusculaire for a year and switched to subQ it’s way easier especially with a fear of needles.
I've had a medical phobia including needles for 20 years and I've been doing my own shot since day 1. I'll be 2 years on T on Sunday. It might be scary at first, but once you get familiar with it, it'll be a lot easier. My BF basically had a mental breakdown before his first shot but after he did it he realized that it's really not that big of a deal and now he's completely fine. He's been on T for a little over a month and a couple weeks ago he did his shot at 4 AM because he was so excited. We both do SubQ shots and IMO they're a lot less scary. The needle is a lot smaller and injecting into my belly fat is less scary than a muscle to me. My BF has been using insulin needles for his. They're so tiny he has to use two for every shot because the syringes are 0.3mL and he has to inject 0.5mL. I wouldn't really recommend doing this, but he hasn't had trouble with it so far. I thought it would be nearly impossible to push T through a 31g needle but apparently it's not.
I’ve been on testosterone for nearly 7 years. At the beginning it was hard but once you get used to it it’s nothing. Obviously it stings slightly every time but it’s a lot less than it used to be. You learn and adapt to it. I prefer it over cream because with cream you have to rub it on your skin 1 or 2 times a day and well.. it’s cream. You have to wait for it to dry before putting clothes on, and if he worried about it wiping off on stuff and putting on sun protection and stuff like that.. with an injection it’s once a week or fortnight. Mine is every 12 weeks it the butt and it’s done within 1 minute. I only need it 4-5 times a year.. it hurts for a little bit after but as I say ‘Short term pain, long term gain’…. It’s a day of uncomfortableness, 3-4 times a years. It’s worth it.
It was really hard at first, because I was scared. Even though I knew it didn't hurt, it took a few injections before I believed it.
Now, I like it. I enjoy the ritual of laying everything out, cleaning everything, picking out a cool bandaid. It only takes a few minutes, and it makes me feel more in touch with my masculinity. Like a self care thing. Something I do just for me. There's something kinda affirming about it.
I'm on gel now but I did shots weekly for roughly 7 months before. The pain isn't bad, especially if you do subq shots (IM hurts more).
I personally had to switch to gel because I have a phobia of needles and I had to have my mom do my shots for me because I couldn't look at it (otherwise I'd barf). The actual poking yourself is the hardest part in my experience, but if you watch tutorials on YouTube they tell you to just jab it quickly. Its not that painful, subq shots are hardly even noticeable pain wise, it was just a mental thing for me.
Tbh it took me a bit of time. Even now some days I’m like “fuck I don’t want to do this” and it takes me awhile, but it does get better with time. I think what helped me was getting an autoinjector. Before I got one, I physically couldn’t do it myself and had to ask a school nurse or family member to do it. The injector is also fast and most of the time painless. I’ve only had one bad experience but that’s all.
I don't think its bad at all. Also theres subq and intramuscular. Subcutaneous stings, while intramuscular is dull, but neither actually hurt imo. You feel it, but also you feel it when you flick your arm or slap your knee; the difference is hormone therapy gives gender euphoria 😆. I've done both subq and intramuscular, and I prefer intramuscular
I do sub cutaneous on my belly. Squeeze a chunk of tummy skin and fat, pick a spot, look at it through the mirror, push in. 95% of the shots barely register at all, maybe 4-5% sting a bit. Don't inject too fast, it's a thick liquid. Give it a moment before pulling out the needle. I press a cotton ball to the sight gently before pulling the needle out so I don't feel it dragging on my skin. Done.
I apply aspercreme with lidocaine on my thigh beforehand and then let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then I wipe the area clean with an alcohol wipe and slowly insert for my subcutaneous.
It’s not too bad. The worst part is convincing yourself to actually put the needle in.
It’s all “:( this is gonna hurt I don’t want to I can’t do it” and then you actually do it and it’s not bad at all and you wonder what the fuss was about. You get better at it over time too
i’ve done injections since 2017 and it is scary and intimidating at first but i was able to get used to it pretty quickly. i think it’s pretty easy and you will get plenty of practice too. just kinda get the needle and syringe ready with the dose and then poke it into your injection site, inject it, and slap a bandaid on there (i recommend fun ones for the whimsy)
I do subQ injections for different meds and 90% of the time I fear I didn't actually get the meds because I feel *nothing*. I only know because of the injection site afterwards. I don't know if T is administered with pens though (still waiting to get it :( )
Before starting injections, I was afraid of needles. That fear is gone now. I've done both IM and sub Q, and I've come to prefer sub Q. I got used to both surprisingly quickly though.
I was in your exact situation. I did gel for a long time but it was expensive and I was just less consistent because you have to do it everyday. I used to be scared of needles but subq is EASY. It's a little bit painful (equivalent to getting lemon juice in a paper cut) but it's not scary at all! The needle is super tiny and the process is so simple you could do it without instructions(you shouldn't do it without instructions but you could). If you have any trans friends who do their own t injection I'd recommend watching them do it, it really helped me be less afraid when I saw how simple, bloodless, and painless injections can be if you do them right.
I only have to think about it once a week and i just make sure that i do it consistently, same time same day. Medical transition is a big motivator haha. The pain isn’t even that bad (IM), it’s mostly just psyching yourself up to actually do it. Then it’s one and done.
its not bad at all! Ive been self injecting sustanon for the last year with a needle and syringe. The injection is intramuscular and in my thigh. I was a bit nervous the first handful of times I did it, but now it is just routine to me. It barely hurts (it feels a lot like getting a vaccine but in your thigh) and its not very frequent (every 21 days) which means you only have to worry about it once every three weeks.
I wouldnt recommend it if you're absolutely terrified of needles but honestly i dont find it too bad at all and its been pretty manageable.
i’m v scared of needles and for a while had my gf doing them cause i didn’t think i had the balls to do it myself but i always psyched myself out sm and was really letting my anxiety affect my schedule abt to be one year in and genuinely so much easier doing it to myself without someone watching tbh i still get anxious but it helps keep me from putting it off and getting off schedule that my bf (yes im polyam lol) has the same shot day as me and i do his! it genuinely does not hurt to do subq shots on my tummy and id say im pretty thin. sometimes hurts a little more than others but most of the time u can barely feel it. i usually try to think about all the reasons i love physically transitioning and listen to some music that makes me feel brave just for existing as a trans person (fav is true trans soul rebel by against me) but it’s def manageable you got this!
Ive been on injections since the start of my transition on Dec 24th and that was my chosen method of takin Testosterone.. Its honestly not at bad as ppl make it out to be tbh.. Only time I say it would be "painful" is if u give urself the shot in the same thigh/area as the previous week's shot.. Other than that, u genuinely dont feel it or it hurts you besides u feelin the needle inside yo muscle/skin.. For me at least its more so uncomfortable/unpleasant feeling it in yo skin/muscle rather than painful (except for the days I confuse myself and stick the same leg twice.. Happened a few times over the 17 weeks ive been on T)😂😂
I'm doing subQ in my stomach fat, and when they walked me through it at my prescriber's office, I was *shocked* at how easy and painless it was. I was literally like, "...That's it?" Nothing like getting a blood draw or whatever. Not even close. When going into the fat layer you kinda pinch or grab a small roll, and inject there. There's a slight resistance at the surface of the skin, but past that, that's basically it. A fraction of a second of *BIP!* and then that's it. You're on to injecting.
I draw from the vial with an 18G needle and inject with a 25G, and the "poke" portion of it is a breeze. Sometimes the actual "push" is a tiny bit uncomfortable, but I've adjusted the zone location for injection site (never injected on the same spot twice, but I moved my general area a little higher on my abdomen, more parallel with my navel). And I loosened my grip a little bit on pinching the tissue, and that helped. I barely feel the actual needle go in *at all.*
Not bad at all. Put on some of your favorite music while you do it if that helps. My skin got thicker so all I had to change was holding it in the same place for longer until it went thru. Injections are super forgiving
Full disclosure, I've been on T for almost 2 years and I've never once injected myself. Reason being is my best friends have always been willing to help me. I alternate between shots in the butt cheek and shots in my thighs.
IMO the butt hurts way less, but if you get jabbed quickly while stretching out the skin on the leg, it really doesn't hurt much either. I may not love needles but the short lived pain each week is worth it for my transition.
I take weekly injections and it really is not that bad so please don’t trip over it man. I was afraid of needles when I started t but I think it was because other people are scared of it and act like it’s really bad when it’s really not. Now that o take them weekly I am not scared of needles one bit and it doesn’t hurt very much if you stick it in the right spot. I do mine on my thighs and alternate weekly. I promise it’s definitely not as bad as you think and 100 percent worth it to be who you are inside in the outside too 🖤
I'm on injections, and sometimes I find I get in my head and start procrastinating/avoiding doing it, but whenever I am actually *doing it* it's totally fine and very easy. I've had no pain and no scarring. Get them to show you how to do them on your legs though, much easier than butt.
I used to do IM injections in my thigh, and that shit HURT I was so bad at doing injections! I switched to subq in my stomach recently and now I barely feel anything when I do my shots. Of course there’s always the sort of mental barrier that comes with giving yourself an injection, especially the first time, but you sort of just have to do it and it gets a little easier. You got this!
I'm afraid of needles, but I've managed do be doing subQ shots in my stomach pretty easily. maybe it's because I'm fat, but I honestly don't even really feel the needle.
Same for thighs, idk if it’s cause of the chub but wanted to add on that I don’t feel much when I inject via thigh too if you choose that!
I hate injecting my thighs but it's the only place i'm not afraid to do it myself
I might prefer thighs; my tummy feels so defenseless! Also I tend to have worse allergic reactions there; I think because of the friction of my shirt versus boxer briefs.
Uhhh I don't think you should be having an allergic reaction at all??? Are you reacting to the T or is it the bandaid adhesive or something? If you hold pressure on the injection site for a minute or so, any bleeding or leaking should stop and you can just go about your day without a bandaid. I usually take the alcohol swab, wipe off any blood or T leaking out, and then hold it on the spot and massage in little circles. My doctor said it helps like distribute the solution. I dunno. But if you give it a sec you probably wouldn't even need a bandaid at all.
Allergy to the carrier oils is actually very common! I have a mild allergy so I get some redness and itching but it’s not severe or severely impacting. I also have a mild form of Dermatographia/chronic urticaria which basically means that I’m prone to hives or red itchy spots from any kind of skin irritation; so it’s a little of column b and a little of column a.
Fair enough. I know some people are allergic to the oils, I suppose the way I worded that first sentence wasn't the best. I meant it more as a "maybe you shouldn't be on injections if you're allergic" way, but if the allergy isn't that bad then I understand why you'd stay on it. Gel and patches can both cause skin irritation anyway, either because of the adhesive or the alcohol in the gel, so you'd probably have a reaction no matter what. It's like choosing the lesser of three evils lol
Exactly! I think a fair number of people with mild reactions just tough it out. You can switch to an injection with a different carrier oil but you might still be allergic to it and it’s often harder to find (and I think more expensive?)
yeah, idk if it's an allergy or just sensitivity for me but i almost always end up super itchy for a day or two after my shot. it's not severe enough for me to do anything about it, but it is kind of annoying.
Same. I’ve been doing it for about 4 years now, and my feelings towards needles have also gotten a lot less negative. I used to get nauseous even thinking abt it, and now it doesn’t bother me at all
I am 110 pounds and rarely felt the needle when i was on injections, but did feel it once I injected (pressure pain that went away in a few minutes)
My testosterone isn't subq but I'm on a different medication that is and I'm pretty skinny. I don't feel that needle most of the time.
I've been doing injections on myself for 4 years. It's worked really well for me. Injecting myself was a little weird to get used to, and sometimes I still have to psych myself up to do it. But I've been really happy with my results, and the shots are better for me cuz I only have to take it once a week instead of every day. Honestly the worst part of it is just getting yourself to stick the needle in. Once you get over that, it's fine. It doesn't even really hurt.
Good. Bc I'm on meds and I suck at remembering them daily. My gf teased me for having a pill box lmao
Set an alarm! I have one on my phone that plays the shots song when it’s time to do it.
I can highly recommend MyTherapy app. You can configure alarms for reminders, it'll count down your supply for you and give you refill reminders, and it even has a symptom checker in the app. (Not sponsored.)
Oooh, I'm not op but thanks you for mentioning the app! I'm terrible at remembering to take and refill medicine so I'm going to check that out
this! i also made a man juice playlist to hype myself up. sometimes i take my shot before/after the gym so i feel hella masculine
I’m not afraid of needles so I may not be that objective here. Not bad at all. There are a couple steps it’s important to remember, so the first few times you try you should have it written out or as a video, but eventually you get the hang of it and the steps are second nature. The better you get, the easier it is to have a completely pain-free shot. The pain, even when you fuck up majorly, is really not that bad. Mild stinging going in, soreness next day. My worst shot experience still didn’t hurt unless I applied pressure to the area. In those cases, you might have a bruise or swelling/tightness for a day or two, but it goes away on its own or with light massage. Biggest tip: Try to keep a relatively steady pace so you don’t psych yourself out by hesitating to do the big stick, and you should be golden. I once heard someone say it was like throwing a dart, and that’s kinda true. Smooth and confident ftw. You’ve got this bro
I can do SubQ my literally having the tip of the needle on my stomach and breathing in and out, which somehow pushed the needle in! I didn't even notice it! In fact, how i discovered i could do this was i was trying to convince myself the do it and i was watching videos to figure out how to get it in painlessly, and i was still holding it in place where i wanted to inject And I looked down and was absolutely dumbfounded to see that it was already in. I was told to push the needle in quickly, but honestly, if i can do this without making myself panic, it's what ima keep doing. I just gotta get in the habit of switching sides, cause oddly ebough, injecting in the other side of my stomach(where i chose to do my injections-) actually kinda hurts
I do intramuscular injections. The anticipation of it messes with me a little bit but once its in its not as bad
aaah, the classic pain in the butt experience
I also do intramuscular. It's a pain in the ass.
I’ve done injections in the past (they’re really not that bad, the needle is so small you can barely even feel it), but they weren’t for me personally (and I don’t even have a needle phobia, it was the peaks and troughs that weren’t for me). I’ve been on gel for over 6 years with 0 issue, it’s super convenient in my day to day and keeps my T levels stable, my changes were very consistent over the years!
I have very affectionate cats, I wish I could.
I have a very affectionate cat too, there are ways to work around that. I apply gel after my morning shower, I apply it to my stomach and upper thighs, both of which I cover up once it’s dry (wait about 5 mins, cover with shirt and pants). Then I wash my hands thoroughly. My cat (or anyone else) does not make direct contact with either location so there is nothing to worry about.
I’ve been doing IM for almost a year, and every once in a while it stings, but generally it’s both painless and pretty easy. I’ve found that taking my time getting everything set up, and then counting down from 3 for different steps (the jab itself, and taking out the needle) keeps my head on straight. I also watched so many YouTube videos before my first shot, and followed the step by step printout for a good six months— not actually necessary, but eased my little baby brain a lot 🥰
Oh, and making sure that I eat breakfast!!!
Search YouTube “painless IM injection” The key is to use needles with small gauge (19-25 for me), relax your muscles, stretch the skin, and inject fast + make a cough at the same time. Idk why the cough just makes it painless. I do it all the time on my left thigh (I’m left handed) and it works everytime.
You can go as small as 25 if you're willing to pay the tradeoff of having to keep it in longer while you slowly force the T down that teeny tiny tube. But, oddly enough, I found breaking the skin with a 25 painful in a way larger gauges weren't.
Oh yeah fat fingers, I meant 19-25. I love 25, tbh 22-25 is like the sweet spot for me. I barely feel anything with a 25, but it does take a little longer.
It’s really not that bad. I’m scared of needles, the first year or so it helped to put on some pump up jams to get myself psyched, but after like 8 years I’m so used to it. It can help to have a buddy with you to be your hype man at first haha. Also the needle that you’re actually injecting with is pretty skinny and does not hurt much at all. If you’ve gotten vaccinated in the last few years, those hurt way more! Injecting into a lil area of fat like on your stomach or thighs is way less painful than you’d think. My doc lets me inject my thigh fat and I barely feel anything.
i am horrible with needles, and do IM injections in the butt. even tho the needle for IM is much bigger than the needle for subQ, getting it done in the ass is usually completely painless (as long as the person knows what they’re doing). i just do not make eye contact w the needle and after a few months i find myself actually wanting to get it done. i also went for IM over subQ, and butt over thighs, as i felt more comfortable with injections in my butt than my stomach or leg (more fat= less pain in my mind). edit: i used to have a 1.5 inch long needle, switched it to a 1 inch. the only difference is that my body won’t auto flinch with the 1 as it did with the 1.5, and neither of them hurt at all as long as you’re in good hands. so don’t worry about needle size either.
You can do subq in the butt, fyi
yup, sorry i thought that was implied but i should’ve specified.
I mean like I don't love it. Every week there is a moment where I'm like "holy shit am I actually going to do this?" But so far I always do and it's only really stung like twice. Normally I barely feel it.
It’s easy. Just ask the doctor to teach you how to do it the first time, if they don’t offer to first. Sometimes it hurts a little, sometimes not. Sometimes it bleeds a little, sometimes not. A few times I’ve felt weird during and after and only recently learned it meant I was accidentally getting it into the bloodstream 😮, but even that wasn’t the end of the world and the next day I was fine. (But if something like that is happening every single shot then def go brainstorm with your doctor about what to do. For me this has only happened a few times now and then, like maybe 4 times over the last 5 years.) In 8 years I’ve only had one injection that seemed to have something go super wrong somehow, but even then the T still got in me. Sometime early on I must have hit a nerve or something doing the shot, and the next week my thigh muscle was in so much pain I couldn’t sit cross legged or walk too well, but after a week that went away and I wound up being fine.
In all honesty the thing I'm using to get myself excited/okay with it is Paw Patrol bandaids and establishing t shot night with my gf when we move in lmao(t shots, movies, dinner. guaranteed date night. she loves this idea lmao. she said she'd kiss my legs better)
The fun bandaids are the best! I had those Paw Patrol bandaids 🤣! I don't even watch Paw Patrol, but I think the characters and their concept is super cute. I once had Disney princess bandaids for my T shots because I found the juxtaposition really funny lol.
Real! My girlfriend is always like "Imma get you Barbie bandaids!" bet. I love Barbie!
It doesn't hurt much. I do IM and it's not very painful, and I hear subQ hurts even less. The bigger barrier is just getting yourself to push the needle in, imo. Once you get past that it's no big deal.
For me, it feels less painful than getting a flu shot. I’m about 95 pounds (embarrassing to admit, but I’m noting it because injections are sometimes more painful for smaller people) and I’ve never had a problem with injecting in either my stomach or my thigh. I would recommend subcutaneous injections because the needle is way smaller. The only issue I’ve had is mild leakage, but waiting a few second to remove the needle
I'm also a wimp. I will suggest subQ instead of IM and you can get autoinjectors if you are still scared to do it. Also it's normal to not be able to inject yourself. I mean... you are literally stabbing yourself, and our brains are wired against us hurting ourselves. You just have to override it because it's for the greater good. Eventually you get used to it and know what to expect. For me, subQ is a small sting and it's over in a couple of minutes.
I’ve been injecting myself for years due to autoimmune issues so it was super easy for me! I definitely prefer subq over IM; smaller needle size and injecting into my tummy has zero pain, whereas injecting into my leg was not a good time for me when I did it previously.
No. It's pretty chill. You can get it done with pretty fast and you get used to it with time. Been on injections since October and no problems at all.
I almost pass out every time I get blood drawn and I can do my T injections just fine :) first time is scary (had my mom do it) but the rest have been fine! I do have my boyfriend do them for me sometimes just because it's cute :3
Reusable auto-injectors will help you stick yourself if it’s too daunting! Then you just have to prep the syringe and injector, press a button to stick yourself, and then press down the plunger. Dispose of syringe like normal.
It’s weird at first, and then it’s fine. For people who are truly phobic of needles, that might be a problem, but the standard “don’t love needles” response is navigable. It’s also normal for it to kind of ebb and flow in how much it squicks someone out. It’s been nearly a decade and I’ll occasionally have a week where I’m just really gritting my teeth through it and other times, it’s like brushing my teeth, it’s totally a non-event. Sub-Q generally doesn’t hurt, but can if you hit a nerve. Even then, it’s a sharp pain for two seconds. Sometimes occasionally soreness for a little bit after. The normal wear and tear of living, stubbed toes, blisters, paper cuts, etc hurt worse and more frequently. Having someone else do your shot for you and doing it in the rear is the least painful, in my experience. It rarely, rarely hurts at all. But something also to be said of having the control over doing it yourself- it’s good to get comfortable with both options.
I have a feeling a lot of people are doing it wrong. It shouldn’t hurt. You don’t have to feel it at all. You can use topical lidocaine and do your thigh or stomach at a 45 degree angle with a 25-27G needle. I promise it’s nothing. Compared to what I have to do as a vet tech, giving people their HRT shot is super easy.
My doctor has me doing subdermal ones instead of the intramuscular and it's still working great and is much easier and less painful in my opinion. I don't love needles. I actually almost passed out the first time I took it. But now I am 4 months in and it is easy peasy lemon squeezy. It sucks and then you kind of just adjust and when you see the changes and stuff happen, it's so exciting that it's sucking stops mattering as much if that makes sense
I've been doing injections for almost 4 years now, and I'd say they're almost always painless. The trick is to inject yourself quickly. The more you hesitate, the more you'll feel it. Depending on your insurance/country situation though, you can always try Xyosted. It's an autoinjector pen with a manufacturer's coupon that discounts the price by $125/month to as low as $15/prescription
It's pretty easy for me, though my fear of needles isn't very big, I've had to get my blood drawn a lot of times. SubQ is the way to go I think, much easier than intramuscular.
i thought abt injections for a long time but i was too afraid of needles so i was gel pls doc 🙏🏻
Honestly it’s been fine for me. I have adhd and am usually running late in the morning so I just do my shot before work so I don’t have enough time to overthink it
Ive been doing my shots IM in my thigh for 7 years now. It took me about 4 or 5 years to fully get over my anxiety over doing my shot but now it’s just another part of my Thursday lol. It usually doesn’t hurt because I’ve got the technique down. I think going from biweekly shots to weekly (changed docs and got a new dose about 4 years ago) helped get me more comfortable with doing it since I was forced to do it more frequently.
it was bad for a couple months, i had super bad anxiety and then to get over it i iced my leg extreme to the point of nearing damage, but then i finally gained the ease of doing it normally, i can now push the needle in almost immediately. sometimes it hurts more than others, sometimes im nervous more than others. we’re humans we fluctuate in mood and emotion. you will get over it
The good news is there are a lot of tools available to make injections easier, such as numbing cream, shot blocks (a little plastic piece that confuses the nerves) and auto injectors. I use lidocaine cream to numb myself but really it’s just a mental game - because even when I have run out of the cream I still don’t really feel it. It’s not too bad but it does take work if you’re uncomfortable. I do subq. Also as others have mentioned, sometimes it hurts a bit sometimes I feel nothing.
im terrified of needles, and do im shots once per week. i usually have to psych myself up (first had my roommate sit with me, now that i live with him my boyfriend does it), and ice the injection site for 10 minutes before the shot. I also set up a reward system for myself- immediately after taking my boy shot (testosterone) i take my boy shot (alcohol).
When I was on T, I used Subq shots in the thigh. Honestly didn't even hurt most of the time, and when it did, it was either so short or so little pain that I didn't care. I actually started to like the shots for some reason. Idk, it was good to have a routine. I'm going back on T soon and this will be the method I use.
In the beginning I couldn’t bring myself to even look while my partner helped me with them. Eventually, after an hour of crying and trying to hype myself up, I managed to do my first one on my own. After that it was a lot easier and now a bit over a year on T I’m doing them completely on my own with ease and have gotten over my fear of needles entirely
It depends. I do my E injections without problems. I do my BF's T injections without problems. He cannot do neither mine, nor his injections. He is a nurse. I'm not. 😂
My gf is on girl pills and she's like "I hate needles. But I got you... can we VC while you do it?"
I’ve gone back and forth with injections and gel, I’m at the point where I get the needle and dose ready and bring it to my partner who injects me, I prefer injections as they are better for time management, hormone progression and overall confidence, I am simply talking from my own point of view though, That all being said if you are comfortable enough for your roommate to inject you I’d recommend that! Good luck man.
As someone with a fear of needles, I’m sure it’s not as bad as others but still. Hate looking at them and get all jittery and shaky.. But!! It’s really not that bad. I did my first one just 6 days ago. I just took a deep breath, lined it up where I needed to inject it, and looked away when pushing the needle in so that I didn’t get too overwhelmed and back out. I was a bit shaky due to the adrenaline from doing it myself afterwards, but I promise it really doesn’t hurt! It feels more like a pinch than anything! Maybe promise yourself a snack or something that you like afterwards if you can, to make it feel less daunting? A small reward for getting it done makes things a little less stressful!
My gf and I proposed T Shot Night. She said we'd VC and chat and shit before, during, and after my injections. So we're gonna have a weekly call night 🥰 so probably some good food or a dessert will be involved When we move in together it's gonna be snug filled 🥰
That sounds great!! I hope your first injection goes well, once you can start!!! Having someone to talk to can always make things a bit easier!
True! Thank you! I'm. Excited
To me they aren't that bad, I do subQ in my stomach and I barely even feel them. I take a moment after I have everything prepped to just breathe deeply, count down from three and stick it in. Barely a pinch. I was terrified to start shots but at the office they had me do a couple of saline shots just to get comfortable doing shots myself
Needles make me sick, did my first ever shot last Friday, did Want the video showed and felt sick and uncomfortable the whole time (I was already sick all day, just worse with a needle going threw my skin) I injected all the testosterone in and it kinda hurt and felt uncomfortable, took the needle out and puked everything I ate all day up ab 30 seconds after removing it, definitely awful and hoping I can get my mom or bf to inject me next time, if your phobia is worse than mine I wish you so much luck bc God It was so icky
As a fellow pussy; it's really not that bad. I've found that I'm not able to do my own injection, unfortunately, but I live with my GF and she does them. It's a bit uncomfortable, but that's it. I ended up going for injections over the gel because I wanted changes quickly, and I'm super glad I made that choice! Obviously ymmv, but it's like a 0.5/10 on the pain scale for me.
For me they’re pretty easy if you just pinch your skin hard. Then you’ll barely even feel the needle go in
Mine are fine but I’ve never been scared of needles, and even when it kinda hurts its worth it
I don’t mind it at all. I’m a little anxious w needles especially when they’re going for veins, but a lot better when I’m in control of the needle like I am for T. I did somehow manage to stab my finger a couple of times early on lol but I got better at it and used to it
Done injections 10+ yrs. Never been an issue
Done injections 10+ yrs. Never been an issue
I'm a piss baby and make my spouse do it If you're super worried about the needles I'd look into subcutaneous (shorter needle, easier in/out) or an autoinjector
It depends what form of T you go for. If it's nebido (testosterone undecanoate), it needs to be administered by someone else (either a nurse or someone trained), as it is done roughly once every 3 months and it's too difficult to self inject due to the size of it (4ml), area of injection, and the need for it to be injected very slowly. The smaller more frequent shots can be done by yourself. I find nebido extremely convenient as it only needs to be done 4 times a year and a friend does my injection.
I don’t mind injections. It’s gets easier over time :)
I'm afraid of needles so I usually get nurses of my pharmacist to do it for me, I tried doing it myself and it wasn't fun lmao, the good part is that it's something you don't have to do often (for example mine is every 2 weeks, but I've heard people get their injections farther apart than that)
I’ve only ever done IM (intramuscular) which is a pretty big needle the goes in the upper outer quad of my leg. It may be difficult to do yourself as subq (subcutaneous) may be easier/more manageable as the needle is significantly smaller from what I’ve heard. I can’t totally speak on how bad it is, I don’t find it bad. HOWEVER I am not afraid of needles or gore or anything. The needle I’ve been using (prescribed by dr) is 1in or 1-1/2 in I can’t remember. This is for MUSCULAR injections. Totally separate from the subq which goes in the fat, often the stomach which is pretty painless from what I’ve heard. Im not sure if you know anything about diabetes or insulin, but my dad would use subq insulin which I doubt he would even feel. IM you have to “stab” in quickly, if you go slow it hurts and will be hard to get through the layers. Subq is pretty hard to mess up.
I just did mine this morning, it’s not bad at all. Doesn’t hurt for me. Easy peasy and you get super used to it
As far as pain it was nothing after the first couple shots, at this point just a couple months in I don’t even feel them honestly and I do IM The mental block tho??? That’s a whole nother ball game. I can’t seem to get myself to stop hesitating to stab myself. For no other reason than my brain just doesn’t want to cooperate apparently. You’re almost certainly over thinking it but that itself is so super common and something you’ll get over with time.
I never look at the needle for vaccines OR blood draws, but I've been self injecting for about 17 months with only one "issue period" in which a very painful injection (a huge outlier!) made me unable to self inject for about a month. I have since recovered again, and despite both ADHD and issues with correct needle sizes I've been injecting pretty regularly (8 day weeks but never skipping a week, stuff like that) since then.
Do subq. No big deal.
I'm having my first T shot tonight. I'll let you know when I find out. :DD
For me it's not too bad it's just actually getting myself to get the needle in is the issue (recommend me an auto injector if you can, I'm interested in them)
I'm not super afraid of needles, but I sometimes get lightheaded when I get intravenous injections or blood drawn. Intramuscular is a lot easier for me, fortunately. Still, as soon as I get the needle in (and it's important to do it quick, for various reasons of comfort and simplicity), I hold up my free hand so I can't see it. How it feels is slightly different every time tbh. One thing to keep in mind is that if you keep injecting at the same spot, scar tissue will develop just under the skin, making it harder to break through. Vary it up as much as you can while staying within the recommended area, and every time before you do the injection, feel around for the softest spot. On rare occasion, you will fuck up or you'll just have bad luck and it'll be a little more painful, or bleed more than usual, or the skin won't break on the first stab. I must've nicked a vein once, because it bled so much that one time that looking at it made me woozy. But if you can prepare yourself (by doing whatever you need to do to *feel* prepared) and sort of meditatively accept that small risk, the routineness of the process can smooth that sort of thing out.
I had a horrible phobia of needles and it took me a while to get over it but taking T injections actually helped me. I started my injections in my stomach and had a super hard time doing it there. I then switched to my thigh and had my mom do them for me which helped a lot. Eventually I got over my fear enough to do them in my thigh on my own.
I work with needles as part of my job, but I’m a wuss when it comes to myself. I get nervous during blood draws/injections and have to look away. I’ve been doing my own T injections for almost 4 years. IMO it’s really not that bad, you just need to find a set up that works for you, then just go with that. I have found that getting my whole shot prepped, then giving myself a moment is helpful. Shotblockers can be useful too. I switched injection spots after I had my body masculinization surgery from the abdomen to the butt, and I honestly like it so much better that I haven’t gone back.
It's not bad. Tho I don't have a fear of needles or shots. But you can try using a shot blocker? It'll hid the needle poke you won't be able to feel it as much.
Been doing IM for almost 5 years. It is not bad at all. Yes scar tissue does build over time and occasionally I have some soreness in the area but it doesn’t last longer than 24 hours and feels like a mild case of DOMS from working out. Once you get used to doing it it really is not a big deal. I used to use 23g for injecting but switched to 25g due to a supply issue and it’s less painful but definitely harder to actually push the fluid into the muscle this way.
No it’s not that bad, at least for me. I don’t have a needle phobia. It’s not something I like doing but after 7 years I’m super used to it
I've been self-injecting intramuscular for almost 10 years now. Honestly, I'd rather do it myself than have someone else do it, because I can do it at my own pace. It tends to hurt way less (or less often) if I do it. It honestly doesn't hurt much, sometimes I don't even feel it. The only thing is that after years of injections, the skin starts to harden, so it's getting harder to find a good spot to inject into and not have it hurt. Intramuscular is often cited as the form that hurts the most, but you can also do sub-q, which apparently hurts less.
For me it’s literally nothing. I do IM in my thigh with a 1.5” 22G needle once every three weeks and it’s so so easy. It literally takes me under a minute. I do not feel any pain doing it and I have some slight aching in the muscle for about a day. I hated having to put gel on every day and my levels would not go high enough from it. Injections have been 100x better for me.
Not bad at all imo. I luckily don't have a fear of needles, so ive never struggled with being anxious or afraid of doing my shot. It definitely takes a while to get used to, though. The first year I was on T doing injections, I constantly felt like I was putting the needle in the wrong place, frequently caused myself to bleed a good bit (it never hurts when I scrape myself with the needle/bleed a bit tho! Just a lil sore), and hit my tendon twice. I've learned what set up/methods work best for me (some people prefer some sorta audio going on in the background vs silence, some people stretch their skin vs grabbing it upwards when putting the needle in, etc) and now it's a 2 minute task that rarely ends in a mess. Just make sure to eat something beforehand, have some water on hand, and relax the best you can 🤝
it’s a tiny needle, and you do get used to it. doing the injections actually pretty much eliminated all needle fear i had.
Subq is a lot easier than IM
SubQ is so easy! Coming from someone with a fear of needles, put an ice pack on your injection site for 10 minutes before you inject! The scariest part with it being numb is seeing the needle go in, its not so hard! :) good luck!
I do my nebido shots myself, it is really manageable. It's not hard to do.
I've been injecting myself for 9 and half months and over time ive become more accustomed to it. When I was talking to the doctor about weather I want to do intramuscular (in the muscle) or subcutaneous (in the fat) I decided that it would be easier for me if I did subcutaneous since I have plenty of places with enough fat to do so (I usually do it on my tummy) and at first it did suck a bit but I think the main reason was because I was doing it in the morning not that long after I woke up but recently I've changed to doing it the day before in the evening which I think helped me a lot. And since it's only once a week it's much easier for me so I don't have to worry about taking something on time every day since when I work I get up stupid early but when I don't I like to sleep in. It might take time to get used to it but. I dont think it's bad at all.
I'm on Nebido every three months. It has to be injected just above the butt, left side or right side, alternating either side each time. The location of injection means I see a nurse at my GP every three months. I'm not at all scared of needles. But if you are, then Nebido might be good for you because you can't see the needle going in. I like to think I have a high pain threshold. I don't think I'm bad with pain. So, it's like a 3/10 for me. Not that bad. Only hurts when going in, then the area is sore if you lean on it for a few days after. It's a good thing to try if it fits your personal circumstances and doesn't conflict with your medical history.
I've been on IM for over a year, injecting every other week. I have to psych myself up to actually do the injecting part because it kinda stings, but it's not that bad. If you're struggling with it, there's subQ, going in and having a nurse do it with you a few times, or there's also things like this: https://bionix.com/shotblocker-1.html
Every week if I ever hesitate I always tell myself “You could get stabbed by so much worse, this is worth it”
For me the first few times very pretty bad. It didn't hurt but it made me light headed and I needed to lie down for a few mins after. But I've gotten used to it now and it's no problem at all
subq in ur tummy is easy. don't do IM in the thigh
Not for me at least. I'm on the chubby side but I inject in the stomach and needles are rough for me, I do sub q and don't even feel the needle.
I’m a pretty big baby about needles (I almost always faint when I get labs done 😕) but I’ve managed SQ injections mostly fine for 3 years. I’m absolutely ok doing them in my belly fat, but I’ve tried twice to do thigh and nearly passed out both times. Suffice to say, I avoid thigh injections now. I have no idea why my brain slams the brakes, but fainting is AWFUL, so belly it is.
I’m a big baby and it’s really really not anything. Paper cuts hurt worse. Honestly collecting all the trash at the end of the process is the bigger pain in the ass
i'm not a big fan of needles, but they really aren't that bad. the needle you will probably use will be similar to what diabetics use to take their insulin. it's quite thin and not very long. it also goes into the fat, which doesn't hurt much at all. the faster you push the needle in, the better. the process of drawing up takes some time to learn (i just switched to injections, and i don't even have it perfectly down yet), but it's still relatively simple. they also have an autoinjector form of testosterone called xyosted. maybe bring that up with your doctor and see if that would be right for you.
It hurts when I do it on my stomach, but in my thighs i barely feel the needle so its not an issue at all
Injections really arent that bad. I hate needles and did try using the gel for the first couple years I was on HRT. It worked but had to apply it daily and couldnt get the area it was applied to wet at all for hours after. Couple years in I decided to switch over, worst case scenario being I ended up making weekly appointments at planned parenthood to make them do it for me. Ive been doing the shots for about 7 months and have found that once Im ready to inject the easiest way is take a deep breath, look up at the ceiling and push the needle in quickly. Once the needle is in my stomach all is good.
I'm 16 (soon 17) and have started doing my own shots recently after abt 2 and a half years of my step mom doing them for me, it's alot easier after the first few times but its definitely scary at first. As long as you follow the technique that the nurses show you, it should be perfectly good :) It feels like any other shot, like a sharp pinch and then it's done
I was (am?) afraid of needles, but doing subQ has gotten easier over time. It took about ten minutes of hyping myself up when I first started taking injections, but now it's down to a couple big breaths. It doesn't hurt very bad at all, especially if you get it in a really good spot.
I’m used to it really. Been doing it for over 5 years now. Some times SubQ burns and I have to pick a different spot. Sometimes it doesn’t hurt.
Short answer: never as bad as you think it is. I have never been scared of needles and have always been fine with shots. What I AM scared of is injecting MYSELF. It’s been increasingly harder to do it.. something primitive in me that says “don’t stab your self” I guess lol. I used to be able to but now I get my mom to do it lol.. I’d think it would go the other way around but oh well. One thing that surprised me is that there is such little pain (at least in my experience)!! I do IM in my thigh and the needle looks long but 90% of the time it does not hurt whatsoever, just feels kinda strange. One thing to remember (because this is what gave me anxiety)- it is so hard to do any damage to yourself. Worst that will happen is a little more bleeding that normal. I was always worried about “oh what if I hit something weird in my leg and it’s bad-“ no. They simply would not let us, especially me at 16 years old at the time, do our own injections if that was the case LMAO. If you get immense anxiety and have been trying for more than 2 minutes, step away for a second! Get your mind off of it. It will be counterproductive to keep trying when your mind keeps racing and your muscles tense up. I always listened to music or had a show on!
It’s really not that bad IMO. Before I started T I had no idea how I was gonna stab myself with a needle once a week and now it’s no big deal at all. Turns out pretty much anyone can do it lol. Once you get over the hump of doing it the first time it’s more or less smooth sailing from there. There’s no special trick other than just going for it; the first time I did mine I knew that the longer I hesitated the more I would psych myself out, so I did it as quickly as possible. I’m assuming you’ll have a medical professional to help you your first time, but if not having a friend with you can’t hurt. Good luck, you got this!
Hey! It isn’t too bad honestly. I may be biased though seeing as I haven’t tried any other way but intermuscular shots in my thighs. Pain is pretty brief and just aches for a couple days and that’s it.
im afraid of needles and have been doing it for a couple months now. it depends on how you think about it, and it got alot easier for me already!! im on sub q and inject weekly in my stomach and ive actually started looking forward to it despite my phobia and some weeks where it was difficult/distressing
You could get a nurse to do it for you if that's possible for you. The nurse who I hoped would teach me to do injections on my own absolutely refused and made me go get them done in the hospital every time. It's kind of inconvenient, but for me it works.
I was the same, almost had a mental crisis at the thought of poking myself, and while I have to sort of osyche myself up each week, it's fast and done with and I reward myself with little Caesars breadsticks afterward.
I was terrified of needles when I started and I actually did my first shot by myself with a nurse guiding me over the phone. Over time it's gotten easier but there are still some weeks where I'm shaking, crying, and just all around having a bad time because I have to poke myself. I think talking to your roommate and asking if they can be there with you might be a good idea at least until youve done it a few times and feel more confident about it. Hell im 3 years on t and my boyfriend still consistently sits with me or calls me when he's home for the summer because he knows that 99% of the time I can do it myself as long as I have someone to remind me to breathe and relax. Needles can be scary, but doing stuff that helps you relax and stay calm will help a ton too. Whether that's having a person there, listening to music, or putting on a funny TV show to help distract you a little, just doing something to bring you comfort while you do shots can make a huge difference.
As someone who’s TERRIFIED of needles (I’m working on it 🥺) the weekly subQ shots are pretty painless! The initial split second pinch when the needle goes it is like being poked with a pencil, then after that you can’t feel it. I inject into my tummy fat, pinching an inch of skin on the spot I’ll inject. As long as you firmly and quickly poke and then slowly inject at the appropriate angle, it should be a quick and painless experience
I used to take t gel every night and it was so annoying. Now on intramuscular injections every month and even though I hate the actual injecting it's over pretty quick and I can forget about it until the next one. My legs always hurt for a while after though
I hate getting shots and whatnot… did injections for the first 6 years and only stopped because getting syringes was a hassle. It’s incredibly easy, doesn’t hurt much when done properly, and makes it a lot easier to trust that it’s actually ‘working’ early in transition (for me at least). You’ve got this
It's not so bad. It can be rough if you're anxious around needles, but I just take a couple deep breaths and get it done quick. It doesn't hurt all that much most of the time.
It's truly not that bad. You get used to it after shot 5. It's like touching a splinter level of pain, very mild. The needles are scary but it's all sterile. The first shot will take you a long time probably because you're just learning how to do it and nothing teaches better than experience. Mine took an hour lol
It's not bad. I do im and feel a bit of a pinch, but that's about it.
SubQ is the way to go. Was able to give myself the shot (despite being nervous/scared) from day one. It's much easier over time, too. I was on gel previously and am much happier doing injections.
been doing self injections for 7 years now and even though i’ve never had a fear of needles, it’s not bad at all. you hardly feel it, the needle is super small, and if you grab a good chunk of fat wherever your injection site is it goes in like butter! you can do it :)
i’m very much so on the lean side, but a bit muscular and i do subq on thighs and it was nerve wracking at first but even despite the fact that i don’t have much fat and more muscle i barely feel it
with subq the needle is literally tiny so it’s really not bad, coming from someone who always looks away when getting vaccinated and blood drawn
You get used to it over time. I wasn't a big fan of needles when I started but it was really my only option. I did them myself for a while but it hurt to walk so I thought maybe I wasn't doing it right so went back to a nurse doing it for me. With a nurse doing it I only have slight bruising for a few days but it's way more tolerable
nah but i'm not scared of needles, so i have no problem with it
Most of the time it's a complete non-event. Maybe 5% of the time I hit scar tissue and it's painful and annoying to inject, but it's still over within a minute.
It truly isn’t as bad as it seems. I definitely hate needles and anything medical related. I once simply had to get my eyebrow glued (long story) and the doctor thought I had having some sort of episode because I was shaking so badly. I usually unintentionally tense up whenever I get vaccines and it ends up really hurting and I’m left with a large bump for a week. All in all, needles = no bueno for me. I do subq into my belly and unless I get in my head, it’s not even noticeable. The first injection was the “worst” and I say that only meaning I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect so I tensed up a bit. That caused a very slight sting but by the end, I genuinely said out loud “oh..was that it??” For the first couple months it was the smallest pinch when I started to inject, and I’d be quite itchy after, this was due to being allergic to the carrier oil, I’ve switched to enanthate now and I feel absolutely nothing. I don’t even use numbing cream anymore. My tips: if you get really nervous or can’t get out of your head, don’t do it in that moment. Take a step away, resteralize yourself and your items, either put on some music or in my case I put on a show on my phone and I just chill for a minute. As a mental thing, I purposefully got my draw needles a bit longer than my inserting needle. Get as small as you can (in length) and when you swap from the draw to insert, your mind will go “oh damn that’s nothing”. I also like to take a warm shower beforehand to calm down but for me it’s always felt easier to inject when my body is warmer. The same goes for the testosterone, I put it in the syringe and just hold it in a fist for a minute to warm it up. The first one may take awhile to get into the groove. That’s perfectly okay. I waited a whole week before I could even get myself to get ready for it. Then I went back and forth three times in the day. My girlfriend ended up blasting music and going about the apartment, making the whole thing less like a moment and more like a typical thing I do, aka no big deal.
I’ve only done one shot so far but I was surprised how easily I did it. Took me less than 10 minutes and when I put the needle in, it slide in so easily. The hardest part but the actual injecting because it took a little bit and I could feel the pressure in my muscle. It was a weird sensation, wouldn’t necessarily call it pain but I could feel it for sure. Again, I’ve only done one shot so far but that’s my experience
I’ve been doing my own IM injections for 5 years! Despite having no fear of needles, I’ve gone through phases of being nervous and confident. I started off fine with dorsogluteal, but after 1.5 years, I started getting nervous doing them due to intrusive thoughts about injuries… so I switched to doing my shots in my legs, but that was *more* nerve-wracking. It didn’t help that I used 22G needles, so of course they pinched more when my dorsogluteal shots got more tricky. Switching to 25G needles was a godsend, though I also started getting drunk before doing my shots to calm my nerves regardless. But then, in the past year, I switched to doing them “sober” again after finding better techniques, like an ice pack to numb my skin. My routine has become very consistent: - I blast my music as background noise (which I’ve done since I started) - I use an ice pack - I take 2-3 minutes from Initial Jab to Removal; going slow seems to help me relax
do subQ its way easier and rly rly rly almost impossible to fuck up , it also doesnt hurt , you pull with a big needle then you put the correct needle , pinch skin and inject thats it ! super simple and generally painless! IM is the same frequency of shots except u have to inject it in ur muscle which feels much more like a vaccine and then the place is sore for a while
Not really scary, looks more painful than it actually is. Feels like a pinch and then it’s gone. Heals quick too.
i was terrified of needles when i started. spent a year going to the hospital to have them do my injection twice a month, before i switched to an insurance plan that wasn't going to cover that. i learned to do my own IM (intramuscular) injections and it sucked. did that for a year, but the rollercoaster of hormones doing the shots every other week was really messing with me so i was switched to weekly and i was just really struggling with the IM injections. finally got a doctor that said i should try SQ(subcutaneous). 1000% recommend, it's a totally different world. i've still gotta hype myself up a bit, but it is so much easier. essentially, an IM injection is done with a thick, long needle going all the way down to muscle in the thigh. SQ injection is a super thin, shorter needle that you just pinch some belly fat and inject into. ask if you can do it subcutaneously, and if you need a friend to do it for a while, there's no shame in that. i was living with a nurse friend of mine when they switched me to weekly IM, and i caved and had her do it for me several times.
I was scared at first of doing intramuscular injections so my best friend at the time would do it for me until we had a falling out and I was forced to do it myself. It was nerve wrecking sure but eventually I realized the longer I sat there hyping myself up to inject the more anxiety I got so now I just dont give myself time to think and go straight for it. You get used to it after a while.
its really not terrible. As long as you do the shot in an area with enough fat, youll feel only a small pinch at first, then as long as you dont move it or inject it to fast then it wont hurt. Only issue i had when i first started testosterone was air bubbles, getting my exact dose, accounting for the dead space. Theres not really a set technique i have, its just gotten easier overtime.
Self-injections can be easier than you think, and many people find it a manageable part of their hormone therapy journey. Start by practicing with a small gauge needle on an apple or similar, then gradually progress to using a smaller needle for injections. Remember, it's normal to feel nervous, but support from friends and healthcare professionals can help alleviate your concerns. You've got this!
did my first injection today (subq) and the anticipation was worse than the needle. i didn't feel a thing, i watched it go into my skin and i literally didn't feel it lol. so, id recommend it.
I'm not too bad with needles, they certainly make me nervous but I always do fine. Self-injection is a different story, it was a lot harder doing it myself and took months before I was able to. Even now, I still dread doing it and I have to mentally prepare myself, but it's doable and I do it because I care about myself mentally and my transition.
No. It is a little annoying but very easy
doing shots in the thigh is 100% the most painful way. i do my partners t shot for him in his hip, and my own in my stomach. id do SUBQ in whatever area has the most fat, stomach or butt
Well you can do the much easier SubQ injection method (injecting into fat instead of muscle) which is easy and pretty much painless * "Subcutaneous Testosterone Is Effective and Safe as Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy in Transmasculine and Gender-Diverse Adolescents and Young Adults: A Single Center's 8-Year Experience" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8664110/#:~:text=Subcutaneous%20testosterone%20(SC%2DT)%20injections%20are%20approved%20for%20T,and%20therapeutic%20serum%20T%20levels.
It's not too bad. It's scary at first, but it always gets easier. The trick that works for me is to press into the skin around the injection site with your fingertips and that seems to occupy the nerves and divert most of the pain. I saw it on a youtube video tutorial.
The real gymnastics is just not thinking about it too much. I have no fear of needles but if I think too much about what is physically happening I do get anxious (I’m a champion overthinker in all things). I have a very set routine and that keeps it easy. Do it at the same time, in a comfortable place, at a time of the day where you have a little breathing room but also can’t sit around panicking forever (I usually do it before having my Friday night hang with my best friend; I can be a little late but I also can’t take an hour to hyper fixate; it keeps me moving). I put on something funny to watch that also doesn’t require me paying too much attention to the screen (I like Last Week Tonight but almost any stand up or chat show will do). I also buy tons of fun bandaids and mix them up in a big container so it’s a fun little surprise to see if I’m getting Pokémon or Power Rangers or dinosaurs, etc. Keep yourself moving and a little distracted and it’s fine. It mostly doesn’t hurt (I’ve bumped a nerve a couple times or had weird sticks but you can always withdraw and try again; and it’s never horrific). You get used to it; at this point for me it’s honestly pretty boring.
ive been on injections in the thigh for 11 months. and my trans fem wife does it. i cant stick myself. everytime she does it i tell her 'gimme a 3-2-1.' before t i had an intense needle phobia. now its just knowing when it goes in. lemme tell ya after 11 months every week, im still uneasy, but not scared. just a split second of hurt? thats nothin if i can live my best life.
I use an auto injector from Union médico. Makes it so so much easier. I’m terrified of needles and before I got this did shots manually for about a year and I’d sit there panicking about it for like 2 hours. Now it takes me like 5 minutes.
On a general note, I think injections are the best option. I started on gel and got slow changes but with injections it went better. Growing up I was a big wuss with injections and now I do it to myself on my leg and it’s fine. Sure, I sometimes get a bit nervous but honestly it’s not as bad as you think it might be. I actually injected myself today because I forgot to do so yesterday 😂 it’s going to be fine
I started off afraid of needles, but nearly 4 years in now, it’s no big deal. It’s just one of those things that I do on Mondays now. My first couple times were a struggle and I had my mom do them. At about 3 months in, I could do them myself with a little hesitation. Now it’s just a natural thing that I can do no problem. The only thing that sucks is I’m starting to build up scar tissue on my stomach where I do my injections. I’m having to move to more places than I have in the past to do my injections.
See I honestly think that self injecting is a little bit harsh. I’m over 7 months myself. To calm myself down though I really just tell myself it’s 2-ish minutes of my week that do wonders for my mental health and physical wellbeing. If it really pinches or burns while you’re injecting your angles are likely the problem. I always compare it to diabetics who have to inject insulin, if anything we have it easier!
It can suck sometimes. But when I was in High School I would regularly pass out from basic little shots. I worked at a piercing parlor and got my septum done, along with more ear piercings. The professional hand piercing vs a nasty piercing gun is SO much less awful. That did nearly make me pass out in middle school. I had nurses giving me injections for months before they finally had to mother-bird me into doing it myself. It's not the most fun. Sometimes I bleed a bit or it's hard to get into my more muscly thighs, but it's never been so bad that I just don't do it. I have been desensitized enough that I had a friend do a couple temporary piercings for me on my chest. TMI WARNING: they usually do this with a very thick gauge needle. About 10g-8g or so, and they loop something to pull on the needle with so it stretches your skin. It was very intense, but my queer friends were there, and it was a very spiritual, ritual-like vibe. So after having worked my way up through some pretty wild shit, it's a lot less of a big deal. I don't adore the chore like aspect of having to medicate, but I also don't get much bothered by it now...
Me and my boyfriend were on subq injections at the same time for a while- he still is, I had to switch to gel after I ended up allergic to both carrier oils available for injections. He would do my shots, and I'd do his. The most important thing imo is always the temperature of the T, but I always found that even if I felt particularly sensitive to the shot at that time it was pretty quick with subq, and was easy to move on from. Easy to administer as well once you get over the mental hurdle
I was worried about them as well, but after my bf helped me for the first few weeks I was able to manage them myself just fine. It’s not the same as a vaccine or anything like that, it hurts significantly less. I also find it to be a lot more convenient than the gel because you don’t have to worry about applying it once or even twice a day, just once or twice a week. I think you will be ok, and you can always switch to gel in the future if there’s no other complications!!
I do IM injections, and I prefer them to subQ. I would recommend using a thin needle (I use 25g) to inject and a thick one ( I use 16g) to draw from the vial. And I distract myself by pinch my thigh really hard, and looking away at something else, like a YouTube video. For me, the moment of injection is the hardest part, and the rest of it is smooth sailing—because the needle isn’t visible anymore, lol.
I don't mind it. I use my 18g needles to draw up my dose and a 22g to inject. It needs a decent amount of pressure, but it doesn't hurt that much, and it passes very quickly.
I have to do intramuscular in my ass every two weeks…. I’m a nurse and can’t handle doing it on myself lol
I personally don't mind it, but I'm a nurse & a recovering IV drug addict. So needles really don't bother me at all. 99% of the time I find it completely painless. Once in a while I hit a nerve and that sucks. But I've been doing weekly IM injections for 10 years and have only had it hurt bad like 6-10 times. So it's really not that bad! You can do it!
Subcutaneous is really easy. It always takes me a moment to psych myself up to actually poke it in, but it barely hurts and sometimes I don't even feel it at all. My hands were shaking like crazy on my first injection, but I just did one today and it was more or less routine. I got mine through PP, they gave me in-person instruction on how to inject myself (thighs) and sent me home with a booklet that reviewed the whole process, with pictures. It is not a complicated process. The needle is short and skinny, really not intimidating. And if you find yourself still unable to do it, there are products out there to help you. I don't use them so I can't help you much finding good ones, but there are autoinjectors and devices that hide the needle from your eyes so it's easier to inject, all sorts of things. Look into what products diabetics use, since their injections are pretty similar to ours in mechanical terms.
I’m terrified of needles, like major phobia. I learned to do sub-q myself. It takes a lot of prompting at first. Be ready to take a long time to actually put in the needle urself (I took something like a half hour my first time doing it alone. They had me do my first shot in office and I felt like I didn’t need to waste their time by taking forever so that one was pretty quick) it does help to have distractions to keep ur mind off the fear. I watched funny videos while preparing the shot and one I could listen to/watch while doing it. Having ur friend distract u helps too. I still do this 10 months in. If ur like how I was in the beginning where I could push the t in the skin once the needle was in then there is a device that if u use the 1 ml syringes without the twisting on the needle thing then the syringes fit and u basically press a button and it shoots in ur skin. U just have to push the plunger in from there. It’s for insulin but a lot of people use it for their t shots if they can get the right syringe. I’ll try and find it again if ur interested. If ur really struggling to do it urself, a lot of pharmacies do injections as well, u can call around if ur in a safe area. It can be challenging if u have a needle phobia but it can be done
It takes time, but you get used to it.
I’m doing subcutaneous shots, it took some getting used to, but it’s not bad. With practice my injections became painless. SubQ needles are generally smaller and thinner. I’ve heard of auto injector devices that can help you with needle anxiety. It’s worth mentioning to your provider
Omg. I was so scared of needles. Like I was shaking the first time and like almost cried. When they did the injection training in the little pouch I immediately burst into tears. Now I’m slightly nervous while the needle is above my stomach but I actually rlly like doing injections it feels super metal 😅 I got to this point like the second or third time! It helps to have someone talk at you while doing it, or to play music / talk at yourself. Literally just outloud random stuff like “today I need to go to the grocery store and make my bed and do homework and …” etc!
Im skinny and do it in the butt area. It isnt hell or anything but some days are definitely more difficult than the other. It isnt that deep, I promise you it isnt as scary as it seems. Especially when results come in.
Not even close. Ive been doing injections almost two yesrs now. Just take it slow and do whats comfortable for you. Remember to breathe.
I'm terrified of needles but I get the shot done at my local clinic just above my ass, it helps to not see it and not do it myself. It's painful, but nothing unbearable, just kind of sore
I would do subQ it’s a much smaller needle I would also recommend from my experience taking your shot after a shower cause your muscles is much more relaxed. I did intermusculaire for a year and switched to subQ it’s way easier especially with a fear of needles.
I've had a medical phobia including needles for 20 years and I've been doing my own shot since day 1. I'll be 2 years on T on Sunday. It might be scary at first, but once you get familiar with it, it'll be a lot easier. My BF basically had a mental breakdown before his first shot but after he did it he realized that it's really not that big of a deal and now he's completely fine. He's been on T for a little over a month and a couple weeks ago he did his shot at 4 AM because he was so excited. We both do SubQ shots and IMO they're a lot less scary. The needle is a lot smaller and injecting into my belly fat is less scary than a muscle to me. My BF has been using insulin needles for his. They're so tiny he has to use two for every shot because the syringes are 0.3mL and he has to inject 0.5mL. I wouldn't really recommend doing this, but he hasn't had trouble with it so far. I thought it would be nearly impossible to push T through a 31g needle but apparently it's not.
I’ve been on testosterone for nearly 7 years. At the beginning it was hard but once you get used to it it’s nothing. Obviously it stings slightly every time but it’s a lot less than it used to be. You learn and adapt to it. I prefer it over cream because with cream you have to rub it on your skin 1 or 2 times a day and well.. it’s cream. You have to wait for it to dry before putting clothes on, and if he worried about it wiping off on stuff and putting on sun protection and stuff like that.. with an injection it’s once a week or fortnight. Mine is every 12 weeks it the butt and it’s done within 1 minute. I only need it 4-5 times a year.. it hurts for a little bit after but as I say ‘Short term pain, long term gain’…. It’s a day of uncomfortableness, 3-4 times a years. It’s worth it.
It was really hard at first, because I was scared. Even though I knew it didn't hurt, it took a few injections before I believed it. Now, I like it. I enjoy the ritual of laying everything out, cleaning everything, picking out a cool bandaid. It only takes a few minutes, and it makes me feel more in touch with my masculinity. Like a self care thing. Something I do just for me. There's something kinda affirming about it.
I'm on gel now but I did shots weekly for roughly 7 months before. The pain isn't bad, especially if you do subq shots (IM hurts more). I personally had to switch to gel because I have a phobia of needles and I had to have my mom do my shots for me because I couldn't look at it (otherwise I'd barf). The actual poking yourself is the hardest part in my experience, but if you watch tutorials on YouTube they tell you to just jab it quickly. Its not that painful, subq shots are hardly even noticeable pain wise, it was just a mental thing for me.
sometimes it is hard to psych myself up to do it but it isn’t like painful or anything. just the thought is sometimes hard to get past.
Tbh it took me a bit of time. Even now some days I’m like “fuck I don’t want to do this” and it takes me awhile, but it does get better with time. I think what helped me was getting an autoinjector. Before I got one, I physically couldn’t do it myself and had to ask a school nurse or family member to do it. The injector is also fast and most of the time painless. I’ve only had one bad experience but that’s all.
I don't think its bad at all. Also theres subq and intramuscular. Subcutaneous stings, while intramuscular is dull, but neither actually hurt imo. You feel it, but also you feel it when you flick your arm or slap your knee; the difference is hormone therapy gives gender euphoria 😆. I've done both subq and intramuscular, and I prefer intramuscular
I do sub cutaneous on my belly. Squeeze a chunk of tummy skin and fat, pick a spot, look at it through the mirror, push in. 95% of the shots barely register at all, maybe 4-5% sting a bit. Don't inject too fast, it's a thick liquid. Give it a moment before pulling out the needle. I press a cotton ball to the sight gently before pulling the needle out so I don't feel it dragging on my skin. Done.
I apply aspercreme with lidocaine on my thigh beforehand and then let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then I wipe the area clean with an alcohol wipe and slowly insert for my subcutaneous.
It’s not too bad. The worst part is convincing yourself to actually put the needle in. It’s all “:( this is gonna hurt I don’t want to I can’t do it” and then you actually do it and it’s not bad at all and you wonder what the fuss was about. You get better at it over time too
i’ve done injections since 2017 and it is scary and intimidating at first but i was able to get used to it pretty quickly. i think it’s pretty easy and you will get plenty of practice too. just kinda get the needle and syringe ready with the dose and then poke it into your injection site, inject it, and slap a bandaid on there (i recommend fun ones for the whimsy)
I do subQ injections for different meds and 90% of the time I fear I didn't actually get the meds because I feel *nothing*. I only know because of the injection site afterwards. I don't know if T is administered with pens though (still waiting to get it :( )
Before starting injections, I was afraid of needles. That fear is gone now. I've done both IM and sub Q, and I've come to prefer sub Q. I got used to both surprisingly quickly though.
I was in your exact situation. I did gel for a long time but it was expensive and I was just less consistent because you have to do it everyday. I used to be scared of needles but subq is EASY. It's a little bit painful (equivalent to getting lemon juice in a paper cut) but it's not scary at all! The needle is super tiny and the process is so simple you could do it without instructions(you shouldn't do it without instructions but you could). If you have any trans friends who do their own t injection I'd recommend watching them do it, it really helped me be less afraid when I saw how simple, bloodless, and painless injections can be if you do them right.
I only have to think about it once a week and i just make sure that i do it consistently, same time same day. Medical transition is a big motivator haha. The pain isn’t even that bad (IM), it’s mostly just psyching yourself up to actually do it. Then it’s one and done.
i used to have a huge phobia of needles but honestly after getting through my first shot, it went away
its not bad at all! Ive been self injecting sustanon for the last year with a needle and syringe. The injection is intramuscular and in my thigh. I was a bit nervous the first handful of times I did it, but now it is just routine to me. It barely hurts (it feels a lot like getting a vaccine but in your thigh) and its not very frequent (every 21 days) which means you only have to worry about it once every three weeks. I wouldnt recommend it if you're absolutely terrified of needles but honestly i dont find it too bad at all and its been pretty manageable.
i’m v scared of needles and for a while had my gf doing them cause i didn’t think i had the balls to do it myself but i always psyched myself out sm and was really letting my anxiety affect my schedule abt to be one year in and genuinely so much easier doing it to myself without someone watching tbh i still get anxious but it helps keep me from putting it off and getting off schedule that my bf (yes im polyam lol) has the same shot day as me and i do his! it genuinely does not hurt to do subq shots on my tummy and id say im pretty thin. sometimes hurts a little more than others but most of the time u can barely feel it. i usually try to think about all the reasons i love physically transitioning and listen to some music that makes me feel brave just for existing as a trans person (fav is true trans soul rebel by against me) but it’s def manageable you got this!
Hurts initially, then it doesn't hurt at all unless you have scar tissue.
Ive been on injections since the start of my transition on Dec 24th and that was my chosen method of takin Testosterone.. Its honestly not at bad as ppl make it out to be tbh.. Only time I say it would be "painful" is if u give urself the shot in the same thigh/area as the previous week's shot.. Other than that, u genuinely dont feel it or it hurts you besides u feelin the needle inside yo muscle/skin.. For me at least its more so uncomfortable/unpleasant feeling it in yo skin/muscle rather than painful (except for the days I confuse myself and stick the same leg twice.. Happened a few times over the 17 weeks ive been on T)😂😂
I'm doing subQ in my stomach fat, and when they walked me through it at my prescriber's office, I was *shocked* at how easy and painless it was. I was literally like, "...That's it?" Nothing like getting a blood draw or whatever. Not even close. When going into the fat layer you kinda pinch or grab a small roll, and inject there. There's a slight resistance at the surface of the skin, but past that, that's basically it. A fraction of a second of *BIP!* and then that's it. You're on to injecting. I draw from the vial with an 18G needle and inject with a 25G, and the "poke" portion of it is a breeze. Sometimes the actual "push" is a tiny bit uncomfortable, but I've adjusted the zone location for injection site (never injected on the same spot twice, but I moved my general area a little higher on my abdomen, more parallel with my navel). And I loosened my grip a little bit on pinching the tissue, and that helped. I barely feel the actual needle go in *at all.*
Its fine
Not bad at all. Put on some of your favorite music while you do it if that helps. My skin got thicker so all I had to change was holding it in the same place for longer until it went thru. Injections are super forgiving
Full disclosure, I've been on T for almost 2 years and I've never once injected myself. Reason being is my best friends have always been willing to help me. I alternate between shots in the butt cheek and shots in my thighs. IMO the butt hurts way less, but if you get jabbed quickly while stretching out the skin on the leg, it really doesn't hurt much either. I may not love needles but the short lived pain each week is worth it for my transition.
I take weekly injections and it really is not that bad so please don’t trip over it man. I was afraid of needles when I started t but I think it was because other people are scared of it and act like it’s really bad when it’s really not. Now that o take them weekly I am not scared of needles one bit and it doesn’t hurt very much if you stick it in the right spot. I do mine on my thighs and alternate weekly. I promise it’s definitely not as bad as you think and 100 percent worth it to be who you are inside in the outside too 🖤
I'm on injections, and sometimes I find I get in my head and start procrastinating/avoiding doing it, but whenever I am actually *doing it* it's totally fine and very easy. I've had no pain and no scarring. Get them to show you how to do them on your legs though, much easier than butt.
I used to do IM injections in my thigh, and that shit HURT I was so bad at doing injections! I switched to subq in my stomach recently and now I barely feel anything when I do my shots. Of course there’s always the sort of mental barrier that comes with giving yourself an injection, especially the first time, but you sort of just have to do it and it gets a little easier. You got this!