{"id":626,"date":"2023-09-22T16:32:39","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T16:32:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhrt.info\/?page_id=626"},"modified":"2024-11-08T18:26:01","modified_gmt":"2024-11-08T18:26:01","slug":"transmasc-guide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/diyhrt.info\/transmasc-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Transmasculine DIY HRT Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500<\/p>\n
In countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia, accessing DIY testosterone is typically easier<\/em> <\/strong>and less expensive<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0compared to\u00a0DIY estrogen.<\/p>\n This is due to the significant market for testosterone among cisgender men using it for bodybuilding or performance enhancement, leading to established, trusted sources within this community.<\/p>\n The kind of testosterone used by trans masculine individuals for hormone therapy is the same testosterone available through these sources.<\/p>\n The legal risk of possession of testosterone is very low<\/em><\/strong>. Although technically illegal in countries like the US, authorities rarely prosecute individuals for personal use. Legal issues might only arise if testosterone is discovered during an unrelated search.<\/p>\n In countries like Canada and the UK, personal possession of testosterone is legal, only distribution is prohibited.<\/p>\n Ordering internationally poses a slight risk, as customs may confiscate the package. However, legal penalties are very rare. Typically, you’ll just receive a seizure notice. To avoid this, try to order from domestic sources, which are not subject to customs checks.<\/p>\n Testosterone (T) is an anabolic steroid and masculinizing sex hormone.<\/p>\n Testosterone induces both androgenic and anabolic effects.<\/p>\n Androgenic effects are the masculinizing changes that come with taking testosterone, which includes clitoral enlargement (bottom growth), voice deepening, cessation of menstruation (stopping periods), increased definition of facial features and a more masculine fat distribution, facial and body hair growth, increased libido, acne, etc.<\/p>\n You can think of anabolic effects as changes to your body’s metabolism, protein building and how it uses energy. Anabolic effects include increased muscle mass and strength, increased bone density, increased appetite, etc.<\/p>\n The androgenic and anabolic effects of testosterone are about equal. You won’t necessarily have high levels of strength nor gain significant muscle mass, especially if you don’t exercise regularly.<\/p>\n There are multiple, each with their upsides and downsides, and levels of ease in terms of obtaining them.<\/p>\n By far the most popular and well known method, injections are by far the easiest to come by if you choose to DIY. They are the easiest to consistently dose.<\/p>\n There are certain esters testosterone is commonly compounded in. Testosterone is esterified in order to last longer in your body. Raw testosterone injected into your tissues will dissipate very quickly, which is why testosterone injections all come in ester form.<\/p>\n Testosterone propionate, cypionate and enanthate are the most commonly prescribed and used testosterone esters.<\/b><\/p>\n We will only focus on cypionate and enanthate due to their long half lives (amount of time it lasts in your body). Testosterone cypionate and testosterone enanthate both have very similar strength and half lives.<\/p>\n Cypionate’s half life is about 8 days when injected. This is harder to find in concentrations required to suppress estrogen on the grey\/black market. Also quite expensive if buying DIY. Usually harder to access because it is rare for most sources to carry gels. Fine for prescribed T.<\/p>\n These come in packets or in a pump.<\/p>\n Not available from DIY sources (obviously), but are very effective if you can find a doctor that offers this form of testosterone.<\/p>\n These are experimental in terms of dosages compared to the other tried and true methods. You can get them surgically implanted if your insurance covers it (or you are very wealthy). \u2757Warning that taking testosterone will likely cause infertility, possibly irreversibly.<\/i><\/b>\u2757<\/i><\/p>\n For a full list of potential increased risks of certain health issues associated with transmasculine HRT, you can refer to this resource.<\/a> What should my CBC look like?<\/b> Aromatization<\/b> Ideally, you would be on T through legal means. However, you may not have the privilege, so this guide may be of use for you.<\/p>\n Regardless, if you are willing to attempt DIY, it is a preferable option to not being on T for many.<\/p>\n You have to be 18+ to access informed consent services.<\/b><\/p>\n Informed consent ensures you understand all the information about a medical treatment and accept the risks involved. See this short document for a full list for all current informed consent resources in the USA and worldwide: Informed Consent and Telehealth<\/a>.<\/p>\n To save on prescribed T in the USA, try goodrx.com<\/a> for free coupons to use at participating pharmacies. There are no strings attached to this service! Cost Plus Drugs<\/a> is also a good source for affordable medications delivered to you by mail if you have a doctor’s prescription.<\/p>\n Beyond this point, this guide will focus exclusively on how to safely dose, source, and administer DIY T.<\/i><\/p>\n If you don’t want to be on waitlists, have to prove your transness while allowing your body to feminize, or are unable to get T legally, then you may have to order it online. You may need to learn how to buy Bitcoin. (If you are unable to, get a trusted friend to purchase the Bitcoin for you, or go to your local BTC ATM.) Some sites also offer payment in methods such as Zelle, Bank Transfer, Western Union and MoneyGram. (Keep in mind that these methods are often subject to minimum order requirements, unlike Bitcoin.)<\/p>\n If you choose to order testosterone without a prescription, it will be illegal in most countries (although the risk of a domestic order being seized, let alone any person in possession of anabolic steroids for personal use being prosecuted, is unheard of<\/strong>). Testosterone is legal<\/b> to possess without a prescription in places like the UK and Canada (sale of testosterone without a proper license is<\/i> illegal, however).<\/p>\n Here is a table of typical doses of testosterone gel used in transmasculine hormone therapy: I recommend people start on ~50mg of testosterone gel per day, up to a maximum of 100mg\/day.<\/p>\n Testosterone gel can be applied to the shoulders and upper arms, or the stomach area. Thoroughly rub in the gel, and wait until it is completely dry before putting on clothing or interacting with pets.<\/p>\n I would not recommend you go over 100mg\/day unless you have obvious signs of insufficient T levels after a year on that dosage (still having menstrual cycles, or a blood test showing inadequate levels).<\/p>\n Here is a table of typical doses of injectable testosterone used in transmasculine hormone therapy: I would not recommend you go over 100mg\/week unless you have obvious signs of insufficient T levels after a year on that dosage (still having menstrual cycles, or a blood test showing inadequate levels).<\/p>\n Vials of testosterone are usually compounded at either 200mg\/mL, 250mg\/mL or 300mg\/mL. This means that for a 200mg\/mL vial, every 1mL of liquid will contain 200mg of testosterone. A 10mL vial will then contain a total of 2000mg of testosterone.<\/p>\n We will unfortunately be doing some math here. Dosing Examples:<\/p>\n Not too complicated now, hopefully!<\/p>\n Needles can be bought from any pharmacy over the counter in most countries without a prescription (you may have to ask the pharmacist directly). Most countries also have online sites that sell appropriate injection needles. Amazon is a popular source for those in America. There are two methods for a T injection, subcutaneous\/subq (injection into the layer of fat under the skin), and intramuscular\/IM (injection deep into the muscle underneath the skin and fat). Both methods result in identical absorption rates and levels of the drug, whether you prefer subq or IM is mostly personal preference.<\/p>\n Because of the presence of benzyl benzoate in most steroid site sourced vials, some people find subcutaneous injections to cause some minor post-injection pain.<\/p>\n Appropriate gauges (needle thickness) for a subcutaneous injection are 25-30g, for intramuscular, 23-25g. Subq needles are thinner than IM needles, which some people find less intimidating.<\/p>\n Recommended needle lengths are as follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n There are many online videos and guides for how to administer an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, here is a decent one:<\/b><\/p>\n Be sure to dispose of your needle tips inside of a hard plastic container or a sharps bin to prevent injury. Regular blood testing every ~3 months or so is useful, but not absolutely mandatory<\/b>, especially if not particularly affordable or feasible. Here are some sources of private blood testing if you cannot access blood testing through the medical system:<\/p>\n (USA): https:\/\/www.privatemdlabs.com\/<\/a> International sources for blood testing are unfortunately rare. You can try to find local private blood testing services or ask a doctor if they can provide you with the appropriate blood lab requisition forms. Get your estradiol (E2) and total testosterone (T) tested every time.<\/b> Get your blood taken as close as possible to your next scheduled injection\/dose (Test your blood as far away as possible from a previous dose, right before your next scheduled dose. Preferably the day of your shot, or the day before). What should my total testosterone (T) reading be?<\/b> What should my estradiol (E2) reading be?<\/b> Hormone therapy in general is very safe and effective as long as you take reasonable doses.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n RoidBazaar US<\/strong><\/p>\n (Accepts Bitcoin, Zelle, Bank Transfer, Western Union, Money Gram)<\/p>\n ALL Testosterone Enanthate – ALL Testosterone Cypionate – Alpha North Labs<\/strong><\/p>\n (Accepts Bitcoin, Takes Interac E-Transfer!)<\/p>\n Testosterone Enanthate – Testosterone Cypionate – RoidBazaar UK<\/strong><\/p>\n (Accepts Bitcoin, Zelle, Bank Transfer, Western Union, Money Gram)<\/p>\n Testosterone Enanthate – Testosterone Cypionate – https:\/\/roidbazaar.me\/hemi\/test-c\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/roidbazaar.me\/intex-pharma\/tc-200\/<\/a><\/p>\n Steroids UK<\/strong><\/p>\n (Accepts credit\/debit card)<\/p>\n Testosterone Enanthate – Testosterone Cypionate – Testosterone Gels – RoidBazaar EU<\/strong><\/p>\n (Accepts Bitcoin, Zelle, Bank Transfer, Western Union, Money Gram)<\/p>\n Testosterone Enanthate – https:\/\/eu.roidbazaar.me\/europe-domestic\/testosterone-enanthate-250-1297\/<\/a><\/p>\n Testosterone Cypionate – https:\/\/eu.roidbazaar.me\/europe-domestic\/testosterone-cypionate-250-1296\/<\/a><\/p>\n UGL OZ (Accepts Bitcoin only)<\/p>\n https:\/\/ugloz.is\/product\/platinum-testobol-250mg-ml<\/a><\/p>\n Austarlabs<\/strong><\/p>\n (Accepts Bitcoin only)<\/p>\n Testosterone Enanthate – Almost all steroid sites will ship internationally, but there will always be an increased risk to ordering internationally<\/b> for seizure of packages versus ordering domestically. Unfortunately, many countries lack international sources. Order at your own risk.<\/p>\n RoidBazaar Int<\/strong><\/p>\n Has a good reputation in the roid community for successful international shipments. (Accepts Bitcoin, Zelle, Bank Transfer, Western Union, Money Gram)<\/p>\n Testosterone Enanthate –<\/em><\/p>\n https:\/\/roidbazaar.me\/SCIROXX-Pharma\/testodex-enanthate-250\/ <\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/roidbazaar.me\/7Lab\/testolab-e-250\/ <\/a><\/p>\n Testosterone Cypionate –<\/em><\/p>\n https:\/\/roidbazaar.me\/SCIROXX-Pharma\/testodex-cypionate-250\/ <\/a><\/p>\nLegal Considerations:<\/strong><\/h1>\n
What is Testosterone?<\/strong><\/h1>\n
What does it do?<\/strong><\/h1>\n
What kind of methods can I get T in?<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Injections<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nEnanthate’s half life is slightly shorter. Treat it similarly to cypionate. This means that for most people, it’s best to inject weekly for ideal hormone levels.<\/p>\nGels<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Pellets<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nThey let out a small dose of T each day and you don’t have to worry about missing a dose. They last about 3-6 months.<\/p>\nRisks\/Side effects<\/strong><\/h1>\n
\nMost of the serious side effects are extremely low in absolute risk.
\nPolycythemia<\/strong> (high concentration of red blood cells in the blood) is a unique risk for transmascs taking any testosterone therapy. CBC (complete blood count) tests to monitor your hematocrit (red blood cell count) are recommended.<\/p>\n
\nPolycythemia is defined as serum hematocrit (Hct) or hemoglobin (HgB) exceeding normal ranges expected for age and sex, typically Hct > 49% in healthy adult males. So there is no need to worry if you have Hct levels lower than that.<\/p>\n
\nIn all people, a small portion of the testosterone in their bodies is converted into estradiol (estrogen) through a process called aromatization. However, in healthy cisgender males, the testosterone levels typically remain within a range that does not cause a significant increase in estradiol levels, thereby mitigating any unwanted feminizing effects.
\nAs a transmasculine person, it’s important to not take too much testosterone<\/strong> (please stay within recommended dosage guidelines) to prevent estradiol levels from getting too high (which can cause unwanted feminizing effects).
\nAs long as you take reasonable dosages of testosterone and do not go over the recommended dosages, you are unlikely to deal with excessive aromatization.<\/em><\/p>\nSourcing\/Dosing:<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Prescribed T:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nInformed consent in the context of trans HRT means that the the effects of T (including risks and side effects) are explained to you by a medical professional. You can then agree or refuse starting T.
\nUnder an informed consent model, an adult is able to start T very quickly (within days or weeks of the first appointment) after they agree to receiving T treatment.<\/p>\nDIY:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Dosing (gels):<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Accurate Dosing (injections):<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\nI usually recommend people start on 50mg\/week. You can either choose to slowly ramp up your dosage, or you can start at a high dose. There is no evidence that either method is clearly better than the other.<\/p>\n
\nThe formula to calculate how much liquid to inject is: (amount you want to inject) \u00f7 (concentration of the vial) = amount to inject per dose in mL<\/b><\/p>\n\n
\n20 \u00f7 200 = 0.1
\n0.1mL per injection<\/li>\n
\n50 \u00f7 200 = 0.25
\n0.25mL per injection<\/li>\n
\n100 \u00f7 200 = 0.5
\n0.5mL per injection<\/li>\n
\n50 \u00f7 250 = 0.2
\n0.2mL per injection<\/li>\n
\n50 \u00f7 300 \u2248 0.17
\n0.17mL per injection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHow to perform a T injection<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nLink to our page for injection supplies: Injection Supplies<\/a><\/p>\n\n
\n
\nhttps:\/\/support.getplume.co\/support\/solutions\/articles\/72000544742-all-about-injections<\/a>
\nVery detailed video guides on both IM and subq injections, with the downside that they are split into multiple long videos.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n Note that around 0.1mL of fluid will be lost with each injection due to needle dead space.<\/b><\/p>\n
Blood testing:
\n<\/strong><\/h1>\n$50-$150 per test, depending on source<\/h6>\n
\n(USA): https:\/\/labsmd.com\/<\/a>
\n(USA): https:\/\/www.walkinlab.com\/<\/a>
\n(UK, Ireland): https:\/\/www.medichecks.com\/ <\/a>
\n(UK): https:\/\/www.medichecks.com\/products\/ultimate-performance-blood-test<\/a>
\n(Canada): https:\/\/bloodtestscanada.com\/ <\/a>
\n(Sweden): https:\/\/werlabs.se\/<\/a>
\n(NL): https:\/\/www.bloedwaardentest.nl\/<\/a>
\n(NZ): https:\/\/www.pathlab.co.nz\/patient-requested\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nUnfortunately, depending on your circumstances, you may be unable to find a way to get blood tests.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nYour blood levels of estradiol and testosterone when taken at this time are called \u2018trough levels\u2019<\/b>, because they are the levels of E2 and T that are present in your body at the lowest point in your HRT dosing regimen.<\/p>\n
\nThe Endocrine Society\u2019s 2017 clinical guidelines for transgender HRT recommend that trans men maintain \u201ctestosterone levels in the physiologic normal male range\u201d, a range which is typically given as 300\u20131000 ng\/dL.<\/b> Slightly higher or lower testosterone levels above or below this range are not something to worry about unless your estradiol levels are also too high.<\/p>\n
\nThe typical range for adult males is 10 \u2013 50 pg\/ml<\/b> although this varies due to age and individual factors. Try to aim within this range, although slightly higher levels are not something to worry about. Try to keep your estradiol under 70pg\/mL
\nOccasional testing of Complete Blood Count (CBC), Liver Function Tests (LFT)\/Liver enzymes, Clotting factors test, and Lipid profile test (cholesterol, triglycerides) can be useful to monitor certain health risks associated with testosterone therapy.<\/p>\nSources:<\/strong><\/h1>\n
CAUTION: If there is not a source listed, please check https:\/\/www.eroids.com\/reviews\/<\/a> before buying.<\/em><\/h5>\n
US Sourcing:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nhttps:\/\/us.roidbazaar.me\/testosterone-enanthate\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/us.roidbazaar.me\/testosterone-cypionate\/<\/a><\/p>\nCanadian Sourcing:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nhttps:\/\/alphanorthlabs.com\/product\/testosterone-enanthate\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/alphanorthlabs.com\/product\/testosterone-cypionate\/<\/a><\/p>\nUK Sourcing:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nhttps:\/\/roidbazaar.me\/satan-pharma\/testosterone-enanthate\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/roidbazaar.me\/satan-pharma\/testosterone-cypionate\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/anabolic-steroids.shop\/injectable-steroids\/enanthat-250 <\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/anabolic-steroids.shop\/cypionat_250 <\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/anabolic-steroids.shop\/gel<\/a><\/p>\nEU sourcing:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nhttps:\/\/eu.roidbazaar.me\/human-labs\/testo-e\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/eu.roidbazaar.me\/human-labs\/testo-c\/<\/a><\/p>\nAustralia Sourcing:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/austarlabs-ugl.com\/product\/testosterone-enanthate-250mg-ml\/<\/a><\/p>\nInternational Sourcing:<\/strong><\/h2>\n