I switched to gel because I have ADHD, I couldn't remember if I'd taken my shots every other week. I started to get very anxious and I messed my hormones up badly. Taking it every day means I can remember more easily. I didn't know my insurance covered it, my doctor was the one that suggested it to me and it really helped me.

I also switched to the gel because I got the injection anxiety and I felt like I didn't want that pain to be what I think of when I think of transitioning. Thanks for this video frien

I did injections for 5 years, got tired of stabbing myself, and switched to gel 3-4 months ago. It was a nice break, but unfortunately my T levels were super low and my cycle started back up for the first time in 5 years. I panicked and did my shot after the 3rd day of all that and it went away. Back on shots now. It really just depends on each individuals body and if they can absorb the gel or not.

After 47 years of injections I had to switch to jel because of congestive heart failure. The daily does is supposed to be gentler on the body than the injections. So there are medical reasons to use alternate applications as well.

I use gel because my hands shake like a seismograph and I don’t trust myself administrating needles by myself. My gel doesn’t come in a packet, it comes in a pump bottle, and has the same smell and consistency as hand sanitizer. It only takes a few minutes to dry.

i also got overwhelmed by the changes from testosterone and took a year off before going back on. somehow it’s really comforting to hear that i’m not the only one that was unsure the first time

My son is 11 and started blockers a year ago. He hates getting his injections. Thanks for the info! I'll have to see if this will be an option for us when he's ready to start T.

My Testosterone gel comes in a pump. It's generic from Lupin in Baltimore. I have carpal tunnel, so my doc hooked me up with the pump.

I recently switched from gel to injections because my testosterone levels kept being low, I ended up with 3 sachets a day, quite messy and it made me very aware of being trans. I inject myself every three weeks now and am happy with that even though injecting myself still feels a bit weird, luckily I don't have needle anxiety.

I don't think I knew you were on gel this whole time! I never watch youtube anymore but have been wondering about switching to gel and came back to the old 'tube for some info. Never disappoints. Thanks for the insights Chase!

Thank you for this video! I actually had an appointment today with my endocrinologist and told him I wanted to switch from injections (to gel) after being on them for 5 years. All of the things you said really hit me because that is how I was feeling. I hated thinking that I would have to inject myself for the rest of my life. I had to be on injections my entire childhood because of a growth hormone deficiency and it traumatized me. I wanted to give up T because of the anxiety with needles. And that caused depression because I wasn't able to be true to myself. I am so excited to start gel! Thanks for the great content. It is helping so many of us!

I’ve been on patches for over a year now, and I’ve been getting really great results! However, In Canada at least, the Androderm patches were discontinued due to business related issues (I believe) and I was considering asking my doctor to do shots, but she recommended me gel! I just got my first prescription today, and thank to you I have a very good feeling about using gel :)

the part about dreading injections is one of the main reasons i switched over and honestly i’m relieved to hear that it’s not some irrational fear i was building up. thank u for posting this video i went searching for stuff like this in a panic after getting my gel prescription out of fear that it wouldn’t work as well as injections but this video made me feel a lot better

there’s deodorant and nasal spray??? why am i just now hearing about this.

I'm on a Testosterone cream from a compound pharmacy, and my doctor recommended applying it to my inner-upper arm since that's where the skin in thinner and should absorb easier. I'm not sure where everyone else applies the T to their arm, but just thought I would share that.

I have been on the gel for just over 6 months now. Two pumps every morning. My skin absorbs it super well and my t levels are at the perfect Male range and my oestrogen levels are also at a male level. I also have the implant for birth control that I had before I started t which stopped my periods pretty much completely. I was told that the effects of the injections can be so sudden that it can be a bit dangerous. When I was put on the gel I was very disappointed because for some reason I felt like it wasn’t going to do as much. But obviously now I understand that is not true

Glad I saw this video. I finally had the guts last month to ask about gel bc I was getting so much shot anxiety. I just put on my first dose yesterday. Thanks for all the info!

**Hi Chase, I have been watching you for a while...I have a Trans son who I give injections weekly and I never knew about the auto-injector! Thank you so much for that information!! $150 is not a bad price at all!! I'm going to tell my son about it and see what he says! Thanks again & I'm glad you like the gel.**

thank you for the informative video! i had no choice but to use gel bc of a supply issue here in singapore, probably unpopular opinion but i prefer IM bc it makes me feel like steve rogers. been on androgel 1.62 for about a month now and it's so nice to not have that dip in energy/mood the day before my shot! i think it's so awesome that you've been on it for so long bc i always see gel guys on low dose or only plan to do it until they switch over to shots. definitely never considered choosing gel before but i'm thinking of staying on now that i had all my misconceptions corrected 😭 sending love!

That was soooo informative; thank you very much, Chase. I'm just starting my transition (ftm), and haven't gone on T yet. I now feel I can have a more productive conversation with my Dr. You look very handsome, btw; I love the cat pictures! I'm a cat guy, too! Much love to you and success on your journey. 💕

what I like about the gel (compared to injections) is that one can decrease and increase the amount according to feeling and changes. since testo has some unwanted side effects i found this very important during my transition. i think it is especially valuable for people (like me) that are not entirely certain in the beginning and also are not out yet everywhere. i cherished it so much to be able to choose my own pace with things and could for a very long time still decide for myself whether to be perceived male or female depending on circumstances. even a smaller amount than proposed from my doc gave me a massive improvement with my dysphoria and i felt very comfortable with taken it a bit more slowly.

I’ve been on the gel for 2 years now and it’s amazing. Same one you use. I just put it on before bed and it’s so easy. So much nicer than doing needle injection. I’m almost 3 months past a full hys so it made sense to just use gel because I don’t have to worry about bleeding

Thanks so much , love your attitude !!! And I actually do care what you explain and demonstrated 👍

I used the same US generic packets for a while but now I use gel in a pump. Great video - I’m always educating on the misconceptions and information of gel vs injections

I was literally just looking to switch to gel so this was super helpful thank you!!!

Yea, I got here looking for something different, so thanks for the heads-up --- but I'm not gonna leave before saying I LOVE your hair color!

i did not mind the injections itself (the nurse who gave it to me are really good and it never hurt) but i have really bad social anxiety and it was horror for me to have to go out regularly and talk to my doctor and a nurse, having to get the stuff from the infirmiary etc etc. so i switched to gel after a year or something like that, when i was happy with how much i changed already and thought to myself if the future changes come slower, i really dont mind that much (edit: to clarify, here in germany you're not allowed to inject yourself. you HAVE to go to a doctors office to get your shot)

There is a gel in a pump dispenser, where I am. It is a German company.

i started on daily gel with my endo saying i could switch to injections after about 5 or 6 months but should start with gel because it's more even, im almost 3 months on gel and decided to stick w that because it works super well and doesn't fluctuate like a weekly/biweekly etc injection would. (also i rly dont like needles sskfjsjcjsj) so yeah i 100% recommend gel, worked really well for me :)

I also started testosterone with injections, developed severe needle anxiety and then I did some gel research and switched after my insurance agreed to pay for the generic pump!

I used to watch your videos a lot as a kid when I was first transitioning. Its been 6 years since starting testosterone, I’ve always done in the injections. My fear of needles has always been bad. I go months and even years at times forgetting to do the injection or being to anxious to, but my doctors always turned me away from the gel. I’m finally putting my foot down and i’m just going to ask for the gel instead of needles. Thank you again for another super informative video, no matter what struggle i’m going through with being trans I always know I can fall back on your channel for help.

I was on the gel for over a year when I first started out on T because my Trypanophobia was crippling, but my T levels never went above 40. There were literally ZERO changes for me. Apparently my body was not absorbing the gel properly. I was sort of forced to take the injections but once I settled on the deltoid as the site for injection it was really OK after I got over the first injection. So despite the gel working for most it definitely is not for everyone. I am glad it worked for most people though!

I chose shots, and I get anxiety on the day I have to get it, but luckily my partner does it for me. I feel like I’d do gel eventually but for now, I like the shots. I do them in my stomach so the needle is TINY, and I can’t feel it at all. The T is what hurts because it’s thick. But I get excited about the cute bandaids I get to put on lol

I'm on gel as well and the best advice I've gotten from someone is to spread it out with the inner side of your wrist! That way you won't "waste" any gel when you're washing your hands as the residue can still absord through the skin on your wrist!

I am on Testosterone and I have been on it for 2 1/2 years and have very little / no changes. I have recently started getting acne and bottom growth, both of which I was told I'd experience on about 1 month on T. My doctors can't explain it. Anyway, I'd like to look into other options. Seeing this video was kind of eye-opening for me since I thought that the gel was slower than injection

My doctor does only know intramuscular injections and gel. The other methods are either not available or not known to the endocrinologists in Germany.

I’m a sex educator who works with young people in a school-based clinic, I do one-on-one reproductive health. And I’m starting new programming to offer puberty blockers and HRT to our young folks in need right there in their hallway. And your info truly helps me provider gender-affirming care. I’m queer, but i love learning about other gender experiences as well! It helps round out the education i provide.

Testosterone deodorant?? Ok I want that one lol

The generic Canadian packet is giving me cheap soy sauce at a suspect sushi restaurant vibes. You know, the ones you open and it splits all down the side?

The gel seems to spike T levels too quickly, then crash 6~8 hrs later. I recommend splitting it 2x a day, or getting your blood work 12 hrs after application.

I'm glad that there are alternatives because although needles aren't a problem for me, I'm starting to really build up scar tissue in my stomach (sub-Q) so pushing it in is a lot more painful. I'm just not sure how to approach it with my doctor since my FTM care was transferred over to my family doctor and she's not really well versed in that area. But it's something I'll look into because I actually had no idea that it was also available in Canada.

I’m not sure if you’ve done this but I think you should make a video on all the testosterone types that there are. I’ve never heard of the deodorant before so that’s cool.

I use sub-q and gel for different reasons. I used to do intramuscular injections for years and that sucked and I also feel like I wasn't getting my t in the right way like it actually made me feel like my transition was going slower. I also used to be super afraid of doing injections in my stomach but I actually don't have any pain when I do it so I am not anxious about it at all. I also have this fear of as my doctor calls it lol "skin to skin" contact with the gel because I am always touchy feely. I feel you though and I totally know that gel is amazing and does work, so do not hold my story as what you should do. I just feel it's interesting how everything works for people in different ways and I find it amazing that we now have so many options for doing our t.

I use the EXACT same packets, have for a few years now. So glad my insurance covers it here in TN

Wow seeing all these packets I’m grateful mine comes in a pump - much easier on your wrists and less waste too

I was thinking of going on gel. Thanks for helping me decide.

Thanks for the info! Seriously!

I have been on testosterone since 2013 and with each passing year I keep getting more and more lax with the injections and it suddenly dawned on me that I think it’s because of some needle anxiety. There are times where I won’t do it for a whole month. At the same time I have procrastination issues lol. If my insurance covers it (Medicaid) I would definitely switch to gel. I can work it into a morning routine more readily than the shots every few weeks where I’m more likely to forget/procrastinate/chicken out.

Thank you, this was very informative! I don't live in north america and this stuff works differently in every country. I'm in Sweden. I chose to go with injections since I don't like putting on gel/lotions and such, the stickiness is a big no for me and I also didn't like the side effect of not being able to touch or cuddle with my pets or my partner etc after. I get injections every 12 weeks in the butt cheek. I have a nurse that I trust that gives me the injections. Where I live they kinda don't want you to do it yourself since it's always riskier with hygiene and such when not in a sterile environment, but I know of other trans people here that do it themselves anyway. It works for them. But I can totally understand that if you have to do it yourself every week, it could get problematic. Handling needles is tricky business, even if you're not afraid to get injections. Thanks for great and informative content, as always! Cheers!

I did shots for 5 years every week and now I’m on gel for a month and I use the same packets in California!

I switched to gel after just 3 subQ shots because every time I got an injection, I would have a syncope reaction. Not fun! I’ve been on the gel ever since and it’s been awesome. I tried the patches too but they caused a rash on my skin. The T I use now is custom compounded and I just dispense 3 ‘clicks’ which comes out to about a teaspoon of gel that’s a sunscreen-like consistency. I apply it to the back of my knees. Super easy, and keeps my levels nice and even instead of huge hormonal fluctuations you get with injections.

I’ve been doing pellets and I love it!! Medicaid always try to fight me on it, but so far they’ve always paid for it.

Did injections for a month and started getting really nervous doing them. Got my gel today and excited to start on that

This might be a stupid question but can any any use the gel pads

I actually had a lot of health issues related to injections. I started injections in 2018 a few months later I began having hot sweats heart palpitations shortness of breath itchiness all over and migraines. After seeing the doctor I was diagnosed with polycythemia Vera secondary. This meant my blood levels were extremely high to where my blood was clotting. I had to have phlebotomys every other week. I switched to gel and my blood has gotten much better and i only have a phlebotomy once a month and my symptoms for the most part are under control

Awesome video.When I start transitioning I’m going to do the gel because I’m terrified of needles and I don’t do to well with pills I’m also suspicious about the pills. Much love ❤️ 🏳️‍⚧️

Hi, thanks for sharing but I wonder if we use gel, what is ideal time for us to take the blood test? For example, we apply it in the morning so it is reasonable for us to check your level on that morning? I do look forward your reply. Thanks a lot

I started on gel patches while in NYC & I was just too sweaty for it to be effective. the patch would peel off my skin & lower my dose. I've always been sweaty too & being on T obviously made it worse & I wasn't seeing hardly any changes (except my voice, but it's like my voice was ITCHING to change-- it's deeper than other many trans men report seeing change to that effect. genes maybe?) anyway I love taking the shot, as I see changes more regularly & is more effective. I only have to do it every 2 weeks, so I just put it in my phone calendar & reminders pop up every so often to let me know I have to do it when the time comes. I did develop a BIT of needle anxiety after going off injections (read: T altogether) for some months (just due to relocation, reestablishing care, & falling victim to executive dysfunction, etc) & not having done it for some time made me doubt if I was doing it right. I also have injected myself wrongly a time or two so that contributed 😅 But I have a long history with needles, giving blood, getting shots (I'm a vet(eran), so it's a LOT of history), & that keeps me level most the time. it also doesn't hurt much if you do it right. I will say I prefer subcutaneous needles to intramuscular. I see the same results in both, but subcutaneous needles are smaller, so they hurt less, & shorter (hitting skin, instead of muscle) so I don't have to do that annoying thing where you insert the needle only halfway (bc how tf am I supposed to do that when I'm wrestling with the notion of jabbing a long ass needle into my thigh while trying not to pierce my femur bone ya know?). so yeah for me, gel patches < intramuscular injections < subcutaneous injections, all the way!

I’m on the same one it’s awesome. Dries really quickly.

Thank you so much for making this video. We’re on the same T!

I was on injections for 2 years and switched to gel and have been on it for 4, and I like it way more. My levels are higher and I’m less moody.

I use a patch and I'm really happy with it. The changes have all happened within the expected time and I don't have to worry about it wearing off when I touch my kids and pets.

Ive been wanting to go with the patch option in canada for awhile, but Ive just only seen people use injections which isnt want I want to really do alot of. Wondering if you new anything about the patchs?

I just switched to the gel, first time using it today and it was so easy. I couldn’t bring myself to use the needle

Thank you for sharing. I will start my first gel application tomorrow morning. I like the way you laughed at youself 😂

I have just messaged my doctor for testosterone gel, I have never met another trans person who had the exact same phrasing for what I was going through with my shot day. I had no preconceived notions except that I was on the shot because it was explained to me that way BC I had no insurance and it was cheapest. I now have insurance and I cry a lot on my shot days especially with my anxiety, this information has given me so much more than you could even realize. You don't understand that you saved me

The generic T has always been total crap for me. All brands of the generic and they are all hard to open. They are also all really high in alcohol, including the pump version which had so much alcohol and also smelt like plastic toys and was so watery that it irritated my skin. I will only use Androgel and my Dr had to fight the insurance for ages to get it for me. My levels are really screwed up though and have been for years but I need to take T for my osteoporosis too. I started doing needles and did them for so many years I ran out of places to stick them that weren't going through triple scar tissue and that's creepy and painful.

I hope this isnt ignorant but does the Gel harm the environment in anyway? What i mean is if you are applying it in the morning then that evening get a shower, would it end up in the water supply? Or if it got on your shirts and then you washed them? This isnt from a place of hate am just curious

the thing holding me back about t is that it makes your blood a little thicker and can make it easier to get blood clots which scares me.. did you know about that when starting? do you worry about that or anything? if so can you tell me how you deal with it?... I feel like this is a stupid question lol

with gel you have to be very careful, to not touch or leave any residue around you, on your partner, pets, bedding etc, also gels have alcohol in it, some people will get rashes and other reactions from prolonged use... you can administer T on daily basis in micro doses from an insuline syringe... it is abolutely painless...

how many times a week do you usually use testo gel?

I started the gel about 4 days ago but I’m a straight male that had low testosterone. I’m curious to see how it works. Hopefully I won’t have to go on injections

I live in Canada (Manitoba to be exact) and branded Androgel is literally the only one they offer here. I’m lucky enough to have most of it covered by insurance, but I wish the generic one was available, like I asked them if there was a generic version and they said no, ugh

Also a dry spray T deodorant would be amazing

As someone on gel, i was entirely convinced that the changes happen slower. As for me im about 5 months on T right now and i havent had more than the smallest voice drop. Ive grown body hair, gotten smellier and sweatier, gotten bottom growth, but not much at all for the voice. But i think im starting to learn that its not the gel and maybe my dose is just too small, or my body just develops slower than others do. I guess we will see! Ill update you all in a couple months if i remember!

I can really relate to equating transition to suffering. I got tired of poking myself after a year, and was honestly off for five after that. I just started th gel. I do still wonder about the side effects though.

How does the gel react with sweating? I’m a welder so I’m constantly DRENCHED in sweat, and I don’t want it to wash off. I’ve been having a lot of dysphoria being trans with using the needles like you were talking about and feeling anxious days before my shot. I’ve been thinking about the pellet, but it’s considered a “surgical procedure” and I don’t want to go through that every couple of months

I actually used shots for my first 2 years, near the end of the 2nd year it was just such a huge hassle to get my needles and my vials. It was also becoming more painful I guess because of scar tissue

You should also stay with the same brand every month. My pharmacy was really bad about giving me different brands of gel and I would have horrible acne. It doesn't matter which brand just stick to the same.

I’ve been on gel for 7 months and just had my first shot yesterday. I feel like changes happened about as fast as anyone on injections that I saw online. My voice has dropped over an octave and my fat has started to redistribute. My injections will be every 12 weeks which is good, and even though the injection hurt like a bitch it got better by the next morning. So I don’t think gel is slower but it is harder to remember and also more expensive (in australia it’s $40 per month for gel vs $30 every 3 months for injection. ik it’s a lot more in other countries tho I love my pbs). So I think the issue with gel is that ppl vary a lot more in how much their skin absorbs whereas with injection you know how much goes in because all of it is absorbed.

I had so much trouble with injectables for years, not because of needles but I couldn't tolerate the side effects. I would do my injection and within and hour had panic attacks, heart racing etc and that would last the first couple days. Plus my hemoglobin kept going high. I kept cutting the dose and shortening the timing but it didn't help with any of this. I was cycling on and off it for the longest time because it was so intolerable. I've been on the gel now every day for a year, I don't miss any days. The gel experience is completely different from injections. There's no panic attacks, heart racing etc and in a year my hemoglobin has only rose a small amount. My t levels are good and I'm so much happier but this stuff is costing me more than what I can afford and my insurance refuses to cover gel at all. I'll never go back to injections tho the formulation was truly intolerable, the difference between that and gel is night and day. I haven't heard of anyone else having the issue I had with injectable but I wonder if people just suffer thru it because they don't realize a different delivery could help.

I been on t for a year plus stop for one year and started again and everything ur saying is how I feel

Hey! Where can I buy testosterone gel? I literally can't find any on the internet..

I have very dry skin, does the alcohol dry out your skin? Could I put lotion on as long as it's been 8+ hours since applying it?

I just started T five days ago and I picked the gel. I heard the same thing from other trans guys that it’s not as strong, but I liked the idea of my hormone levels being consistent everyday

My gel comes in a bottle with a pump and I do 5 pumps a day, its a lot but I don't mind it. Just gotta marinade myself daily

i’ve been taking shots for almost a year and stopped like two months ago because i DREAD the anticipation leading up to the day of the week i had to take it. to be clear, i dont have a fear of needles, i’ve been getting blood drawn since i was 14 for mental health med reasons. i just got sick and tired of those fuckin needles. my main worry about gel is it coming into contact with someone. i live with my sister and her four kids, i would completely combust if one of them got into contact with it. however its also pretty dangerous to have used T covered needles around too so im just kinda stuck. please someone help

I switched back to gel too because the type of injections that is common where I live gave me some health problems

Hello sir where can I buy a testosterone gel because I want find it here in Hong Kong

Hey thanks so much for this video!!! I’m one week on gel and I was thinking maybe it was rubbing off or I was losing some because I sweat when I work or that other people might get my skin rubbed on them…idk lol every worry you can think about I have. I want to transition like yesterday so I’m hoping to see some changing in the near near near plz god near future. Thank you!

My only worry about being on gel is that I have a bad memory, even with a routine, I would forget now and then lol! You also brought up something about the gel that makes me wonder if sweating can somehow 'sweat it out/wash it off" of your skin... And I'm really surprised at the drying time of each different gel! WOW! By the time 5 to 10 min is up, I'd be FREEZING coming out of the shower, putting it on, waiting for it to dry up! BRRR!! (I'm from Minnesota, it's kinda cold when you hop out of the hot shower!) Right now I do bi-weekly injections and my thighs have taken a beating, and I can't reach my glutes 🤪 🤣🤣🤣 "This is the Canadian packet, it's kinda rude" I agree, the American insurance system need a huge overhaul and an injection of some type of fair pricing! I wish we had more of what you had up in Canada, I know the system up there also has flaws, but dang, the insurance companies here are just looking for money, they don't care about their customers at all. Thank you for the information on gel, and I thank you for this! I always wondered if it would be something I would be interested in. I Love that this was all over the place Chase! The more info I can gather from first-had users of different types of this always is welcome 😃👍😊👍

When you talked about bleeding I totally thought you meant like your skin bled 🤣 took me until you mentioned the progesterone to figure it out

I’ve been on Gel for about 2 years now and my levels were around 1896 last august but bleeding never stopped. I felt it was too high so I lowered my dose and now two pumps has been increasing so idk what to do now. Not sure if 4 pumps will ultimately stop the bleeding or not.

I use the same gel. I open it straight across since the angles are hard without scissors. I think I might need two but I gotta talk to my doc but I am not consistent (I am forgetful)

I want to microdose T because I'm non binary and want to look more masc. Does the gel come in a microdose? I have needle anxiety as well lol, so I'd definitely prefer the gel over injections. Another awesome video Chase. Thank you!!

Chase, could you look into maybe reviewing the #1 Trans Packer by Trans Supply? Thanks.

not good for those with animals inside that might lay on your laundry after you wore it all day after geling. fyi

Send me some Chase! No medical insurance 😢. I did injections in 2016 and loved it but when my company of 15 years made me retire in 2018 I had to stop. I was fucked. Lost my transition. Trans guy Lee, Richmond, VA.

If your levels go lower on the gel do they just up your gel dose? I just want to have a plan before starting in case mine go too low

I identity as transmasculine. If I want to go on T, I be micro dosing to let the changes come at a slow pace rather than go on a average full dose and changes coming at a fast pace. Not sure if I want to micro dose T as injections or gel.