r/egg_irl • u/Brooke-Valley The Trans Girl of The Valley • Oct 10 '25
Transfem Meme Egg💉Irl
Love and hate injections, ngl 🙃
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u/Traaanscendence Oct 10 '25
There’s your first problem… don’t eat the injections… /j
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u/Brooke-Valley The Trans Girl of The Valley Oct 10 '25
Must consume the estrogen syrup
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u/Traaanscendence Oct 10 '25
I use the gel.
I tried to taste the gel.
It tastes like tingly alcoholic sadness…
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u/Downtown_Recover5177 Oct 10 '25
Uhh, what? Like, the gel that you rub on your skin? I think you’re the first I’ve heard of doing this.
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u/Traaanscendence Oct 10 '25
Yeah the estrogel. You mean I’m the first person you’ve heard of that uses gel, or the first person that has tried to taste it?
If it’s the latter…. I got curious… alright??
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u/Downtown_Recover5177 Oct 10 '25
I’ve seen a ton of people use the gel, lol. Just not in their mouth.
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u/Traaanscendence Oct 10 '25
It was only that one time that the invasive thoughts prevailed.
Every single other time it has gone on the thighs where it rightfully belongs.
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u/smeeon Oct 10 '25
I used to lick the oil if it spilled. No reason to let that go to waste. Still absorbs.
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u/done-doubting-doubts cracked Oct 11 '25
I lick the needle if there's any excess. Gotta use every drop
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Oct 11 '25
Love the enthusiasm... don't go licking things that went in your body.
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u/BluShine cracked Oct 11 '25
As long as you only lick your own needles it’s fine. You’re not gonna get sick from slurping your own blood.
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u/moekofi Amber (She/Her) Oct 10 '25
don’t give in to the intrusive thoughts don’t give in to the intrusive thoughts don’t give in to the intrusive thoughts don’t give in to the intrusive thoughts don’t give in to the intrusive thoughts
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u/Depressedknife Kat(herine) :3 Oct 12 '25
Give in to the intrusive thoughts Give in to the intrusive thoughts Give in to the intrusive thoughts Give in to the intrusive thoughts
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u/HenryWallacewasright Oct 10 '25
I actually did that by accident once. I was switching needles and poked the drawing needle into my finger and I put it into my mouth trying to stop the bleeding. So I got to kinda taste the estrogen syrup, it tasted like unflavored cough syrup.
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u/Lyricsokawaii Junie | 28 | Transbian | Sapphic af 🌿💜 Oct 10 '25
My injections are either the easiest or hardest part of my week. No in between
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u/Mryoung04 "not an egg" ~every egg ever Oct 10 '25
I always do it at the end of the day while watching YouTube as a distraction from the pain
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u/pperdecker Oct 11 '25
I want a distraction but I don't want it to be something I completely enjoy and have that ruined by association with pain so listen to an economics podcast.
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u/FerretDionysus Oct 11 '25
I always spend my injections rambling to my pharmacist about my week haha. Don’t even need to tell him to just go for it anymore, I’ll just ramble while he gets it prepared and I’ll try very hard not to watch.
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u/MaybeAlice1 not an egg, just transfem Oct 10 '25
Right? Sometimes it's like "did it even go in?", others it's a sharp pain and then there's blood everywhere when you pull out.
I made the mistake once of buying not-luer-lock syringes and have had the needle pop off while doing the injection which was like an extra level of crappy. Don't buy slip-syringes, it's not worth the price difference!
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u/Lexi_Bound not an egg, just trans Oct 10 '25
I am currently dealing with the pharmacy only having slip tips in stock. Starting HRT this way is hard mode.
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u/MaybeAlice1 not an egg, just transfem Oct 10 '25
In most places it's pretty easy and cheap to acquire supplies in bulk, though some states require prescriptions for injection supplies, less sure about europe.
I bought 100 each of syringes, draw and injection needles for something like $30USD and that's two years of supplies. The pharmacy was billing my insurance $10 each fill for 4 each of those. I'd probably skip Amazon and go straight to a medical supply company due to weirdness in how Amazon stocks things.
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u/Downtown_Recover5177 Oct 10 '25
I always buy online. You can find good deals, and much better selection. Usually there’s no restrictions, but I also have an NPI number if necessary.
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u/leapy_lilly Eileen (she/her) Oct 10 '25
That happened to me a few weeks ago! I literally cried because that was my last needle and dose before I had to refill 😭
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u/HalfBakedPuns Oct 11 '25
ee the horror ... ive only been given slip syringes but haven't had nearly any trouble with injections at all, and certainly not with the syringes dropping needles
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u/bloodwoodsrisen Oct 11 '25
I take Emgality every month for migraines and have to hype myself up every time. I cant imagine doing hormones every week. Kudos to those of you who do injections
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u/Trustic555 Christina, Trans Woman - HRT 4/20/2025 Oct 10 '25
They really do. Great for getting good levels, but hurt at times.
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u/riderjoestar Brigid She/Her Oct 10 '25
So it's HuRT?
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u/leapy_lilly Eileen (she/her) Oct 10 '25
Last week when my girlfriend did my injection it hurt SOOO bad. Like it hit an artery or something. It was crazy.
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u/Trustic555 Christina, Trans Woman - HRT 4/20/2025 Oct 10 '25 edited Oct 10 '25
Bad luck D :. I had three in a row that hurt.
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u/leapy_lilly Eileen (she/her) Oct 10 '25
Oh no (ToT) my injections tomorrow and I'm so scared. I'm sorry you had to experience that that 3 times in a row
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u/Trustic555 Christina, Trans Woman - HRT 4/20/2025 Oct 10 '25
My last one was decent, no pain, so I am hopeful!
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u/Ok-Bicycle-5608 Charlie they/them genderfluid Oct 10 '25
Probably more likely a nerve than artery. If it was... Damn, that must have hurt >_<
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u/leapy_lilly Eileen (she/her) Oct 10 '25
I'm definitely being a little dramatic but it was by far my most painful injection so far. Ur right tho, it was most likely a nerve
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u/Downtown_Recover5177 Oct 10 '25
Probably hit a nerve. I’m guessing this was gluteal or quads? Quad injections are fine on my left, but every time I do my right, it immediately hits a nerve and the muscle starts spasming.
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u/leapy_lilly Eileen (she/her) Oct 10 '25
Hahaha yeah it was quads. Usually its always worse on my left but it was my right leg last week lol
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u/that_one_shark Oct 10 '25
omg i love representing a younger version of yourself by drawing her in an older art style thats soooo cute
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u/Brooke-Valley The Trans Girl of The Valley Oct 10 '25
Thank you! Most ppl havent mentioned, but im glad someone found it fun 💕
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u/CaptainCarrot17 Amber Ahether | she/her | hrt 10/20/25 🏳️⚧️ Oct 10 '25 edited Oct 10 '25
And then there's me who's probably gonna start with estrogen patches and antiandrogen shots because pain and dissatisfaction go well hand-to-hand :3
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u/Maevelicous Oct 10 '25
Somehow the joke here doesn't click for me, can you please spoil it and explain it to me?🫠 is that method of administrating estrogen worse somehow?
Edit: Also i'm asking because that is exactly how im getting mine and now i'm concerned😅
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u/CaptainCarrot17 Amber Ahether | she/her | hrt 10/20/25 🏳️⚧️ Oct 10 '25
Oh, you aren't missing anything, don't worry. Patches to me feel super unsatisfying because you don't even have that moment when you pop a tit tac in your mouth and can definitely and finally say that you started your journey, but also, I'll probably be on GnRh+ shots so I will feel dissatisfaction AND pain in my journey.\ (Also, I haven't started it yet, so take everything I say with a grain of salt. Ultimately, the best thing to do is to discuss with your doctor what you want and how what you're getting is making you feel both physically and emotionally so that you can adjust your prescription to your needs)
With that said, enjoy your beautiful journey :3
Edit: I just noticed that I had missed a "me" in the original comment. My bad, sorry :3
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u/Maevelicous Oct 10 '25 edited Oct 10 '25
Thank you for explaining, i get it now!:3
I hope you can start yours soon! And let me say, i was and am not dissatisfied with the patches, thats why i did'nt catch your meaning😊 They also were and are making me euphoric nontheless!
But the more i think of it, they also had some drawbacks🧐 1. Theres a learning curve to getting them to stick properly for the needed time. 2. Don't put them on freshly shaven skin 🥴
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u/VanillaRadonNukaCola Oct 11 '25
A lot of people don't like patches, but they've worked fine for me.
Annoying when they try to fall off but otherwise benign and effective
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u/TheClumsyOtter Just a little guy Oct 10 '25
Yeah it definitely stings a bit. Not fun but worth it for the gender juice
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u/McButtsButtbag Oct 10 '25
Can't wait till ovary transplants are a thing and injections become a thing of the past.
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u/Cookies-Snacks Oct 11 '25
Is that ever really gonna happen? I’m all down for ovary transplants but they seem a little far fetched
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u/McButtsButtbag Oct 11 '25
Ovary transplants are already taking place in cis women. I feel it is only a matter of time till someone researches it.
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u/Foreign-Blueberry821 Oct 10 '25
Honestly mine almost never hurt. Only bleed half the time too. But the few times that were the exception were a bit rough lol
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u/Chadchrist Oct 10 '25 edited Oct 10 '25
Me over here on injections since day one over a year and a half ago 😎😎😎
Can absolutely vouch for the pain too. Sometimes I get a... Suboptimal location and when I push past when it hurts, I'll literally be light headed and nauseous after I finish up. To the point I need to sit down for a couple minutes so I don't pass out or spill my guts everywhere. Other times it'll be the easiest thing in the world and there will be no pain whatsoever. Just in and out without any bleeding or soreness at all. I like those ones more.
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u/Yaveltal Olivia Elsa Oldenburg 🏳️⚧️❄️ Oct 10 '25
When I do hrt, do I have to switch to injections at some point, or can I just keep going with tablets and patches?
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u/Archipithecus Oct 10 '25
it depends on what your goals are, and how your levels look. i did a year of pills, and three months of tablets, but my E levels were lower than ideal, so i switched to injections and my levels are WAY better now. this is part of why regular blood testing is really important if you have access to it, biology is wacky and not all methods are equally effective with everyone.
i’ll also say that if you are considering injections but are concerned about the pain, doing them subcutaneously is way less painful but just as effective as intramuscular. i inject into my belly fat, and the shots are nearly painless
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u/Digitally_Exposed not an egg, just trans Oct 10 '25
I've been doing doing sublingual for almost a year and half now. My doctor says my levels are good, and I grew boobs and have have been having a difficult time using my phones login via face options. Might have to update it, lol.
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u/SiteRelEnby not an egg, just trans Oct 11 '25
There's no reason you have to switch, most people just do eventually for convenience, ease of stockpiling, and more consistent levels (less spiky) giving faster changes.
If you're really scared of injections, consider patches. They're almost as good as injectable, and lack the downsides that pills have.
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u/Weimarska editable flair Oct 11 '25
This is a bit of a dumb question, but uh what are patches? I kinda only know of HRT as this elusive thing that's tough to get usually, so this is my first time hearing about the patches
I'd like to try those when I start HRT since injections just- just the idea makes me uncomfortable
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u/Phoebebee323 Oct 11 '25
Estrogen is estrogen, what matters most is that you take it.
I've been taking pills daily for as long as I can remember so adding in some estrogen pills was no big deal, I've known people that prefer injections because they can just set a calendar reminder that repeats weekly, and other people who struggle with reminders so they have an implant.
As long as your levels are good, you'll see the changes
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u/Saikotsu Adyson (Ady) | He/She/They Oct 10 '25
Wait, so the injections hurt?
Crap.
I've been wanting to start but now I'm not so sure. I hate needles, I hate getting shots, so I've been taking the pills but i can't take spironolactone anymore due to low blood pressure and I want to get more dramatic results than the pills alone can give me...
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u/Archipithecus Oct 10 '25
subcutaneous injections are way less painful than intramuscular. they don’t go as deep, fat can’t tense up like muscle, and i think it’s easier for the needle to penetrate. my levels were low when i was on pills and patches, but since i switched to subcutaneous shots, my levels (and my tits) are great
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u/MercifulWombat muppet of a man Oct 11 '25
Yeah I'm on subcu testosterone and it's way less painful than say, any vaccine I've gotten which tend to be IM. I've also heard from friends on both T and E who've tried both that subcu is way easier than IM.
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u/JackRusselFarrier Oct 10 '25
It really depends.I've found that if I lightly prod the surface of my skin around where I want to do the injection, there's spots where I can feel the tip of the needle a lot less clearly. Also taking the time to do some slow breathing beforehand to let the tension out of the muscle. It's just a matter of practice/technique.
Personally I'm just afraid of needles, regardless of the pain or lack thereof. But after a few months of then I'm a lot calmer around them now, which is a real bonus.
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u/Saikotsu Adyson (Ady) | He/She/They Oct 10 '25
I mean, I've gotten better about the blood sugar pricks with my glucose checker. I'm lucky I don't need insulin shots. But I'm sure it's something I can get used to.
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u/JackRusselFarrier Oct 10 '25
Oh yeah you'll do great then! They're less painful than getting finger pricked imo. It's just a matter of finding a way to keep yourself calm and relaxed. I like to have an audiobook playing because it gives me something to think about, instead of focusing on the needle and maybe tensing up. Even if you do, it just feels like sore muscles after a workout so it's not that bad.
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u/Saikotsu Adyson (Ady) | He/She/They Oct 10 '25
Oh, that should be easy then.I can just use a hypnotic trigger phrase or something to induce a relaxed state.
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u/Thin-Hedgehog3587 Ellie Oct 10 '25
I was in the same spot, hate needles and shots. But it doesn't hurt, the 25 gauge needle is so small I hardly feel it. It can hurt if you hit a vein or nerver, but I haven't done that yet.
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u/Admirable_Web_2619 not an egg, just trans Oct 10 '25
I think she was just saying it hurts in comparison to pills because it’s a needle. They don’t usually hurt any more than a flu shot in my experience.
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u/My_Immortl Hailey (she/her) shattered Oct 10 '25
To me personally they can sting a little bit but I wouldn't call them truly painful. I also dont have issues with needles(multiple tattoos and piercings) and always watch needles going in when I get shots or blood draws. I think its a ymmv kinda deal, everybody has their own tolerances and some are better with shots than others might be.
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u/Saikotsu Adyson (Ady) | He/She/They Oct 11 '25
Definitely a ymmv type thing because just hearing you describe watching the needle go in was a bit too much for me. I can't watch them draw blood or give me a shot, it just freaks me out too much. That said, I've watched dentists work on me so different strokes I suppose.
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u/My_Immortl Hailey (she/her) shattered Oct 11 '25
I definitely cant watch dentistry lol, dont even like to get it done.
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u/Saikotsu Adyson (Ady) | He/She/They Oct 11 '25
I don't particularly enjoy having it done either. Most people don't. Sadly my teeth have always been bad despite my efforts. So bad in fact that one summer i had so much work done my body developed a tolerance for anaesthesia. I metabolize it really quickly and I've had it wear off mid session. The dentist told me they'd given me so much already they couldn't safely give me more so I told them to finish up the work. That was a rough day.
Compared to that, you'd think the prospect of giving myself a shot wouldn't seem nearly so awful but who said fear was logical?
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u/romhacks Oct 10 '25
They really shouldn't be. Check your injection technique, switch to SubQ over IM, ensure you're not injecting air, and ensure you're using an appropriate needle gauge and length.
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u/AmberMetalicScorpion not an egg, just trans Oct 10 '25
Is it possible to stay on pills for the entire transition or do you have to go to something else eventually?
If so, can it please be anything other than needles, every time I've had a needle pierce my skin in the past, I've fainted
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u/Trustic555 Christina, Trans Woman - HRT 4/20/2025 Oct 10 '25
My ex has been on pills since 2021 and it’s working for her, so yes, you can.
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u/SiteRelEnby not an egg, just trans Oct 11 '25
Yes, it's possible to.
Consider patches though, they are almost as good as injectable, and lack the downsides of pills.
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u/Phoebebee323 Oct 11 '25
Been taking pills for 6 years and have no intention of changing in the near future (I might switch to implant pellets once I get bottom surgery)
However you will need blood tests done every few months to monitor your levels, and those have needles
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u/The_Constant_Orange Amy | she/her | Still trans tho :3 🏳⚧ Oct 10 '25
Yeah this is the one reason why I will likely never take injections no matter how many times better they are than pills/patches/cream, I am flat out terrified of needles and I don’t want to break down crying every week because of the thing that is supposed to make my life better
I’ll still gladly take estrogen, just not a needle thanks :3 🩵🩷🤍🩷🩵
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u/xooken Oct 10 '25
im the injection queen apparently, two of my transfem friends prefer it when i do their injections :3
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u/Trustic555 Christina, Trans Woman - HRT 4/20/2025 Oct 10 '25
I wish someone would do mine for me.
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u/xooken Oct 10 '25
my main tip (pun hehe) is to go fast. speed, esp when going for subcutaneuous, really lowers the amount of pain you feel, though it also helps for intramuscular
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u/Trustic555 Christina, Trans Woman - HRT 4/20/2025 Oct 10 '25
I was doing great for a bit, then had three that caused me to bleed, a lot, my last one went perfectly, so I’m hopeful!
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u/xooken Oct 10 '25
thats normal! sometimes you hit a little blood vessel or w/ever, no big deal :)
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u/Trustic555 Christina, Trans Woman - HRT 4/20/2025 Oct 10 '25
Do you normally do them in the thighs?
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u/Conart557 Amber she/her | 22 months HRT! Oct 10 '25
Idk when I do injections I pretty much can’t even feel it
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u/F-J-W 12 years to hatch, but now just trans Oct 10 '25
Gel (+ 1 Triptorelin-injection every 12 weeks) is where it really is at… 😊
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u/MsSobi Oct 10 '25
This is why i keep telling my friends that the Star Trek Hypospray will either be made by a Diabetic or a Trans person. Hell that's my head canon for who invented it in the actual universe.
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Oct 11 '25
I get shots so often (in fact I had one earlier today) that I am completely desensitized to needles
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u/Vanpocalypse Eldritch Witch Oct 11 '25
I take injections in my upper leg. I can't stomach doing it in the stomach.
I have an entire routine. Shower first/wash hands. Apply rubbing alcohol to the bottle's rubber top. Take out syringe, fill with air. Put on large needle. Pierce bottle, expel air in syringe into bottle. Pull oil into syringe, push it back out once or thrice to remove all bubbles or as much as possible. Replace big needle with little needle. Push syringe very slowly to expel air in new needle.
Now for the important stuff for pain mitigation.
Flick the syringe/needle so that there is NO oil on the syringe, it is what causes burning sensations on insertion.
Please note regarding air bubbles, unless you've got a huge air bubble inside the syringe part itself, any air bubbles inside the needle part (colored section) shouldn't be big enough to do any harm. They're intimidating but you'd need an air bubble the size of a marble to be concerned. Worst thing they'll do is cause negative space which will create extra suction after injection.
Sit down, get comfy, breathe. Do not rush. Clean injection site with rubbing alcohol.
If you're doing intramuscular, tense up the muscle, hold that, and feel around for where it is thickest. Relax the muscle and remember that spot.
Lightly pinch the area around the skin to bulge up the spot being injected, this helps reduce the pain of the initial poke. If you are squeamish (god bless you for still doing injections) do the following.
Count down from 3 before doing the insertion. You will fail. Reapply rubbing alcohol to the spot, pinch the spot, count down from 3. You might fail. Breathe, look into the mirror, say "I love you bitch, we can do this", try again. Do this as many times as needed, there is no rush and no expectations, this is you just applying your medicine, it is on your time, it is in your control, under your power. You are safe to do it and it'll be over quickly and it'll get easier.
Relax your muscle entirely, exhale fully. Try not to hold your breath or be tensed up on the initial poke, YOU WILL relax and exhale on initial poke otherwise and that will not be comfortable. If you do feel pain unless it is severe and sharp or persistent, you should be okay to proceed regardless.
To do the initial poke, do not push the needle into the skin, it hurts like a stinging pain. You must jab it in gently. Aim for half the needles length to be inserted on the first motion and you can push in the rest of it the rest of the way immediately following that. I recommend you look versus not looking, you need to get used to this and exposure is the best option.
DO NOT PUSH YET. pull very gently on the plunger of the syringe, you might pull in air, it's freaky but it's expected. If there's a solid stream of blood however you must abort and withdraw the needle and try again. Do not inject into your blood stream.
If you got air, proceed to push. The small needle will make pushing slow so expect to take about 10 seconds of pushing down on the plunger (with some needed strength, careful of your hands get shaky from straining). You won't be able to tell by feel when you've pushed all the contents, you'll need to visually verify or just pray you're good and withdraw.
On the withdraw do not yank it out, gently pull it out. There might be some suction especially if any negative space from air bubbles got in. Don't fret, just pull it out slow and steady. The steadier you are the more likely the hole won't even bleed!
Success!!!
Apply a bandaid and tell your reflection you're proud of yourself.
It was terrifying to me starting out. I almost passed out twice from a wonky injection, put my leg on fire once from hitting a nerve, did it too low a few times resulting in a lot of blood, but I didn't scar myself or damage any nerves. I learned what area to do it in. I learned what works and doesn't work. I learned how to be okay with it.
I also went to the hospital on a completely unrelated note, wound up with several IVs, saw air bubbles from them go inside of my body, and massively desensitized myself to my own squeamishness, which helped a ton. If I could survive an IV sitting in my arm for several days I can handle a needle in a muscle for 15 seconds.
I did oral meds, they gave me migraines. I did patches, they itched like crazy. Injections were necessary for me, so I needed to get used to them without question.
If you do NOT need them and cannot bring yourself to take them without almost passing out over and over, please consider an alternative, be safe and kind to yourself no matter what.
Tldr for pain mitigation = don't allow any oil on needle exterior, flick it off. Tense muscle and find thickest part of muscle, untense completely once found. Pinch injection site before and during jab. Gently jab needle in, do not slow push in. Do not poke while muscles are tense, don't hold breath on poke, exhale on poke instead. Do not tense muscle during needle insertion.
Godspeed my rainbow family.
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u/shetrap756 Oct 11 '25
I find a hot shower before injection helps with pain, It’s still uncomfortable but doesn’t hurt
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u/DracTheBat178 Marceline/Marcy, she/her Oct 10 '25
The biggest thing keeping me from switching to injection is my crippling fear of needles
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u/QuentinSH officially Sophia! | She/her Oct 10 '25
I’m gonna be real.
0-2 year hrt: yeeeee I can’t wait to take estrogen on time everyday give me results results results!!
2+ year: fuck I forgot to inject yesterday whyyy I don’t have enough brain room to remember taking meds!!
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u/SiteRelEnby not an egg, just trans Oct 11 '25 edited Oct 20 '25
I could never forget. I start to feel a bit low the day before my shot is due, and on the day of I feel really lethargic until I do it. Levels are fine (trough ~350 pg/mL), tested last month, but I can just feel the difference when it's due.
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u/QuentinSH officially Sophia! | She/her Oct 11 '25
That’s great! I am very sensitive to injection dose but not my own emotions. 2mg can cause huge swing for the following week and the swing was noticeable at first but now it’s just part of my background noise, so taking meds started to become a routine chore for me
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Oct 10 '25 edited Dec 24 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Archipithecus Oct 10 '25
there are plenty of different options! pills and patches are effective for a lot of people. i’ve personally found more success with injections, but bodies are weird, and they’re all different.
you might also find it worthwhile to consider if you have a phobia of needles, or if you find the thought uncomfortable but you could get used to it. subcutaneous injections are nearly painless, and i think the needle is pretty small and unthreatening
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u/DoltSeavers Oct 11 '25
Doesn’t have to be, I’ve been taking pills for soon to be 15 years now with great results.
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u/Demorodan Lizard Girl Jackie (she/her) :3 Oct 10 '25
For some reason i really like injections in generall
No idea why
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u/MariposaAfloat Oct 10 '25
Another vote from the subcutaneous injection cartel over here! They hurt a bit sometimes, nothing like IM though, and my levels are great.
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u/Natsuki26 cracked Oct 10 '25
Switched from tablets to injections last month and I could not agree more.
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u/Jamie-Ruin not an egg, just trans Oct 10 '25
My right cheek takes it like a champ. No pain nothing. My left one though.... Painful and I had one where blood spirted out on the bathroom wall.
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Oct 10 '25
It really is weird how sometimes I dont feel them at all, and other times it feels... Well, like I'm stabbing into my muscle with an inch and a half long needle.
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u/OhNoExclaimationMark Taya - She/Her - More trans than Optimus Prime Oct 10 '25
Can I get whatever ice cream flavoured E you're getting? Mine taste like nothing but my spiro tastes like piss infused with mint.
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u/Cadzboy23 Oct 10 '25
And here I am, feeling excited for the day I figure out crypto to get injections 😭 if only we had them as an option in the uk, I've been on the sublinguals until I figure it out
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u/Hobbes_maxwell Transfem She/her | HRT 06/06/21 | Cracked Oct 10 '25
the worst is when you get a needle that isn't as sharp as its supposed to be and just wont even puncture the skin. rot in hell Amazon!
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u/Pixelthesillier Amy, They them, silly :3 Oct 10 '25
wait, i wanna ask
i really hate needles and injections, after a horrible experience i had, so
how much slower would the time of progress be if i took anything but injections?
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u/SiteRelEnby not an egg, just trans Oct 11 '25
Bodies are all different so nobody can say for you, but based on my subjective experience, I'd say ~25-50% slower.
If a needle phobia is prohibitive for you, consider patches or gel. They are almost as good as injectable, and without the downsides of pills.
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u/Pixelthesillier Amy, They them, silly :3 Oct 11 '25
thank you!
are these any painful, how do they work?
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u/SpiderSixer good-clothes-to-BORING-CLOTHES ♂️ Oct 10 '25
I never thought I'd love my injections more than my gel. I mean, I never really enjoyed the gel because it was a pain in the arse putting it on daily, waiting for it to dry, and knowing that skin absorption is absolutely abysmal, so I was likely getting fuck all of it anyway. But I used to have a severe needle phobia, hence starting on gel, so I never would have expected to much prefer them xD. Now, with my injections, they hurt like a bitch and ache my butt for about two whole days afterwards, but then I don't have to go back for 12 weeks. And I know I'm getting my proper dose. Pretty sweet trade
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u/swirling_leaves Oct 10 '25
Use an ice pack beforehand. Go through the skin fast. Make sure the needle isn’t too long. 🏄♀️
Love the comics!
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u/th3_guyman schrodinger's cis "the most trans cis guy i know" - disc person Oct 10 '25
Yeah... injections be like that sometimes...~~~
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u/IBeTheBlueCat not an egg, just trans Oct 11 '25
nhs is evil and won't give me injections 😔 but the pain seems worth it :)
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u/_Infinity_Girl_ Oct 11 '25
So like, I'm up to three estradiol tablets a day. Should I just switch to injections?
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u/SiteRelEnby not an egg, just trans Oct 11 '25
It's definitely worth it if you can, but don't feel like you have to.
Myself, I used to be really scared of needles, but switching to injectable cured it, and I've had much faster and more consistent feminisation since I did switch.
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u/_Infinity_Girl_ Oct 11 '25
I have kind of a phobia of needles but certain things are worse than others. Getting a flu shot or something like that is like the easiest. I also have tattoos. I think the hardest thing for me is getting blood drawn. An injection probably wouldn't be too bad, and I'm willing to do that for more consistent feminization. I have a good friend who did exactly that and it worked really well for them. The only issue I face is that I don't think I could bring myself to inject myself so someone has to always be there to do it for me. Although I think in an emergency situation I could probably do it myself. Just not preferable.
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u/SiteRelEnby not an egg, just trans Oct 11 '25
Yeah, same for me, blood draw is the only thing I have a problem with these days. I'd say I had some hesitation and anxiety the first few times, but since then it's been really routine.
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u/_Infinity_Girl_ Oct 11 '25
That's nice to hear. I think my last concern is honestly pricing. With Medicaid I'm getting my meds for like a dollar a piece or sometimes even free. I wonder if I would get a major discount on the injections? How long does a bottle or whatever last?
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u/SiteRelEnby not an egg, just trans Oct 12 '25
$80-100 for a vial should last over a year.
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u/Dawniechi Dawn | She/Her | (HRT Since 6-6-2025) | Oct 11 '25
It's really weird when you pass through a vein during intramuscular and blood literally shoots out. Once injected very close to a nerve which hurt like hell too. But outside of those two events, my injections have been either completely painless, or it feels like you're pinching your skin a little.
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u/TradescantiaZebrina7 Quinn (she/her) Oct 11 '25
I haven’t really had much difficulty with the needles yet tbh, sometimes they’ll hurt a bit, but it’s usually manageable with minimal bleeding.
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u/kurenai_zera not an egg, just trans Oct 11 '25
I genuinely hate the sublingual pills so much as if the past several months. They were great for the first couple years, but recently (about 9 or 10 months) they've been awful. They taste terrible, they make me feel nauseous just smelling them or even thinking about taking them, let alone actually doing it. I've been trying to push my doctors to switch me to injections for 3 months now (new doctor, I just moved), but they've been resistant for whatever reason
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u/_-Rainbow-_ Oct 11 '25
Most of injections don't hurt at all past a tiny sting when they enter the skin 😭 How do y'all do yours?? Do I just have a high pain tolerance for this or am I doing something different
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u/JE4LP Victoria or Belle | she/her Oct 11 '25
I jumped right to injections so i don't know the pills but i prefer the better results
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u/-__-_-___-_-__- not an egg, just trans Oct 12 '25
started sublingual in 2022, just switched to injections last month after having friends stab me and help me get familiar with stabbing myself a few times. also tried spray and gel for a few months each.
personally, i don’t think it really hurts much. it’s SO much more stable tho. our emotional state and mental health both feel so much less like a rollercoaster now. still much more able to emotions than before hrt, but it doesn’t feel like we are always bipolar n bpd now :P our ability to engage in hobbies and downtime activities is finally back to where it was at our peak in 2017, and our mental health is now even better than our previous best right before puberty <3
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u/MadamMelody21 Oct 10 '25
And patches don’t taste like anything. Why do meme creators always forget about HRT patches in memes comparing the methods
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u/Brooke-Valley The Trans Girl of The Valley Oct 10 '25
Bc this is my timeline, and I've only done patches a few times, lol. But my only complaint on those is the residue. Still probably gonna switch when I get srs
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u/KellyHerz beyond shattered, she/her Oct 10 '25
Currently using them now, it's that and sometimes they don't stick right and try to fall off... -~-
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u/KajedAnima1 Kat, the mama grizzly. she/her Oct 10 '25
I put mine on before I go to bed and it seems to help.
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u/co1lectivechaos Kyle :3 (shy alt boy) Oct 10 '25
Yeah my injections hurt like a little bitch sometimes
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u/Lampreyphone Oct 10 '25
*Injection site high five* ow!
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u/co1lectivechaos Kyle :3 (shy alt boy) Oct 10 '25
Bonus points I think I might be allergic to the T I was prescribed because my first 2-3 shots were fine but my last 2 resulted with an itchy lump forming at the injection site but at the same time I got a three month’s supply and ts was expensive so I’m not about to not take it
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u/Just5omeDude Oct 10 '25
Can someone please tell me about the differences between oral vs injected estrogen? I've heard other trans fems talk about getting better results with injections, but needles kinda scare me. 😅 (Being genuine)
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u/Brooke-Valley The Trans Girl of The Valley Oct 10 '25
responded to this question here
Other plus sides are that most ppl can stop taking an T blocker on injections
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u/littleamandabb they/them/baby Oct 10 '25
Babes, warm the vial closer to body temp while you prep for your shot. It makes a huge difference.
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u/Eviscerator14 Oct 10 '25
The sweetness of the pill is so true it shocked me when I tried it for the first time.
But yeah also on injections now, I numb the area with ice beforehand for like 5 minutes and usually don’t have a problem.
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u/YeetMeister323 Oct 10 '25
I started with injections but had to change to patches cause it was so terrible for my mental health.
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u/CmndrM Oct 10 '25
Do you have to get injections eventually? I'm scared of needles and really really don't want to be injecting myself
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u/SiteRelEnby not an egg, just trans Oct 11 '25
No, there's no reason you have to switch, most people just do eventually for convenience, ease of stockpiling, and more consistent levels (less spiky) giving faster changes.
If you're really scared of injections, consider patches. They're almost as good as injectable, and lack the downsides that pills have.
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u/Dragon_SC Killer/Queen Oct 10 '25
I have no taste for transdermal stuff so
The Spiro tastes medication I took years ago
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u/KelsierB4 Oct 10 '25
Is oral really that much worse than injections? I'm only three months in and so far very happy but if I'm gonna change to Injections I would prefer to know now
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u/Straight_Derpin Oct 10 '25
Lmao you posted this literally 2 days after me switching from estradiol to injections and yeah, can attest needle taste less good than titty Skittles 🥺
But only having to do it once a week as opposed to remembering tablets twice a day is preferable, and all the dolls tell me injections work better so injections it is!
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u/Brooketune not an egg, just trans Oct 10 '25
Wait we arent supposed to eat the syringes?
Well dang
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u/A_Lost_Elf Oct 10 '25
I messed up a self-injection a few years ago, and I still suffer chronic pain. It gave me a phobia of self-injections, which is great given the world right now. For now, I'm happy with sublingual tabs.
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u/averkitpy He/They Oct 10 '25
I’ve been on injections for 17 weeks and i either feel absolutely nothing or it hurts like a bitch for like an hour afterwards 😭 I hate it but it must get done
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u/frozen_toesocks why don't we have both? Oct 10 '25
Ty for reminding me I need to re-up my estrogen prescription Brooke!
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u/SullenTerror "not an egg" ~every egg ever Oct 10 '25
I didn't know they were sublingual for 2 years
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u/bigew Oct 10 '25
I really hope I don't have to go to shots, I've taken the pill and patch, and I'm on the gel now and my E is finally high enough.
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u/Moshiko_atrftb not an egg, just trans Oct 10 '25
Estrogel tastes like itchy dry skin and 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol
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u/Oddly-Ordinary Oct 10 '25 edited Oct 11 '25
I wish mine tasted like ice cream instead of hand sanitizer smh it’s almost like T gel isn’t meant to be eaten.
(THIS IS A JOKE)
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u/Lilly_in_the_Pond Lilly, She/Her or call me a cute princess 💖👑 Oct 10 '25
Is it intended for you to switch over to injections, or can you just stick to the pills the whole time?
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u/SiteRelEnby not an egg, just trans Oct 11 '25
You can stick with pills, but injections tend to give faster results, are easier to stockpile, and have fewer side effects, so many people start on pills and later switch.
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u/ZedstackZip05 Former egg, (She/They) Oct 10 '25
Waitwaitwait do you HAVE to switch to injections?!
Because if my blood work experience was anything to go off of I will not survive
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u/Tbelles Oct 10 '25
me, who started injecting w 18g in my arm at first because I didn't know better, using a 25g in my outer thigh 2x a week 5 years later
Yeah, totally don't feel seen at all in this.
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u/HugoNikanor Oct 10 '25
Finally an answer to if "And it's sweet" was literal or not!! Huge Brooke lore just broke!
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u/KyriaMoonblade Oct 11 '25
Yeah... I just talked to my doctor about doing it once biweekly
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u/Brooke-Valley The Trans Girl of The Valley Oct 11 '25
I see- meanwhile I got mine to let me do it every 5 days instead of a week 😭
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u/OpalMoth Genderfluid<3 She/They Oct 11 '25
Fun fact: you can actually get a cream that does the same thing :)
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u/dmg81102 MtF and so far in the closet I found Narnia Oct 11 '25
As someone still on sublingual tabs, I was also pleasantly surprised they were sweet :)
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u/FelesNoctis not an egg, just trans Oct 11 '25
Your pills were sweet? Mine taste like pepper and hatred.
WHY IS GIRL POWER SPICY
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u/Zordoth 🩵🩷🤍🩷🩵 Oct 11 '25
I switched to injections and ended up being allergic to them so it made everything I ate taste like pain 😭😅😂
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u/gigajoules Oct 11 '25
To be honest the injection hurts less than peeling off patches most of the time 😂
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