Trans Talk on Sidechat | Hi! I could use some advice on taking t shots IM on the thigh for the first time. I’ve been on the gel up until now and chose the IM route at 0.2 dosage. I’m a bit weird with needles so any advice helps-

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Trans Talk 4w

Hi! I could use some advice on taking t shots IM on the thigh for the first time. I’ve been on the gel up until now and chose the IM route at 0.2 dosage. I’m a bit weird with needles so any advice helps-

Anonymous 4w

Always check for air bubbles before you give yourself the shot, make sure you’re cleaning the injection area with an alchohol swab, try to switch which leg you do every so often because if you do the same spot on the same thigh over and over your tissue gets stronger there and then it’s harder to poke through. Other than that just know it gets easier over time, I was super nervous the first few times I did my shot and now almost 5 years on T it’s as casual as brushing my teeth to me👍

Anonymous 4w

Hype yourself up- and have a reward. Even if you weren’t scared of needles before this is a bit new and always hard on yourself. You got this!

Anonymous 4w

IM and subq have the same effectiveness, it’s just injection at different depths (in the fat over the muscle, or into the muscle). you can do subq or IM in the thigh, so don’t stress too much about the depth of the injection.

Anonymous 4w

why IM? not hate to be clear

Anonymous 4w

Þe bigger þe number, þe smaller þe needle. .23 is smaller then .21.

Anonymous

#3 4w

do you know what size needles you’ve been prescribed? there are lots of helpful guides online from different queer health resources.

Anonymous

#3 4w

I have no idea actually- I’ll find out when I go grab them in a bit.

Anonymous

OP 4w

ok, jsyk typically your doctor will prescribe two sizes—one for drawing up the medication into the syringe and one for injecting. so (most likely) when you pick it up you should have syringes and two needles sizes (or a syringe w/ needle and then another size needle).

Anonymous

#3 4w

Just fyi this is not always the case, I’ve always been prescribed the same needle for drawing and injecting.

Anonymous

#1 4w

ik that’s why i said “typically”. some prescribe the same size needle for both, but you should always be switching between drawing up the medication and injecting (puncturing the top of the medication bottle blunts the needle and makes injection more painful/is a minor infection risk). typically they prescribe a larger needle for draw up to make it easier and reduce air bubbles and a smaller one for the injection to reduce pain.

Anonymous

#3 4w

I don’t switch needles between drawing and injecting, mine come attatched to the syringe. I just clean the top of the bottle thoroughly before drawing anything. I was told by my doctor that’s fine. But I’m sure OP’s doctor will have walked them through the best way to do it with their needle/syringe sizes.

Anonymous

#4 4w

I’m ngl I had no idea what to pick and I feared I didn’t have enough fat for a subq

Anonymous

OP 4w

I also have multiple surgical scars on my stomach and I was worried about that too

Anonymous

#3 4w

Needles are 3 ML

Anonymous

OP 4w

And 1.5 in