Skye's DIY HRT survival guide
After making a comment about DIY HRT on another post I've been helping a lot of people with supplying (and if you need help with that, shoot me a message!), while also pointing them in the direction of the DIY HRT Directory for other important info/tips, but I thought it would be nice to have the information readily available on Tumblr. (Especially considering the increased need I expect in the next four years. Stay safe.)
I can only speak from personal experience on transfem dosing, effects, etc., but I've tried my best to make this guide thorough for transmasc and transfem people!
How should I dose? Ultimately, it's up to you, but there are some helpful pointers as to where to start. Starting with testosterone, a low, medium and high dose of gel and injections:
And for estrogen - many girls going the legitimate route get started on an extremely low dose of estrogen (such as 1mg a day), but I can say that I started sublingually on 6mg, haven't had any nasty side effects and after only 4 months am having both visible and psychological/emotional changes. However, there is the rare but real possibility of your body having a negative reaction to your method of application, so going slow even for just a day or two might be worth your while. I got 6mg from the DIY HRT Directory, assuming you're also taking an anti-androgen. (More on those later.) As for injections:
What do I dose with? Again, it's up to you, though there are considerably more estrogen options than testosterone. Testosterone is typically available in injection and gel form, while you can get estrogen in pill, spray, gel, patch, or injection form. The reason injections are often recommended for estrogen is because of their affordability versus other methods, plus the ability to do monotherapy and not need an anti-androgen. (Anti-androgens are pills that block testosterone - extra cost, extra potential side effects. It is theoretical to reach monotherapy with other forms, but you should be aware of what a higher dose of E does to your body before attempting it.)
This does not mean you have to do injections for an effective transition. Thousands of trans people have met the goals you have in your head without injections - it is possible. We have technology! Er...pills, rather.
If you are in an unsafe environment, or even if any little thing makes you doubt your safety - lock up your medicine. Whether you have to hide it inside a sock, stuffed animal, or can afford an actual safe/lockbox, no one else has the right to interfere with your medicine. Life unfortunately doesn't always follow the linear patterns in our heads of wanting to be safe before we can start HRT - sometimes the noise in your brain gets so loud you run out of other options and have to take the risk.
If you think that your safety or shelter could be put at risk by starting HRT, look into resources in your area for queer and unhoused people. Have a go bag ready with your necessities. Set aside some extra money on an "emergency" prepaid debit card, especially if anyone who affects your safety also has access to your money.
Blood tests are ideal, but not required. I would be a hypocrite to encourage them too much, as I'm unable to get any right now without raising suspicion. Unfortunately, a lot of trans people are going to be in this same boat, or similar boats due to cost, inability to purchase in their area, etc. If this is an option for you, Private MD Labs, LabsMD, and Walk-In Lab provide private blood tests in the US without having to go through a doctor.
There are still visible ways to see that your dosage is working - they may not all be immediately recognizable, but within a few months you should have several signs. In my transfem experience, random erections were the first thing to go away, followed by a sudden emotional change (why am I crying at The Lion King for the first time when I've seen it many times?) and the starting of breast development. Transmasc individuals might notice some stubble growing, their voice getting lower, an increase in acne, increased appetite and sex drive, etc.
Where do I want my levels? Generally, you'll want your levels in the expected area for an adult cis male or female.
Transmasc: Total testosterone (T) 300-1000 ng/dL, estradiol (E2) lower than 50 pg/ml
Transfem: Total testosterone (T) below 50 ng/dL, estradiol (E2) above 100pg/mL
Rome wasn't built in a day. Neither are beards and boobs. It's very easy to get impatient with the results of HRT, but much like your first puberty, it's a process that takes several years. DIY does give you the advantage of adjusting your own dosage at your will, but if you don't have blood tests easily available, you're taking a shot in the dark. Here are some charts that give an estimate of the time range you should expect the changes of T and E, but everyone's body is different!
Can HRT make you gay? You may have heard of the phenomenon of people suddenly becoming attracted to men, women, or both when they start their hormone therapy, even if they weren't before. (There's not a real scientific backing for this, but it's documented enough to be listed as a side effect in some places.) And no, the HRT didn't make them gay - but it can change your sexual urges, and as you become more in tune with your true self, you may be more willing to notice or just accept things that you hadn't in the past.
I'm sure I'm missing things so there may be a part 2 later, but for any pressing questions just reply or shoot me a message! (This is how I've decided to try to help others through the upcoming unprecedented hell, for now. And if no one's told you this recently - you're not a burden, thank you for being you, and thank you fur trusting me to help!)
(Of course, don't just listen to me, I'm a dodo. I highly recommend reading through everything on the DIY HRT Directory when you have the chance! It is the main source for the info here, as well as my own personal experience, /r/TransDIY and GenderGP.)
