this post was submitted on 18 Nov 2025
11 points (100.0% liked)
DIY HRT
409 readers
2 users here now
Welcome!
This community exists for trans people and others to give each other advice and support regarding HRT.
Keep in mind that none of us are doctors. Read up on how to do things properly and double check any advice you are given.
Rules
- Follow the instance rules.
- Be accurate.
- Don't make others worry unnecessarily.
- Sources are appreciated.
Quick Facts
- Different routes (oral vs injections vs trans-dermal etc) have the same results. Pick whichever option you are most comfortable with.
- If you're doing feminizing hrt your boobs will randomly grow in bursts. Chest pain going away is perfectly normal.
- It's unreliable to estimate your hormone levels based on signs. Take blood tests if they are available to you.
- Remember to eat well, get enough sleep, and exercise! This will help you grow properly and look more masculine on testosterone or more feminine on estradiol.
Check out the pinned posts! They contain lots of useful links and resources.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
+1 to having someone there who can ~~help~~ support you (for me other people being around made it worse, so I did it alone, but it was good to have someone nearby in case I fainted).
Also can confirm I would get so scared I just physically couldn't do it - this still happens to me sometimes. I find it helps to have eaten enough food just before (as well as hydrating significantly) - this is grounding and helps reduce chances I'll get faint or mentally struggle as much.
And also can confirm it gets easy over time - now it's no problem at all, I inject once a week and it's almost never dramatic or painful.
Also, might be good to have a little towel nearby in case you have a little blood come out - it didn't always happen, but early on I started with injections into my thigh, and my thighs are very vascular and I frequently would bleed from subq injections; now I inject in my belly (which was mentally something I had to work up to), and I have far less bleeding. Either way, just have something to catch a drip in case it happens.
They don't need to help! I just had them there for emotional support! But having someone who knows how to do shots there is ofc gonna be helpful too
yeah, sorry - I meant emotionally mostly - reworded it to make more sense
I was pretty afraid of what would happen if I fainted, so having someone nearby was supportive for me, and it makes sense in general to have emotional support in that moment.