I'm officially one week on T, which is cool as fuck, but also made me think. Immediately prior to starting, I looked at other people reporting changes within their first week. I found a couple of Reddit threads but Tumblr seems to be particularly barren of this information. Furthermore, I didn't find many people who were on gel at a similar dosage to me. So, I thought I'd make this post as a tutorial on how to use GenderGP for people who are unclear as well as documenting the first week of changes.
Obviously, the speed of changes will be different for everyone, and some people see literally no changes until one or two months in. I also know it's unlikely that this post will reach a wide audience, but I just hope this post can help someone else in a similar situation to me acquire HRT and learn what they might expect in the early days.
I am currently on the standard dose dispensed by GenderGP (40.5mg a day of transdermal Testosterone gel (Testogel)).
This post is predominantly intended for people based in the UK, being most helpful for those planning to use the private route. The week one changes will likely not be too dissimilar from NHS prescriptions.
Pre-T - Getting the Prescription:
This is essentially a step-by-step guide to getting the prescription from GenderGP. Unfortunately, I cannot advise on any other route like acquiring NHS bridging prescriptions due to a total lack of experience.
Step One: Book the consultation with a docotor on the GenderGP website (I ended up getting the T within five days of booking this, but the timeline may vary based on GenderGP availability or other circumstances). This will be a Google Meet link sent to you via Email.
Sidenote - GenderGP has no sympathy if you miss this appointment and you will simply have to pay for another one if you miss it without rescheduling. Just don't make the same mistake I did and have to pay twice (big sad).
This consultation if 45 minutes as consists of the doctor confirming that you are aware of some changes being irreversible as well as ensuring that you have full awareness of what your desired hormone treatment will do to your body and appearance long-term. This contributes to their policy of informed consent so they can't catch a case if you detransition. If you are under 16, a parent or guardian must also be present to consent on your behalf since the age of informed medical consent in the UK is 16.
The doctor in the session will then direct and instruct your filling out of the prescription request. They will likely start you out on the transdermal gel as opposed to injections. You will also be asked (if you haven't already) to subscribe to GenderGP, which costs £30 monthly.
Sidenote - You also need bloodwork done every three months, so ensure you find an NHS GP who is willing to facilitate this so you don't have to pay GenderGP a a shit ton of money for bloodwork.
Step Two: You will be asked to book a 30 minute information gathering session (also referred to as a consent session) with an adviser. I had this two days after the initial consultation. You can book this on the same webpage as booking the doctor consultation.
This session confirms your consent and GenderGP will be able to prepare your prescription within two working days of the session.
Step Three: It might help to enquire with your local pharmacy before or during the GenderGP process to ensure that they will order it in for you. Once you have the prescription, get to your local pharmacy as soon as possible. If you get lucky like I did and get there before their daily order arrives, you may get the prescription the same day. If now, you will likely have it the next day. I have received a three month supple.
Day One - First Application:
Please read the instructions inside the box of Testogel. This will inform you of how to apply.
If you have excess gel on your hands, apply it to an arbitrary part of your body, like your stomach or thighs, rather than washing it off.
The instructions will tell you to dispose of the first three pumps of the bottle without explaining why. This is because the first pumps have a slightly lower dosage than the rest of the bottle. If you don't mind an ever-so-slightly lower dose, feel free to use these pumps, they are perfectly safe.
First Week - Day-By-Day Breakdown of Changes I Personally Experienced.
DISCLAIMER: Some of these changes came much faster for me than other people I saw talking about it online. T is different for everyone and my experience is not universal in the slightest. That being said, I hope this can help someone prepare for what they might expect for week one.
I had significantly more energy than I normally do during the day.
I was very hungry with a large appetite, a big change given that I usually struggle with nausea and, until starting T, I did not eat more than two small/medium meals a day. Not I eat three full meals a day with intermittent snacks between meals.
I was very sweaty, specifically, I was clammy all over, which hasn't happened before. I have, every day since starting T, experienced intermittent hot flashes.
I woke up feeling rested for the first time since I developed insomnia nine years ago.
The energy I gained from sleeping was retained throughout the entire day, which has been consistent every day since, which is unusual since I am usually fatigued throughout the day.
I responded to warmth more severely than others around me, finding myself being far too warm very quickly in relatively moderately warm places.
I began to become ready for sleep around 11 PM, differing from Pre-T, where I did not feel remotely ready for sleep until 1 AM at the earliest.
I woke up hungry, contrasting the nausea I tended to experience upon waking up Pre-T. Until taking T, I usually had no appetite until midday.
Nothing new, but I will mention (since I just remembered) that I implore you to take your T at the same time every day and take it in the morning! I do mine a 9.30 AM. This is because the Testosterone cycle is 24 hours long instead of a month like the Oestrogen cycle, meaning that if you kickstart the Testosterone cycle at the wrong time (afternoon, evening, or nighttime) you run the risk of your energy levels being absolutely fucked and experiencing severe fatigue. I haven't experienced this but that is mainly because I saw other people online who had, so I thought I'd spread the word.
I also advise you up your protein intake very early after starting T. This will encourage the most effective fat redistribution. I do this via protein shakes. Also eating foods like ice cream increases likelihood of effective body fat redistribution.
Increased hunger got more persistent and I ate a lot more than I usually would.
First signs of increased facial hair growth. This is in the form of the tiniest most whiskery moustache ever, but it is much longer than any previous facial hair.
Increase in chest hair that is much darker in colour than before.
My girlfriend also told me my voice sounded slightly deeper. I hasn't dropped, but it's more like the Testosterone has encouraged me to speak from a lower level of what my range already was before (if that makes sense).
Moustache was slightly longer.
I noticed much darker and longer arm and leg hair.
I hope this helps someone!!!
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