what are ur thoughts on how diy is treated in the community? like obviously we can all do whatever we want but i just had someone tell me i obviously don’t want it enough and i shouldn’t be transitioning because i don’t want to do diy. idk i know we’re all radical but i feel like some trans people are too comfortable policing each others identities just because we don’t want to inject ourselves with unchecked hormones from the internet
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well, let me tell you a story.
In France, the most common way of getting on T is with Androtardyl. It come in 1ml ampule, not in a self-healing vial like the usamerican's testosterone cypionate, so when you open it, you have to use it right in the instant, because after that it can become contaminated and isn't safe for use anymore. But not everyone dose is 1ml at once, so it's very common practice to share an ampule between transmasc. If you find someone whose not using his full ampule, he's usually ok with sharing and you can start diy T very safely.
I had this very opportunity presented to me at 17yo. I was even proposed to do it just once, to see how I felt. I couldn't do it. I was too afraid to do it without medical supervision. I finally started T years later, just before 21yo, the proper legal way.
After I refused the proposition, I was treated by this guy as less trans. As if, somehow, it made me less dysphoric, less discriminated, less deserving of the community support and less legitimate. Didn't say anything to my face, but it was perceptible in the way he treated me before and after (we're not friend anymore btw). But my fear came from a lack of education and fearmongering both from my medical team and other people of the trans community.
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I feel like there's either a carefree attitude with diy, either this fearmongering discourse, and neither is helpful.
I like hrt, I like giving people the best access possible to hrt, I like people taking hrt. What I don't like is people living in the constant anxiety that's perhaps they're harming themselves, in the fear of the product they're putting in their body, the incertitude of what, exactly, they're doing.
But, there's still ways to do it safely. For example, to check the composition of your product, you can send it to independant labs who will finds the composition. It's common practice with drugs and steroïds. For T, I'll advise to use labs for steroïds and their test on anabolics steroïds. It can cost between 100$-300$, but seeing you will clear (or find a problem in) a supplier, it's useful for the whole community and you can ask for help in this endeavor. You can also find people having already done tests of a supplier in online bodybuilding forum, if you trust them. Some association of risk reduction can also be willing to help you cover the cost. (I can't really help more without knowing your country)
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Anyway, I think the judgment of each other transition is the worse thing we could be doing. That's a transmedicalist reflex. I'm radicaly for self determination and body autonomy, and that mean if the girliest of girl to ever girl came to me and said she's a guy, I would just believe him and support him however he needs it, even if it's not by medical transition. But for that to be a free choice, medical transition have to be free and accessible.
You don't have to do anything to be a guy enough or trans enough to me. But, if what is stopping you is fear, false belief or social pressure, I'll do everything I can to help you get past that, because I would have needed this help. And for that, dismissal is the last thing to do ! What's less reassuring that being told to get over it if we're afraid of something ? Urgh !! Information, empathie, education, that's the way to do thing. And if you don't know, well, perhaps you should get more informations instead of invalidating someone transness ! Or admit you don't have enough information and are taking a risk.
Anyway, that was a long answer, going in way to much direction, sorry >.>
