Hi! I am currently looking into getting HRT for my transition, and I think that I might have some real problems with the checkups. I have a crazy fear of needles, so when I heard that one can get the hormones using anything but needles (gels, patches, pills, probably some other methods too), I was incredibly happy. I was like -YES thank you scientists that I don’t need to become unconcious while getting my HRT!-. But then I started researching some of what happens when you take those drugs, and I found out about checkups. Now, see, that. THAT! Is very very very scary. I do not have porblems with body checkups, no problem with any sort of that, but NEEDLES!? NOOO! I can not do needles, no, never in my life. When I got circumsized (for medial reasons, not religious) even after taking some -calming down pills- I was still shaking while getting my injections. After about one minute of the injection, my body starts piercing everywhere and I usually completely use my sight and my ability to hear. Also crazy amounts of nausea and stress come up a lot. By now, just thinking about em makes me start to breath heavily (I am breathing like that right now, shoot dang).

So yeeah how necessary would it be to maybe get my blood checked out or something like that? I really really do not want to be subjected to T anymore but also, oof, needles are also kina a death sentence in my head.

  • Good Girl [she/they]M
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    13 months ago

    If they’re just checking hormone levels you don’t need to fast afaik.

    My endo always specifies they’re non-fasting blood tests.

    • cowboycrustation [he/him]M
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      13 months ago

      I’m on testosterone HRT, so they typically wanna monitor my hemoglobin, blood lipid, and cholesterol levels because testosterone can affect those things negatively. You usually need to fast for those things. It’ll definitely vary what blood tests you get assigned based on your doctor, hormone you’re taking, how long you’ve been on it, and previous health history.