Here's a bonus video on the painting in this video, Advent! (Also, Marcel Duchamp, my own woes and regrets... I die at the end 🪦) nebula.tv/videos/lilyalexandre-the-worlds-burning-lets-look-at-some-cool-art Nebula! 40% off with my link! go.nebula.tv/lilyalexandre
Bit of a disclaimer on the "tell your doctor, it'll be fine", in the UK they've been threatening to send the social services after people - so be really sure to be in a good place. Also, GPs have started actively dropping support for trans patients even if they've gone the official route, so if the doctor is currently helping unwittingly, then maybe don't rock that boat unless it's necessary.
Just wanted to note re: the law for US-based transmascs. Testosterone is schedule 3 federally but in some states like New York it’s schedule 2 which makes possession much more serious. If you do trades in schedule 2 states you definitely need to do them on Signal or other encrypted platforms as it is scheduled the same as m3th and h3roin. Do not depend on the idea that something that’s illegal but rarely enforced will remain so. Protect your peace and your privacy.
Hi Lily! I was on patches for 5 months, and I’d like to add a small note to that conversation. A niche, but ultimately for me deal-breaking, downside was the patch dump. The patches I had access to were heat-activated, meaning if they were exposed to heat in excess of normal body temperatures, the entire week’s dose could be “dumped” into my body at once. I had this risk confirmed the hard way when after a lovely hot bath I found myself feeling VERY swoony and weepy. (Specifically, as my partner liked to tease me about, I was crying in their arms asking them to tell me my ass is fat.) First, this caused me to burn through my supply faster than prescribed, and at least once I ran out of stock a while before my pharmacy was allowed to refill me. Second, for a lady whose self-care regimen relies on sumptuous hot baths, I found this intolerable, so I faced my fears and switched to injections!
My dad (cis) just started taking testosterone bc he has energy issues and I got to show him how to inject it lol, we’re on literally the same medication even the same concentration, if United States access goes sideways I could see having any allied older men in your life getting a testosterone cypionate prescription being a potential work around
Just a warning for the girls who don't heed Lily's warning about looking up interactions between your preferred hormone therapy and other drugs, PLEASE look up the interactions between HRT and other drugs. It is super easy to accidentally take something that your choice of hormones interacts with, and it's a really easy accident that can be prevented with a little research.
Just started watching but thanks for saying that diy is done “usually without doctor guiding you along” since there are some Russian diyers who work with t-friendly endocrinologists. Saying this to remind people that regardless of laws both trans people AND ALLIES will still be here. Gonna return to the video now
Everyone should be concerned about their hormones. It's something all humans have, no matter what they believe. Trans people and everbody else deserves access to HRT. Oh, and most men don't know that taking testosterone for a deficiency while older, is HRT lol. I take it myself and a lot of men think it's just taking a steroid or that we are NOT doing the same thing as the trans community. We most certainly are and it should be legal for everyone to get hormone treatment.
i have tons of friends overseas and have been especially close to those in eastern europe. diy is the norm there and by god, they exist and have existed for longer than "professional medical" hrt. diy is awesome.
Hi, medical science phD here, the general reason to use a suppository rather than an oral pill, is that stuff absorbed through the rectum does not go through the liver before going into the rest of your body (unlike stuff absorbed from stomach or intestines). Thus, if the drug is usually broken down in the liver, doing a suppository will effectively result in a higher availability/concentration in the body. Now I have no clue about where hormones are broken down, but this is just general info. It also prevents stomach acidity destroying the drug if acid is bad for it.
I had NEVER considered puberty blockers as a compromise but the moment you said it it made complete sense. I'd always thought of puberty blockers for their role in hormone suppression, but wow yeah it being a tool to inconvenience trans people further also makes sense.
I asked about this on the R/Ftm thread and they deleted my post for transmed/tucute idealogy when my entire question was "What are the HRT internet cafes currently? I am in the US and want to stock up in case of a change in administration" Dumb as shit.
I immediately downloaded this video when I saw it 2hrs after release, since I figured it wouldn’t be up long. Finally got around to start watching today, and, lo and behold, it was gone from my feed. So I guess it must be stirring up trouble already to be moved to link only access so quickly.
I used to find it strange that people went diy in my country. If they lived in a place where transitioning was impossible, i guessed that i could understand their choices. But in a country like mine with - what i thought to be - a robust transgender healthcare system, there should be no need for it. I used to think i was better than others because i was willing to work with the “legal” way of transitioning. And then my doctor ghosted me, and after having to email them many times i finally got a response: my supposed “6 month” wait for hrt had turned into 3 years. My appointments had to be scheduled this way, and there was no other way of doing things. It had to be 3 years. And now i have a bitcoin wallet.
Do you go DIY, or do you sign up on the 10 year waiting list to do it officially.... and then still go DIY because you can't wait and you've wanted this since you were 2
As a biologist and trans person, i'm always skeptical of self-medicating. But, currently i'm in a public health-care line for HRT in brazil and what usually has a 6 months waiting line, is already 2 years long for me. As i get older, i understand more and more the desperation some of us experience to DIY a HRT. Each day I see my body changing more and more because of testosterone, and there's nothing i can actually do except wait or go illegal. This video came just in time as I decided yesterday to let my beard grow, because i'm tired of fighting against my body alone. Thank you, Lily, I think. I'm even more internally confused now.
I appreciate the intensity of research behind this video. I also acknowledge and commend the complexity behind the ethical dilemma that comes with this topic that you and your team wrestled with throughout the process. This is a difficult, yet necessary, reality for so many people. Thank you for helping keep those in need as informed as you can.
I started HRT doing DIY for about 5 years, which I learned about on a DIY HRT Yahoo email group (and that sentence makes me feel super old), and agree with everything in this. Getting it through a doctor is better in theory, as long as your doctor doesn't suck, but DIY is such a great option if a prescription isn't readily available for any reason. It's awesome that more people will learn about that option through this video.
Love this!! Thanks for destigmatizing the discussion on this stuff. As a transmasc it's been really difficult finding info on my own, so I second making buddies in your local community!
Likely (but may depend on your supplier) that the T you bought has cottonseed oil. But reach out to your supplier to be sure, especially if allergies are involved!!
In my country (UK) HRT is insanely hard to get a prescription for (we're talking an 8-15 year wait and that's only going up) so I got it through DIY. Best decision I ever made. I have a great community of trans people around me to support me and make sure everything I do is fully safe and I know how to oversee my own care. If anyone ends up without any means of getting HRT - I recommend it. The community looks out for itself. There are sites with verified HRT sellers (I won't leave any links here)
Downloading this video as quick as I can, thank you for making it If I lose my HRT, things will not be good. I don't want to be su*c*dal again. Much love to all fellow trans and non-binary sisters, brothers, and siblings out there ❤
I did DIY as a minor for nearly 2 years without anyone knowing until it became very obvious I was on HRT. It absolutely saved my life and allowed me to pass before I could even legally acquire hormones without parental consent. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT MY FIRST CHOICE, but when systems like in the UK or laws like in the US or parents like an individual choice prevent a person from accessing healthcare, the risks of not acquiring any care often outweigh the risks of acquiring potentially flawed care, thank you for sharing awarenesses about this topic, and here's a comment for the algorithm.
Please consider also posting this video on other sites as YT is making it hard to download a copy. There are many needs for offshore and/or underground chemists and drug flows. It would be good to have above ground and underground underwriter testing facilities to ensure we are getting what we are ordering.
I'm so glad I'll be a minor for half of his presidency so I don't have to worry about this since I won't be transitioning medically for a while but this is really scary
Great video, but DIY IS badass. To shun social norms, take your healthcare into your own hands, and inject yourself with hormones you sourced illicitly is tragic, but it’s also badass.
people are gonna be mad about this video but I welcome it. it's important. I've been spreading the info and helping people through the process but I can't reach everyone. and even just combatting the myths around it is a great service to everyone
Wish I had gone the DIY HRT route instead of being gatekept for 3 years and watching testosterone slowly ruin my body🥲 They’ll keep assuring you that you just need to wait “a little longer” without ever saying how long. I might have passed today if I had done that. I would have been on HRT for 6 years soon instead of 3. I will never pass now because I was gatekept and didn’t know well enough to DIY.
Before starting my medical transition, I moved to Sweden a few years back to get away from the US' rapid descent into fascism and the declining quality of safety and care for trans people. Unfortunately, I found the Swedish system for getting gender affirming care to be insufficient and horribly bureaucratic, so I decided to go with DIY. It's been so easy and made me so happy to be able to just *have* HRT without the bullshit process of affirming that I'm trans or needing some invisible board of admins deem whether or not I'm trans enough to deserve HRT. I'd recommend it to anyone who's having any difficulty accessing care.
this is also extremely important for the general public not only in the usa, but the international community. so many of us can only access hrt via diy. thank you
My doctor didn’t want to take a baseline hormone blood test before starting my estrodiol. I asked her why and she said it’s not necessary. I thought that was kind of odd. Thanks for confirming that I’m not the only one who sees something wrong with this!
12:30 literally the only trans person that was able to start hrt in my small town was basically ran out. The only thing left on the wall of her was her school plaque of her scholarship. The nearest city with a public queer community is an hour away and i cant get there often. The joys of rual Iowa
As someone with access- I know for a fact if my access had be denied or is ever removed, I would be doing the very same diy-ing. The stigma is only beneficial to those who seek to limit the amount of people allowed to live as themself.
PSA: Some pharmaceutical companies have slightly modified their formula/the preservative they use in their testosterone phials in the last few years. The new formula causes allergic reactions for a few people, including me. I had to switch to T-gel after having repeated severe inflammation lasting for weeks at a time, especially with intramuscular administration. Sub-q worked a bit better, but was still agonizing for a week or so. If you start injectable T, be careful with it and maybe start with smaller, more frequent doses instead of larger depot injections. I don't want to fearmonger at all, just wanting to let you guys know.
wait...a lot of universities let students run there own experiments on science equipment. When I was at uni doing my orientation we got to see the electron microscope. We were told that if we had a use for it we could just go talk to the prof and they would get you set up, even if we were not in a science major. Somebody at a uni must have mass spec access.
Injections without blockers is the way to go. Cheapest, least side effects, and extremely effective. The endo's ive spoken to have also said the idea that you shouldn't start out with it is unfounded.
unfortunately, since I want to go on T after top surgery, I can't DIY since that'll literally get me sent to prison for being in illegal possession of a Schedule III controlled substance. I'm glad you're able to get your estrogen tho :)
I cannot imagine the stress and fear trans people must be feeling right now. Im privileged enough to be a lesbian in a blue state, and if im worried i can’t imagine what our trans siblings feel. If you have trans loved ones, please support them in these times. We’re always gonna be here for you guys :)
Anastrozole lowers estrogen. It's generally used to treat breast cancer, but is often used in conjunction with T for trans men. It's helped balance out things for me. It's one of the few things that this video is missing. I wouldn't go DIY unless you already know what you're doing with these medicines. If you aren't familiar, become intimately so as soon as possible. Go through docs first if you can. If it goes bad, do the thing.
Small detail I think is important to keep in mind about blood testing: the timing for these tests can be much more sensitive than just "which day", especially if you are using forms that are faster metabolising like daily estradiol pills. While doing my initial HRT trials with my doctor, we had a very confusing result where my E levels were nearly half as high after no change to prescription. It turned out that the previous time I'd taken my blood test, I did it right after my appointment (so ~2:00-3:00pm; roughly halfway between my twice-daily doses), whereas usually I had been doing them early in the morning just before my usual morning dose. So rule of thumb: once you decide the appropriate time to test, be sure to keep that timing consistent. You want the results you are seeing to be comparable to each other, so stick with that specific time / day after dosage as best as possible.
I've been on DIY test for 7 months and have made and circulated a guide to accessing HRT. Fearmongering is rampant so I'm glad this is a resource. Never share sources directly unless you know that person well.
I looked into this and I get the impression that these things are usually noted in people who are taking very, very high doses - doses that are never used (or at least never SUPPOSED to be used) for HRT. I think the risk for trans people is overstated - but you’re right, it still exists! Thanks for commenting
Fun fact: My grandma who is rather a conservative does acknowledge that trans people do exist, my mom did go to school with a trans girl (she dressed like a girl, used fem pronouns, had long hair and identified as a girl) during PRL in poland (it means we wre under influence of ZSRR) So we always did exist ^^
Not gonna lie, I completely brain farted at the end of this video when she said "2-9 months, pregnancy style!" and thought it was a pregnancy announcement!
My heart hurts for all of you. Stay safe, keep being strong, and I promise to use my voice to support of all of your right to live freely, proudly, and openly
As someone who’s been on injections for over a year, it is worth mentioning that it is best practice to always wash your hands before handlign any needles and to use alcohol to wipe off the top of the bottle and the injection site (before injecting) just as good sanitary practice. Also in regards to whether this video should exist or not, I believe it should. Not all trans people have access to friends or community who can help them find these resources and they deserve this information as well. Also conservatives will always dig for and weaponize this information regardless of how publicly available it is.
i love what you said at the start about how we talk about DIY. some people's options are limited. the amount of research i had to do on my own, with little or no outside help because i had no choice was wild. and then i end up knowing more recent information than the doctor i saw when i finally got a prescription 🙃 eventually i went back to DIY just because i have more control. trans healthcare is such a wild west and access is so spotty. we should be more accepting and understanding of those that choose to DIY and information about it should be more widely available.
I definitely started the video off a bit upset that this was being talked about in public, but re-evaluated after you mentioned that this is already on the right wing's radar. I think we're at-risk enough of a crackdown that it makes sense to talk about it now, so that everyone's familiar with DIY channels and what could change legally and don't need to scramble if that day comes
ironically, I diy mainly because I have bad social anxiety and I was always nervous about talking to my doctor. and I kept going off HRT solely due to anxiety. being able to just do everything myself is so much easier
Not sure if anyone else here has talked about medroxy yet but I've been on it for years and only have good things to say about it. But I've also never met another trans woman taking medroxy
This is fabulous. I'm so grateful for Lily's research and share. This is going to mean a lot to a lot of people who anticipate abuse, harassment, and arrest simply for existing.
We live in such mindblowing awful times, to all trans people around the globe be strong. I always just bought my hrt on the drugstore or their website no questions asked since I started my transition in 2012. Doctors were always quite incompetent I talked with the "best endocrinologists" and they answered with "yep, that's okay, here are some bloodwork to check if it's fine". Sad that I will never live abroad because of hrt and adhd medication, gave up on this dream
I spent 6 years trying to get through the hoops to get treatment. In the end, they still denied me. I'm currently happily tranistioned and have been for 6 years. But I started this process at a time when it was still the law that in order to qualify for treatment, you had to agree to be sterilized first. This was important because the degenerates had to be stopped from procreating.... yeah, it was eugenics.
I'm not trans and have never needed hormones, but I watched this entire video (on Nebula) because the topic was actually really interesting; learning about something I'm not otherwise familiar with. I'll bug my friends who know about YT video "saving" for this one, and will do what I can to spread the word to my friends who might need this in the future. Thank you.
Before cannabis was proven safe and effective by actual use people actually used it and like alcohol enjoyed it. In some states in the United States it's still a crime to choose your own conscience religion or pursuit of happiness. Like here in Indiana.
Commenting to boost the algo. Love your vids Lily! I’m in the uk and started HRT 8 years ago. Started with a private place called GenderGP and I was extremely lucky to get shared care with my NHS GP after a few months. This meant they did my bloods + blocker (Prostap injection), and some sketch looking but official online pharmacies dished my GenderGP prescription. I think theyve struggled with the influx and I don’t think they’re really reccomendable as good care now, but they were fantastic 8 years ago. I was on the NHS waiting list for about 3-4 years and then moved to full NHS care. If you want to DIY, take it slow, do it safe, and check your bloods regularly. Dont try to rush for the end game, you’re only putting yourself at more risk. Its an amazing journey of new experiences and learning as you transition, you’ll get there eventually. And remember you are not alone!
Thank you so much for this! It's illuminating to discover that DIY for trans men is more attainable and potentially less felonious than I had assumed. You know. Just in case. [ed. to add] You also solved a years-long mystery for me, which is why my first entire year on HRT as a cream (dihydrotestosterone) did absolutely nothing, while switching to cypionate got changes rolling 3 months in.
Even though I have a prescription, I just started DIY. And that's because the form of estrogen that fits me best isn't even available officially: estradiol undecylate injections. A small injection you can do yourself, only needed once a month!
11 months on patches, and my experience has been great! Even though I am quite active my patches have good contact and stay on. I chose this form because I'm old and it sounded like the least risk. The only folx I've talked with who disliked patches, just put them on without proper preparation. It helps to remove all hair, wash skin, and wipe with alcohol to reduce skin oils. Place where folds or wrinkles in skin won't result in the patch puckering up. Apply patches directly to skin, or use tweezers - again reduce oils by not touching the patch surface with fingers. But once it's on, apply gentle pressure to activate the adhesive.
Here's a bonus video on the painting in this video, Advent! (Also, Marcel Duchamp, my own woes and regrets... I die at the end 🪦) nebula.tv/videos/lilyalexandre-the-worlds-burning-lets-look-at-some-cool-art
Nebula! 40% off with my link! go.nebula.tv/lilyalexandre
Not me already in the middle of downloading the video when I hear "By all means, rip a copy of this video and keep a copy on your hard drive"
Bit of a disclaimer on the "tell your doctor, it'll be fine", in the UK they've been threatening to send the social services after people - so be really sure to be in a good place. Also, GPs have started actively dropping support for trans patients even if they've gone the official route, so if the doctor is currently helping unwittingly, then maybe don't rock that boat unless it's necessary.
all this fucking time i thought diy hrt was going full walter white and cooking some hrt yourself holy shit
In my country (Russia) where all trans health care (even for adults) is prohibited, DIY HRT is the only option for the people like me.
Just wanted to note re: the law for US-based transmascs. Testosterone is schedule 3 federally but in some states like New York it’s schedule 2 which makes possession much more serious. If you do trades in schedule 2 states you definitely need to do them on Signal or other encrypted platforms as it is scheduled the same as m3th and h3roin. Do not depend on the idea that something that’s illegal but rarely enforced will remain so. Protect your peace and your privacy.
Hi Lily! I was on patches for 5 months, and I’d like to add a small note to that conversation. A niche, but ultimately for me deal-breaking, downside was the patch dump. The patches I had access to were heat-activated, meaning if they were exposed to heat in excess of normal body temperatures, the entire week’s dose could be “dumped” into my body at once. I had this risk confirmed the hard way when after a lovely hot bath I found myself feeling VERY swoony and weepy. (Specifically, as my partner liked to tease me about, I was crying in their arms asking them to tell me my ass is fat.) First, this caused me to burn through my supply faster than prescribed, and at least once I ran out of stock a while before my pharmacy was allowed to refill me. Second, for a lady whose self-care regimen relies on sumptuous hot baths, I found this intolerable, so I faced my fears and switched to injections!
My dad (cis) just started taking testosterone bc he has energy issues and I got to show him how to inject it lol, we’re on literally the same medication even the same concentration, if United States access goes sideways I could see having any allied older men in your life getting a testosterone cypionate prescription being a potential work around
Just a warning for the girls who don't heed Lily's warning about looking up interactions between your preferred hormone therapy and other drugs, PLEASE look up the interactions between HRT and other drugs. It is super easy to accidentally take something that your choice of hormones interacts with, and it's a really easy accident that can be prevented with a little research.
Danke!
Just started watching but thanks for saying that diy is done “usually without doctor guiding you along” since there are some Russian diyers who work with t-friendly endocrinologists. Saying this to remind people that regardless of laws both trans people AND ALLIES will still be here. Gonna return to the video now
Everyone should be concerned about their hormones. It's something all humans have, no matter what they believe. Trans people and everbody else deserves access to HRT. Oh, and most men don't know that taking testosterone for a deficiency while older, is HRT lol. I take it myself and a lot of men think it's just taking a steroid or that we are NOT doing the same thing as the trans community. We most certainly are and it should be legal for everyone to get hormone treatment.
i have tons of friends overseas and have been especially close to those in eastern europe. diy is the norm there and by god, they exist and have existed for longer than "professional medical" hrt. diy is awesome.
DIYers: take a daily low dose aspirin to reduce your stroke risk, please.
60yo transman here:
my Dr has me on a blood thinner to reduce stroke risk & has agreed with my 'aging male' reduced dosing sched of .04 T-cyp @ 10 days subQ (into my belly fat)
We don't want strokes.
I've had one. It $u©Ked.
Stay hydrated.
Stay calm.
It's like the 80's, Again.
diy saved my life and this video is incredibly important, thank you lily
A world without us has never and will never exist
Hi, medical science phD here, the general reason to use a suppository rather than an oral pill, is that stuff absorbed through the rectum does not go through the liver before going into the rest of your body (unlike stuff absorbed from stomach or intestines). Thus, if the drug is usually broken down in the liver, doing a suppository will effectively result in a higher availability/concentration in the body. Now I have no clue about where hormones are broken down, but this is just general info.
It also prevents stomach acidity destroying the drug if acid is bad for it.
I had NEVER considered puberty blockers as a compromise but the moment you said it it made complete sense. I'd always thought of puberty blockers for their role in hormone suppression, but wow yeah it being a tool to inconvenience trans people further also makes sense.
I asked about this on the R/Ftm thread and they deleted my post for transmed/tucute idealogy when my entire question was "What are the HRT internet cafes currently? I am in the US and want to stock up in case of a change in administration"
Dumb as shit.
I immediately downloaded this video when I saw it 2hrs after release, since I figured it wouldn’t be up long. Finally got around to start watching today, and, lo and behold, it was gone from my feed. So I guess it must be stirring up trouble already to be moved to link only access so quickly.
Lemme just save this and put a copy everywhere...
I used to find it strange that people went diy in my country. If they lived in a place where transitioning was impossible, i guessed that i could understand their choices. But in a country like mine with - what i thought to be - a robust transgender healthcare system, there should be no need for it. I used to think i was better than others because i was willing to work with the “legal” way of transitioning. And then my doctor ghosted me, and after having to email them many times i finally got a response: my supposed “6 month” wait for hrt had turned into 3 years. My appointments had to be scheduled this way, and there was no other way of doing things. It had to be 3 years. And now i have a bitcoin wallet.
Do you go DIY, or do you sign up on the 10 year waiting list to do it officially.... and then still go DIY because you can't wait and you've wanted this since you were 2
uploaded to internet archive
As a biologist and trans person, i'm always skeptical of self-medicating. But, currently i'm in a public health-care line for HRT in brazil and what usually has a 6 months waiting line, is already 2 years long for me. As i get older, i understand more and more the desperation some of us experience to DIY a HRT. Each day I see my body changing more and more because of testosterone, and there's nothing i can actually do except wait or go illegal.
This video came just in time as I decided yesterday to let my beard grow, because i'm tired of fighting against my body alone. Thank you, Lily, I think. I'm even more internally confused now.
I appreciate the intensity of research behind this video.
I also acknowledge and commend the complexity behind the ethical dilemma that comes with this topic that you and your team wrestled with throughout the process. This is a difficult, yet necessary, reality for so many people. Thank you for helping keep those in need as informed as you can.
If you're late taking E every time you're still consistent
43:30 Also, DHT drives up risk of prostate cancer, though I'm not sure if it screws up something else if you lack a prostate.
Quite frequently T uses nut oils as a suspension fluid, just a head up for nut allergy people!
what happens if I microdose or pause for 3 to 6 months to preserve my bloodline at a sperm bank? 🤔 I'm 6 months HRT.
I started HRT doing DIY for about 5 years, which I learned about on a DIY HRT Yahoo email group (and that sentence makes me feel super old), and agree with everything in this.
Getting it through a doctor is better in theory, as long as your doctor doesn't suck, but DIY is such a great option if a prescription isn't readily available for any reason. It's awesome that more people will learn about that option through this video.
Love this!! Thanks for destigmatizing the discussion on this stuff. As a transmasc it's been really difficult finding info on my own, so I second making buddies in your local community!
Likely (but may depend on your supplier) that the T you bought has cottonseed oil. But reach out to your supplier to be sure, especially if allergies are involved!!
6:00 I wish I knew how to download videos 😔
In my country (UK) HRT is insanely hard to get a prescription for (we're talking an 8-15 year wait and that's only going up) so I got it through DIY. Best decision I ever made. I have a great community of trans people around me to support me and make sure everything I do is fully safe and I know how to oversee my own care.
If anyone ends up without any means of getting HRT - I recommend it. The community looks out for itself. There are sites with verified HRT sellers (I won't leave any links here)
Downloading this video as quick as I can, thank you for making it
If I lose my HRT, things will not be good. I don't want to be su*c*dal again.
Much love to all fellow trans and non-binary sisters, brothers, and siblings out there ❤
Alright, huge video for me! Cool that you're covering this topic, cheers! 🌻
That's what DIY HRT is? Just controlling your own dosage? I always thought it meant like, synthesizing your own
As an exec of a queer-centric college club... This is about to get shared *so* hard.
I did DIY as a minor for nearly 2 years without anyone knowing until it became very obvious I was on HRT. It absolutely saved my life and allowed me to pass before I could even legally acquire hormones without parental consent. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT MY FIRST CHOICE, but when systems like in the UK or laws like in the US or parents like an individual choice prevent a person from accessing healthcare, the risks of not acquiring any care often outweigh the risks of acquiring potentially flawed care, thank you for sharing awarenesses about this topic, and here's a comment for the algorithm.
Please consider also posting this video on other sites as YT is making it hard to download a copy. There are many needs for offshore and/or underground chemists and drug flows. It would be good to have above ground and underground underwriter testing facilities to ensure we are getting what we are ordering.
I'm so glad I'll be a minor for half of his presidency so I don't have to worry about this since I won't be transitioning medically for a while but this is really scary
Great video, but DIY IS badass. To shun social norms, take your healthcare into your own hands, and inject yourself with hormones you sourced illicitly is tragic, but it’s also badass.
people are gonna be mad about this video but I welcome it. it's important. I've been spreading the info and helping people through the process but I can't reach everyone. and even just combatting the myths around it is a great service to everyone
Wish I had gone the DIY HRT route instead of being gatekept for 3 years and watching testosterone slowly ruin my body🥲
They’ll keep assuring you that you just need to wait “a little longer” without ever saying how long.
I might have passed today if I had done that. I would have been on HRT for 6 years soon instead of 3. I will never pass now because I was gatekept and didn’t know well enough to DIY.
Before starting my medical transition, I moved to Sweden a few years back to get away from the US' rapid descent into fascism and the declining quality of safety and care for trans people. Unfortunately, I found the Swedish system for getting gender affirming care to be insufficient and horribly bureaucratic, so I decided to go with DIY. It's been so easy and made me so happy to be able to just *have* HRT without the bullshit process of affirming that I'm trans or needing some invisible board of admins deem whether or not I'm trans enough to deserve HRT.
I'd recommend it to anyone who's having any difficulty accessing care.
this is also extremely important for the general public not only in the usa, but the international community. so many of us can only access hrt via diy. thank you
this is important
My doctor didn’t want to take a baseline hormone blood test before starting my estrodiol. I asked her why and she said it’s not necessary. I thought that was kind of odd. Thanks for confirming that I’m not the only one who sees something wrong with this!
ive have been DIY'ing for 4 years because I don't trust the government with my body.
12:30 literally the only trans person that was able to start hrt in my small town was basically ran out. The only thing left on the wall of her was her school plaque of her scholarship. The nearest city with a public queer community is an hour away and i cant get there often. The joys of rual Iowa
49:10 Brazil mention
for some reason I was expecting a chemistry video lol
As someone with access- I know for a fact if my access had be denied or is ever removed, I would be doing the very same diy-ing. The stigma is only beneficial to those who seek to limit the amount of people allowed to live as themself.
PSA: Some pharmaceutical companies have slightly modified their formula/the preservative they use in their testosterone phials in the last few years.
The new formula causes allergic reactions for a few people, including me. I had to switch to T-gel after having repeated severe inflammation lasting for weeks at a time, especially with intramuscular administration. Sub-q worked a bit better, but was still agonizing for a week or so.
If you start injectable T, be careful with it and maybe start with smaller, more frequent doses instead of larger depot injections.
I don't want to fearmonger at all, just wanting to let you guys know.
wait...a lot of universities let students run there own experiments on science equipment. When I was at uni doing my orientation we got to see the electron microscope. We were told that if we had a use for it we could just go talk to the prof and they would get you set up, even if we were not in a science major. Somebody at a uni must have mass spec access.
43:00 How do you apply the T Gel on your skin subcutaneously or intramuscularly? I think that might be a mistake, unless I am not reading that right.
Omg, oh no! 😱 You’re right I copied the T injections slide and forgot to change that part, thanks for catching it
Injections without blockers is the way to go. Cheapest, least side effects, and extremely effective. The endo's ive spoken to have also said the idea that you shouldn't start out with it is unfounded.
unfortunately, since I want to go on T after top surgery, I can't DIY since that'll literally get me sent to prison for being in illegal possession of a Schedule III controlled substance. I'm glad you're able to get your estrogen tho :)
This video is literally going to save lives.
I cannot imagine the stress and fear trans people must be feeling right now. Im privileged enough to be a lesbian in a blue state, and if im worried i can’t imagine what our trans siblings feel. If you have trans loved ones, please support them in these times. We’re always gonna be here for you guys :)
Many vendors have prior professional experience required to make this stuff
Anastrozole lowers estrogen. It's generally used to treat breast cancer, but is often used in conjunction with T for trans men. It's helped balance out things for me. It's one of the few things that this video is missing.
I wouldn't go DIY unless you already know what you're doing with these medicines. If you aren't familiar, become intimately so as soon as possible. Go through docs first if you can. If it goes bad, do the thing.
Small detail I think is important to keep in mind about blood testing: the timing for these tests can be much more sensitive than just "which day", especially if you are using forms that are faster metabolising like daily estradiol pills. While doing my initial HRT trials with my doctor, we had a very confusing result where my E levels were nearly half as high after no change to prescription. It turned out that the previous time I'd taken my blood test, I did it right after my appointment (so ~2:00-3:00pm; roughly halfway between my twice-daily doses), whereas usually I had been doing them early in the morning just before my usual morning dose.
So rule of thumb: once you decide the appropriate time to test, be sure to keep that timing consistent. You want the results you are seeing to be comparable to each other, so stick with that specific time / day after dosage as best as possible.
So which one of y'all has the mass spectrometer?
I've been on DIY test for 7 months and have made and circulated a guide to accessing HRT. Fearmongering is rampant so I'm glad this is a resource. Never share sources directly unless you know that person well.
PSA: bicalutamide has a small risk of liver and lung toxicity, it’s very important to monitor with blood tests for the first year of taking bica
I looked into this and I get the impression that these things are usually noted in people who are taking very, very high doses - doses that are never used (or at least never SUPPOSED to be used) for HRT. I think the risk for trans people is overstated - but you’re right, it still exists! Thanks for commenting
Fun fact: My grandma who is rather a conservative does acknowledge that trans people do exist, my mom did go to school with a trans girl (she dressed like a girl, used fem pronouns, had long hair and identified as a girl) during PRL in poland (it means we wre under influence of ZSRR) So we always did exist ^^
Not gonna lie, I completely brain farted at the end of this video when she said "2-9 months, pregnancy style!" and thought it was a pregnancy announcement!
This video provided great info with incredible, perfect timing- thank you!
My heart hurts for all of you. Stay safe, keep being strong, and I promise to use my voice to support of all of your right to live freely, proudly, and openly
how do i download the video? online youtube to mp4 sites dont work anymore
This video couldn't have come at a better time. Exacly when I started panicking 💀 thanks, lily, love all of your content.
As someone who’s been on injections for over a year, it is worth mentioning that it is best practice to always wash your hands before handlign any needles and to use alcohol to wipe off the top of the bottle and the injection site (before injecting) just as good sanitary practice.
Also in regards to whether this video should exist or not, I believe it should. Not all trans people have access to friends or community who can help them find these resources and they deserve this information as well. Also conservatives will always dig for and weaponize this information regardless of how publicly available it is.
I really appreciate the 90s VHS informational tape aesthetic in the graphics
Imma be real here. For the longest time I thought DIY meant breaking out the beakers and cooking that up yourself like you’re Walter White 😅
i love what you said at the start about how we talk about DIY. some people's options are limited. the amount of research i had to do on my own, with little or no outside help because i had no choice was wild. and then i end up knowing more recent information than the doctor i saw when i finally got a prescription 🙃 eventually i went back to DIY just because i have more control.
trans healthcare is such a wild west and access is so spotty. we should be more accepting and understanding of those that choose to DIY and information about it should be more widely available.
I definitely started the video off a bit upset that this was being talked about in public, but re-evaluated after you mentioned that this is already on the right wing's radar. I think we're at-risk enough of a crackdown that it makes sense to talk about it now, so that everyone's familiar with DIY channels and what could change legally and don't need to scramble if that day comes
To any customs officers watching this: "These aren't the HRTs you're looking for." 👋✨🤫
ironically, I diy mainly because I have bad social anxiety and I was always nervous about talking to my doctor. and I kept going off HRT solely due to anxiety. being able to just do everything myself is so much easier
Not sure if anyone else here has talked about medroxy yet but I've been on it for years and only have good things to say about it. But I've also never met another trans woman taking medroxy
This is just an amazing video
EVERY TRANS PERSON IN THE US NEEDS TO WATCH
Reminder please don't share online sources in public spaces.
This is fabulous. I'm so grateful for Lily's research and share. This is going to mean a lot to a lot of people who anticipate abuse, harassment, and arrest simply for existing.
We live in such mindblowing awful times, to all trans people around the globe be strong. I always just bought my hrt on the drugstore or their website no questions asked since I started my transition in 2012. Doctors were always quite incompetent I talked with the "best endocrinologists" and they answered with "yep, that's okay, here are some bloodwork to check if it's fine". Sad that I will never live abroad because of hrt and adhd medication, gave up on this dream
One minute in, and I ripped the video to store on my hard drive for safety. Great that you mention it later in the video!
I spent 6 years trying to get through the hoops to get treatment. In the end, they still denied me.
I'm currently happily tranistioned and have been for 6 years.
But I started this process at a time when it was still the law that in order to qualify for treatment, you had to agree to be sterilized first. This was important because the degenerates had to be stopped from procreating.... yeah, it was eugenics.
I'm not trans and have never needed hormones, but I watched this entire video (on Nebula) because the topic was actually really interesting; learning about something I'm not otherwise familiar with. I'll bug my friends who know about YT video "saving" for this one, and will do what I can to spread the word to my friends who might need this in the future. Thank you.
Thanks Lily, when I was 16 or 17 this was the only way I could get hormones and it saved my life
Before cannabis was proven safe and effective by actual use people actually used it and like alcohol enjoyed it. In some states in the United States it's still a crime to choose your own conscience religion or pursuit of happiness. Like here in Indiana.
you're very brave thank you I'm not trans, I just want to learn
Commenting to boost the algo. Love your vids Lily! I’m in the uk and started HRT 8 years ago. Started with a private place called GenderGP and I was extremely lucky to get shared care with my NHS GP after a few months. This meant they did my bloods + blocker (Prostap injection), and some sketch looking but official online pharmacies dished my GenderGP prescription. I think theyve struggled with the influx and I don’t think they’re really reccomendable as good care now, but they were fantastic 8 years ago. I was on the NHS waiting list for about 3-4 years and then moved to full NHS care.
If you want to DIY, take it slow, do it safe, and check your bloods regularly. Dont try to rush for the end game, you’re only putting yourself at more risk. Its an amazing journey of new experiences and learning as you transition, you’ll get there eventually. And remember you are not alone!
girl ur hair is so cute
Thank you so much for this! It's illuminating to discover that DIY for trans men is more attainable and potentially less felonious than I had assumed. You know. Just in case. [ed. to add] You also solved a years-long mystery for me, which is why my first entire year on HRT as a cream (dihydrotestosterone) did absolutely nothing, while switching to cypionate got changes rolling 3 months in.
Even though I have a prescription, I just started DIY. And that's because the form of estrogen that fits me best isn't even available officially: estradiol undecylate injections. A small injection you can do yourself, only needed once a month!
11 months on patches, and my experience has been great! Even though I am quite active my patches have good contact and stay on. I chose this form because I'm old and it sounded like the least risk.
The only folx I've talked with who disliked patches, just put them on without proper preparation. It helps to remove all hair, wash skin, and wipe with alcohol to reduce skin oils. Place where folds or wrinkles in skin won't result in the patch puckering up. Apply patches directly to skin, or use tweezers - again reduce oils by not touching the patch surface with fingers. But once it's on, apply gentle pressure to activate the adhesive.
Huge thanks for covering testosterone as well, much harder to find info and trans women (understandably) don’t often know much about it.
DIY is not what I thought I’d have to do, BUT once I figure it out I will have a huge win for agency over my body for good