What are /r/AskMtFHRT's favorite Products & Services?

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Personally preference here. Calvin Klein makes this cotton bralette I'm currently wearing and I can't get enough of them. They feel good and look great for my 4mo HRT body. I bought it off Amazon because of lockdowns but you can find them in some stores.

(Sorry for Canada link) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B077V8J1YT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_i_V0XX0NQ2GTMWKCQ2HEQZ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I think the issue you're describing is sometimes called "strawberry legs." From what I remember the way to treat it is with chemical exfoliation. These are usually acids like salicylic acid or glycolic acid. These can be harsh on the skin if used irresponsibly, especially in areas that are exposed to sunlight. Urea is a chemical exfoliant that does not cause sun-sensitivity and actually helps to moisturize! (source) Eucerin makes a few urea containing moisturizers, the Rough and Bumpy one is probably best suited.

Check out the SkincareAddiction subreddit! Just try not to take any one person's word as gospel. As both trans and skincare communities like to say, YMMV

Get an epilator that runs on power or battery from Amazon maybe? Something kike this? There are cheaper ones but I would go with a good brand you know and trust due to the initial expense. =)

https://www.amazon.com/Braun-Silk-%C3%A9pil-Epilator-Electric-Packaging/dp/B00TI5ZN14

Breasts won't just poof back into existence, you're only 8 days in and it's going to take time both for development and for your levels to stabilize Here Also you should be injecting every 5 days, otherwise, you'll be crashing on the last 2.

But overall you're going to be okay, things take time ya know :)

Here's a better link https://mynoise.net/howToUseSoundMachines.php

Go down to the "I suffer from tinnitus" section. If you click the little "more" button on the bottom right there's a bunch more to try.

There's a lot of variation in personal preference on these. I've been on HRT for 6 months. I'd say My breasts currently are on the smaller side but prominent enough that wearing a bra helps with bouncing and just nipple tenderness lol. I am personally a fan of the Nike Victory padded sports bras. The pads are removable if you find that you don't like them.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FGY1ZD7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_8EAC6RWZE74NEQQQN6H5

I also have one Brooks Fast Forward, and really like the way that it fits. But it is not as discrete as the Nike because of the way the straps and back closure. Like someone else said I'm not sure if that matters to you or not. For me, I'm out there, and I mean I wear ladies running shorts and tank tops when I go running anyway, so lol.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071P6ZT8Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_5PY9QA3VMVRCEQN2K2R3

I have heard that Brooks Moving Comfort are some of the best sports bras out there. I don't personally own one so I can't confirm that, but, that may be a good option for you too.

Happy running 🏃🏻‍♀️

It's not something I see changing much in timelines. I'll vouch for this stuff: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07V4LPY51

It has a noticeable short-term effect at least. I'm hoping for some cumulative long term effect but I'm not sure yet.

https://www.amazon.com/Lubriderm-Advanced-Therapy-Body-Lotion/dp/B0000SW8BG/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=lubriderm&qid=1602448183&sr=8-4

Sure, I've been using this from Amazon.

I've also been adding a couple of drops of tea tree oil to the progesterone cream. Never use tea tree oil on your skin without diluting it with a carrier oil first.💕E

Thanks for that link. Early on I did order medical adhesive remover wipes from Amazon (Hollister 7760), and use them as you describe. They are amazing. Whatever glue those patches use is rather tenacious but the wipes do get it off pretty easily. Maybe I should try different wipes like you've suggested. Maybe it's a reaction of the two things together.

I have very, very fair skin, being a UK/Scandinavian reddish-blond type. The skin marking is fairly subtle, but the ring around the patch edges stays more visible. The warm water from showering makes them more visible. The good news is they do leave landmarks guiding subsequent patch placement!

I’ve had this, I think for me it was actually the adhesive from the bandaids that was irritating my skin. Not sure if you’re using bandaids but if you are you might try switching to some sensitive skin ones. I’ve been using these Nexcare ones (https://www.amazon.com/Nexcare-Sensitive-Bandages-Assorted-Boxes/dp/B075VHXQ3D) and have been having way less irritation. Still kinda a bump where I inject but I think that’s from the oil kinda staying in a bubble under the skin, and it’s not as sensitive or itchy

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Tegaderm-Transparent-Film-Dressing/dp/B000PYP5R4/ref=sr_1_7?crid=18ZG1HRNJSOB8&keywords=tegaderm&qid=1663779191&sprefix=tegaderm%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-7

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Just try it, I take a lot of long, hot showers, and it has been totally fine. They sell it at most stores as well. Make sure it is big enough to have space around the patch. I put mine just below my waistband, but above my leg crease.

As much as I hate them, Amazon Pharmacy might be really helpful for you. I have gotten my EV from them when it's not available locall y. They always have all my meds and supplies in stock. I can't comment on other online services.

Also regarding syringes, I didn't like the ones my pharmacies kept giving me. I bought this and they have been great. Needles are a different matter ofc.

https://www.amazon.com/Litetouch-Syringe-Sterile-Individually-Sealed/dp/B099NPMJDV?ref_=ast_sto_dp

When I was on patches, I invested in a big roll of tegaderm, and would cut it to size to cover the patch +0.5 of an inch or so on all sides. When properly applied (alcohol prepped skin, stretched the section where you're putting it on), it was a very strong bond that physically hurt taking off a week later. And I had no irritation from the tegaderm, and it was 100% waterproof. Oh, and your absorbtion should improve, too, since you're getting much better contact that way.

As a side benefit the stuff is incredibly useful in a first aid kit in general. Like, I can't understate how cool and comfortable this stuff is.

I'm on injections now so that's no longer a concern, but I'd start with tegaderm if I were you.

I'm pretty active, so I cover my patches with transparent medical tape (like this one). It does a great job of keeping the patches in place and as a bonus, the edges don't develop the same sort of gunk in the adhesive as the patches do by themselves.

Biotin is also found in many multivitamins which will also include a bunch of other good stuff (like Vitamin D which helps a lot of things, likely including COVID19).

I take this one because gummy vitamins are awesome.

I don't see any estrogens listed in the ingredients, and it contains 20mg of USP progesterone per pump.

Higher estradiol levels aren't though to be of benefit to feminisation and could have greater risks.

de Blok et al.,2018:

>Serum estradiol levels did not predict breast development after 1 year of CHT [first quartile: 3.6 cm (95% CI, 2.7 to 4.5); second quartile: 3.2 cm (95% CI, 2.3 to 4.2); third quartile: 4.4 (95% CI, 3.5 to 5.3); and fourth quartile: 3.6 cm (95% CI, 2.7 to 4.5); Fig. 5(f)]

Meyer et al.,2020 :

>Estradiol levels (ρ−0.117; P = 0.316) had no significant influence on breast development in transwomen.

So that's the rationale for lower maintenance doses once there is no additional requirement for suppression of testosterone levels.

I'd keep hopeful in your shoes, there's a sub Reddit of people posting their regrowth and there's people there mtf and cis gender men that have been bald and got pretty much full head of hairs. my long hair hides a lot of what I'm missing probs at stage 2 baldness but I've been using finasteride and minox for 3 months and have started seeing new hair on my hairline. It's all fluffy and slow growing but will post a before and after in 3 months. I haven't had any side effects either. I would recommend getting on them both and if your really worried about side affects you can try this, I've just added it to my regime. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sulphate-Caffeine-Allantoin-Rosemary-Stimulates/dp/B00Q59B4UK&ved=2ahUKEwiOq7TZpP30AhXbEcAKHQT3C7gQFnoECA4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2_pQPVnPppMZpnkr58nOEW

Are you using the right needles? I used 27g 1 1/2" needles when I injected my gluteus was painless.

Sometimes when I look at the pictures that are posted I almost think they're fake. So yours... I'm kidding! But, my God... you have the perfect girl's body, so breasts, their rounded shape, nipples and halos. You're so feminine. What are you getting at? Anyway, I developed to a full B cup in the first few months with low doses of estradiol gel and high doses of cyproterone. Women in my family all have giant breasts, and that counts. When I started the injections, the breast growth stopped. Now I am again with gel and I noticed a slow recovery. However, I would also give back a size of my breasts if I could have the curves of your body. Breasts aren't everything. I don't say this because I have read on the web documents and statistics but because I attend groups of MTF girls... the breasts don't grow only in the first six months but can go on for 4 or more years, we are all with low doses of estradiol and we try to have a constant absorption curve, as constant as possible.

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BTW, you can buy Easy Touch syringes for less than $20 for a box of 100.

https://www.amazon.com/EasyTouch%C2%AE-U-100-27g-0-5cc-Box/dp/B081VV1PN3/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?crid=1C9T1BC654QTI&dchild=1&keywords=easy+touch+insulin+syringes&qid=1631799174&sprefix=Easy+Touch&sr=8-15

Posting this here too just in case it got buried under taffcat's comment:

plant based is the way!!!

TBH I feel like my boob growth is amazing for 4 and a half months. I'm a pretty small person but they're turning into a decent shape and I'm really surprised with the growth so far. I like to think it's because of my diet.

I cannot recommend this enough: Buy a 3-6 quart InstantPot and one of these books. https://smile.amazon.com/Ultimate-Vegan-Cookbook-Your-Instant/dp/1624143385/ (this is just one of the first books I found, and you can buy barely used instant pots for even cheaper on eBay or something, just clean it first!)

A 6 quart will allow you to cook more food, meal prep, store it in the fridge, and eat it over the course of a couple of days. You can freeze different meals too in glass tupperware, then just throw it in the microwave or on the stove top and have several meals ready within 5-10 minutes. I cannot express how much money and time this has saved me compared to eating ready-made food, or compared to cooking entire dinners for just 1-2 meals. Instant Pot is the way, and plant-based cooking will save tons money, make you feel amazing, and it's way better for your body and the planet.

Literally any questions please ask. I'm happy to help <3

I'm pretty sure you should also get one that's airtight and has a bottom that comes up as you pump it, something likethis with a part at the bottom so there's no air in the container

I keep a stash of progesterone down in the bottom corner of one of my closet which is the coolest place in my apartment. In the bottle I put gel silica packs to absorb moisture. I noticed them just the tiniest bit soft, but never stuck together. 🎠G

https://www.amazon.com/Organizer-Sukuos-Vitamin-Supplements-Rainbow/dp/B07MF6KSDM

I bought myself one of these from the drug store a few weeks ago. I just fill it once a week and never forget. The amount of joy that $5 purchase has brought me you don't even know.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017S0CGHY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_9MM4498R5AQJDTC6H1SY

Girl, this shit is what I used when was on patches, saved me so much headache. Just cover them in a big strip of hipafix like a big band aid so none of the patches edges sticking out and roll up or peel off, you won't have any issue usually. Hurts to rip off and change a bit but it solved the issue.

I bought these last year before my insurance began covering everything. Have you looked at this?🎠G

I’m going against the grain here to say get a good pill cutter. Ideally one with a cushiony/rubber part below the blade in order to absorb impact and avoid the pills getting crushed into a million bits (Example).

It should only cost you $5-10 and you’ll use it for as long as you need to split pills. Plus it’ll be split pretty evenly most of the time and you don’t have to worry about getting slightly different dosages in the morning/night.

I actually bought a little adjustable mini fridge off amazon for mine. since I seem to be paranoid.

My house is mostly constant but I can get weird HI/LO swings in temp. Nice to keep it dark and the temp display keeps me from worrying.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089GJ975H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1

Well... When I was injecting I had some of the same issues as you are experiencing. Then I discovered this device:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PKYX8K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_WHP72VY6J9R93KZ70CX3

And it really helped me. It's a simple device that holds the syringe and after loading up the device with the filled syringe you place it on the injection site and press a button, the device inserts the needle into your body (so fast that you don't even feel it going in) and then you press the plunger and you're done. When you lift the device from the injection site it also removes the needle from your body.

I used mine for a long time and then I learned how to do it without the device kby me doing what the device was doing).

My injection was subcutaneous not IM so YMMV.

There are these tiny medicine containers you can get from Amazon or Walmart that are the size of quarters. They can store like 5-6 pills. I can be very forgetful sometimes, so I just put a few extra pills in there that I just keep in my bag/purse forever and don't touch unless I forget or I'm out somewhere for a while. They're so small, I don't even bother talking them out unless I need to replace pills. Sure has saved me a couple of times. Might help you for next time.

Ezy Dose Daily Pill and Vitamin Container (2 count) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GBFKPW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hNFIDb1XWHN4T

A sports bra is great for those early stages when there are nipple changes and later when breast buds start forming. (You mentioned binders in your headline but didn’t in the text of your post, but they are definitely not the way to go; binders can damage breast tissue that’s developing.)

One potential pitfall of wearing a sports bra under a just a T-shirt is the lines of the bra will very likely be visible. What I found that worked for me were compression workout tanks. You can usually find sleeveless compression tops in the men’s department at sporting goods stores. I got women’s tanks from Amazon that didn’t have the usual women’s style racerback (link (no longer available)) Racerback lines can also be a problem since they’re most often associated with women’s workout wear.

As someone who went through this in Texas, double layers with a compression tee under my regular shirts were not a problem at all for me. You also have the advantage of cooler weather coming soon. Hoodies and sweatshirts are your friends, even in the mild winters of the South.

10mg..I would sleep for two days!

I buy bottles of 1mg. Yes, sublingual makes a big difference, much like sub E pills. No 1st pass and much quicker. I have never found oral did anything, it just takes too long.

This is what I use https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014GXK7O. Always check the back that directions say to "dissolve in mouth" as some aren't suitable for sublingual.

Hey u/DrWillPowers do you have anything to add to this post? When do you prescribe gel’s for your patients? For example, if they don't like injections do you normally go with patches and/or gel’s?

Another thing I've been wondering for a while, what is the difference between topical estradiol cream such as this that can be bought ’over the counter’: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFVL6WD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_HBZfFbM79QT28 (Mods: i don't believe this is prescription medicine! I'm really sorry if it is - msg me and I'll remove the link) and transdermal prescription only gels such as Sandrena and Estrogel?

How come prescription medicines like Sandrena and Esteogel impact serum levels / are absorbed into the blood stream, whereas topicals like the face cream you use aren't ?

Would love to know more about the estradiol face cream you use u/DrWillPowers! 💜 Perhaps you could do a post on it?

Someone else mentioned Tegaderm patches. I have these from Amazon, 100 for about $20.

They work well. I found if I put one on right over the patches (I use two of the 0.1mg/day type) when first applied, it even prevents the whole glue-ring issue. I haven't used one in quite a while now.

My "method" is simple, I gently scrub the application area with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball. Apply the patch, and then put pressure on it for 30 seconds. Mine stay in place for 4 days very well.

[Edit to add, I also use this gentle medical adhesive remover, which works perfectly on my Mylan-brand patches.]

When I had patches, I don't recall seeing redness for that long unless it was one of those itchiness that happened from time to time. I wonder if you use something like alcohol to remove the old patch and the sticky residue and rub the skin a lot. Just in case, I will mention that there is something that is a border line miracle. It is called UNI-SOLVE Adhesive Remover Wipes made by brand called Smith&Nephew. It issued widely in hospitals to remove patches from skin. The patch comes off with zero efforts once you gently wipe it. Another gentle wipe, and the residue is gone. I used to buy a pack of 50 on Amazon for $10. Here is the link: Uni Solve Adhesive Remover Wipes, 50 Each

Yep. I ordered these from Amazon.

Don't give up. There are some issues with them, but you can probably figure it out. There are folks here who can help.

You can use the gel from the capsules, but you need a carrier oil so it will absorb into the skin. I use coconut oil, or olive oil. I also mix it with castor oil and use it on my lashes, and brows. Not the cooking oil variants.

I have been using this P cream from Amazon for a while now. �� E