I'm looking into starting DIY, I really just can't wait any longer. However, I am absolutely terrified of needles. I won't be able to shoot myself up with it. I'm looking into the forms of estrogen, and it appears that I can buy the form used for estradiol pills. But I'm finding very little information on DIY that isn't focused on injections. I'm thinking about making a water solution and just taking it out of a dropper, but I know I'd need a preservative to keep it safe for a long time.

  • pooh [she/her, love/loves]M
    ·
    3 months ago

    So to be clear, you're talking about buying bulk estradiol and making pills with it? You could get gel caps, a little scale (not too much money online) and a capsule filler kit, which is also cheap. However, I'm pretty sure there are sources that sell premade pills, and then also gels are available from certain DIY sources. I've never used gel, but from what I've heard (and anyone correct me if I'm wrong here) but gels have the same benefits as injection, but no needles and applying it is quick, easy, and discrete. The only downside of gels I think is that they cost a bit more. Not sure if you've looked into that already, but if injections aren't an option, it seems like gels would be the next best choice.

    EDIT: Just did a little bit of research, and it seems estrogel isn't terribly difficult to make. There's one such guide here: https://crimethinc.com/2022/12/15/producing-transdermal-estrogen-a-do-it-yourself-guide I have no experience with estrogel, but I'm tempted to try it out at some point.

    • kristina [she/her]M
      ·
      3 months ago

      I feel like the gel residue gets fucking everywhere if you don't put a bandage over it. And even then it still can.

      • imogen_underscore [it/its, she/her]
        ·
        3 months ago

        I use gel every day that I'm prescribed and in my experience it's not like that. it's a little cumbersome at first but you get very adept at applying it and it completely dries within 5 minutes and won't get on clothes or anything.

        • kristina [she/her]M
          ·
          3 months ago

          maybe you got a different brand than me, that sounds very convenient thonk-cri

          • imogen_underscore [it/its, she/her]
            ·
            3 months ago

            possibly, those issues do sound annoying. for me it was actually much more convenient than I had expected going in. I'd still rather be on injections but they're not available in my country so gel is more or less the next best option. I know the twice-a-week patches are up there too in terms of efficacy.

    • LeylaLove [she/her, love/loves]M
      ·
      3 months ago

      Right now my idea is to buy raw estradiol valerate powder, dissolve it in PG/everclear and use volumetric liquid dosing for accurate dosing. Buying the powder raw is A LOT cheaper from what I'm seeing, and the source I found has something non-hrt related I also really want.

      I'm definitely tempted to check out gel. It would be more expensive, but I do want the most efficient ROA without injections. From my research, there's also a chance that the valerate I buy is micronized and isn't suitable for sublingual, so topical is probably a safer bet with the supply available