applying Androgel

[zaarel2]

I searched some and didnt seem to find the answer to this so if I missed it I apologize. When applying the androgel are you supposed to rub it in until dry? In the pamphlet it says something about making sure it dries before putting on a shirt. I rub it in until its gone. Is this wrong or does it not much matter?

 

[SWALE]

Squeeze all of the gel from the foil packet, or the number of pumps if using the pump bottle, into a cupped palm. Gently press your two palms together. When you separate your hands, you will have very nearly half of the gel on each palm. Do not rub your hands together! Try to keep the gel on the palms, instead of getting between the fingers. Then simply cross your arms, wiping the gel over your shoulders and upper arms. Thus apply most of it across your upper arms and shoulders. Finish off by wiping what is left down your FLANKS (sides of your abdomennot the middle). Then thoroughly wash your hands. Once you have washed them, there is no worry whatsoever about accidental transferal to others, as there is none left on the surface to transfer. Studies have shown this, and also that merely putting on a T-shirt to cover the exposed areas will do the same for the rest of you. If you had to, you could shower in an hour or so, without appreciable loss of testosterone delivery, as the gel soaks into the skin, and the skin acts as the actual reservoir for dispensation of the drug. You wouldnt want to do this all the time, but swimming or showering in a pinch can be done. It's still a good idea to take a quick shower before engaging in intimacy.

If you keep rubbing it, you are removing it from the desired area in favor of the hands, where you will be washing it off immediately.

 

[Millard]

Then thoroughly wash your hands. Once you have washed them, there is no worry whatsoever about accidental transferal to others, as there is none left on the surface to transfer. Studies have shown this, and also that merely putting on a T-shirt to cover the exposed areas will do the same for the rest of you. If you had to, you could shower in an hour or so, without appreciable loss of testosterone delivery, as the gel soaks into the skin, and the skin acts as the actual reservoir for dispensation of the drug. You wouldnt want to do this all the time, but swimming or showering in a pinch can be done. It's still a good idea to take a quick shower before engaging in intimacy.

I always wondered about this especially after reading case studies involving young children who were allegedly exposed to androgel thru incidental contact that resulted in some serious endocrinological disturbances.

 

[earthdog]

I always wondered about this especially after reading case studies involving young children who were allegedly exposed to androgel thru incidental contact that resulted in some serious endocrinological disturbances.

That was one of the reasons I wanted injections over gel. I have girls and the last thing I need is to screw up their systems while trying to fix mine. Do you know if the exposures were limited to one or two incidents, or were they spread out over time? I would think that one or two incidents would have no lasting effects, but I could be wrong about that.

 

[BigRagu]

That was one of the reasons I wanted injections over gel. I have girls and the last thing I need is to screw up their systems while trying to fix mine. Do you know if the exposures were limited to one or two incidents, or were they spread out over time? I would think that one or two incidents would have no lasting effects, but I could be wrong about that.

if it's over time or just a few times..........that would be too many times for me............... i would think it would be more of a problem when there a baby since your holding them all the time.................either way shots are much safer.................

 

[zaarel2]

If you keep rubbing it, you are removing it from the desired area in favor of the hands, where you will be washing it off immediately.

So if I understand now I would just wipe it on those areas and spread a bit and then let it dry and soak in itself as opposed to rub it in. I assume it best to wait for the stuff to soak in as well before getting dressed so that it doesnt get lost in fabric...................definately feeling dense here for asking all of this twice but I do want to make sure I am doing things correctly and maximizing efficiency. Thanks again Swale and all of you with this HRT newbie.

 

[Millard]

That was one of the reasons I wanted injections over gel. I have girls and the last thing I need is to screw up their systems while trying to fix mine. Do you know if the exposures were limited to one or two incidents, or were they spread out over time? I would think that one or two incidents would have no lasting effects, but I could be wrong about that.

IMO, you made a very wise decision. You can't be too cautious when it comes to your children. This is why I started looking into this. There are quite a few topical drugs sold over the counter and through doctors that can have significant effects on children, pre- and post-natally.

The use of several topical drugs commonly used to prevent hair loss, including topical versions of spirinolactone (anti-androgen), finasteride (anti-5-alpha-reductase), could conceivably cause developmental problems and endocrine disruptions. And several over the counter topical "fat loss" supplements contain anti-aromatase products like formestane and 6-oxo and *could* cause problems as well.

Based on these concerns, I decided to completely eliminate the use of all topical supplements/drugs. If you spend any amount of time holding or playing with your children, there may be some risk.

YOu would think that long-term exposure to such topical drugs like those mentioned above and/or androgel would be most likely to cause problems in young children. But based on my understanding of developmental endocrinology, there are certain 'critical periods' where exposure to hormones (endogenous or other) trigger significants developmental changes.

So, a single exposure to androgel would most likely not have long-term effects. But then again, if it occurred during one such 'critical period' it is possible that it could.

Keep in mind my knowledge in this area is very limited. Given this, I err on the side of caution.

 

[Millard]

That was one of the reasons I wanted injections over gel. I have girls and the last thing I need is to screw up their systems while trying to fix mine. Do you know if the exposures were limited to one or two incidents, or were they spread out over time? I would think that one or two incidents would have no lasting effects, but I could be wrong about that.

You probably can read the abstracts for the case studies thru pubmed. I don't remember the details.

 

[SWALE]

Another Public Service Announcement from our Admin.

 

[SWALE-Follower]

SWALE... What's your honest opinion on this. Should I bre concerned in regards to my two year old son?. I handle him very frequently. I carry him around and hug him alot. I'm kind of concerned about it although My short sleeve shirt covers most of my upper arms!!!!

 

[Millard]

Sexual Development in a Two-Year-Old Boy Induced by Topical Exposure to Testosterone

[size=-1]PEDIATRICS Vol. 104 No. 2 August 1999, p. e23 [/size]

Sexual Development in a Two-Year-Old Boy Induced by Topical Exposure to Testosterone

Y. Miles Yu, MD, Natavut Punyasavatsu, MD, Deborah Elder, MD, and A. Joseph D'Ercole, MD

Virilization, including penile enlargement and growth of pubic hair and facial acne, developed in a 2-year-old boy over a period of months. This sexual development was induced by incidental and unintentional dermal exposure to a testosterone cream that was applied to his father's arm and back as a part of body building regimen. Except for penile size, the other signs of virilization diminished several months after the exposure was discontinued.

Virilization in boys before puberty caused by exposure to exogenous androgens is rarely reported. We have evaluated a 2-year-old boy who developed androgenization, including progressive penile enlargement and development of pubic hair and facial acne, over a period of months. We discovered dermal exposure to exogenous androgens and ruled out the other causes of androgenization. Here, we discuss the differential diagnosis, laboratory testing, and outcome of this patient. Given the widespread availability of androgens in our society, we suspect that this is not an isolated event. (Italics added.)

PDF of full article is attached.

 

[SWALE-Follower]

Wow!!! That's some scary stuff. I am too scared for my 2year old boy now. We are very close and I carry him around alot. I'm going to bring this up to my doctor to see if I can switch to an injectible.

 

[mranak]

After reading the first few posts in this thread, I went off and located the article about exposure to testosterone cream. I was about to post it before I realized that administrator had already posted the same study! Well, its an interesting read, nevertheless. I can't help but wonder if the boy will have a continue to have a larger penis after adolesence because of what happened.

I know that Androgel is a great product and I have no complaints about it as long as they don't take my testosterone cypionate away from me!

 

[SWALE]

If you cover the exposed parts with a single layer of material, you do not need to worry about it.