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.
You will need to get a lot of blood work done as you start hormones. It’s incredibly important as they adjust your levels of blockers and estrogen. Don’t be discouraged though, after that initial perio, you can really only expect a checkup occasionally (usually if you change your dosage or something).
As other people have pointed out, there are ways of making the experience more comfortable, and anyone working in the field will be very familiar with dealing with people with a fear of needles. Don’t let it discourage you!! If this is what you want, what you need, needles are a temporary road block to your happiness.