1999 Corolla manual transmission sticks

[stancold]

I own a 99 Corolla, manual transmission with about 74,000 miles. The transmission is hard to shift when I first start driving but gets better as it warms up. I thought that maybe the transmission fluid/oil could be low. It is recommended to at least check the fluid/oil level somewhere around this mileage but there is no dipstick. How do I check the fluid/oil level? Is there a plug somewhere like the rear-end of a truck? Other posts have mentioned that the Corolla manual transmissions use gear oil but that was in reference to other model years. I don't remember having this problem when I bought the car used about a year and 10,000 miles ago. This has been happening all "summer" even though the temperature hasn't gotten below 40 degrees.
My other thought is that the clutch isn't full disengaging but I've read that the Corollas use a hydraulic clutch so there should be no need for adjustment and that shouldn't be the problem.

Any help would be appreciated because I'll be damned if I'm going to take it to the dealership to check or change something that should be relatively simple.

[dipset2377]

thats crazy, i have a 99 corolla manual and the EXACT thing is happening to me right now. At autozone they told me about the gear oil. I took it to a garage and they said the transmission fluid is fine. I dont know either, let me know when you get another answer