Estradiol Implant question.

[kariann330]

So i have herd both here and on another forum that they are amazing and even work better then pills. I tried doing some research online to see if they can be used while on t blockers such as spiro and got mixed results. About half of the results said yes you can use them....the other half said no, they can only be used after an orchi or for maintenance after SRS. Can anyone offer some help on this.

Thanks
Kari.

[Jamie Marie]

I'm kinda surprised no one replied to this yet. It really shouldn't matter because all they do differently for the most part is supply you with a low, steady dose of hormones 24x7 for a few months. So they should be much safer and equally effective plus keep you from emotional turmoil with fluctuating hormone levels. As far as while on Anti-Androgens it really makes no difference in my opinion because you are receiving the same estrogen dose either way. The best part is you don't have to remember a pill once or twice a day and no itchy patches.

Hopefully that makes sense and if anyone disagrees they are welcome to say so.

[monica93304]

Read this site...



http://www.odeamedical.com/

[Jennygirl]

Monica thanks for posting that link Dr. O'Dea is actually the endocrinologist I chose when I began transition, and I have every intention of sticking with him for as long as he is in practice which is hopefully FOREVER.

Implants are, simply put... the best. (health/mood/efficacy of feminization)

O'Dea is, simply put... the best. He might be the only one who really isn't afraid to use them to their fullest potential.

I've had 2 pellet implantations so far in the 6 months I've been on HRT. In that time I haven't taken any AA's or a single oral tablet. Since there is absolutely no way for people to acquire or administer pellets themselves (they are synthesized in Colorado, USA), I don't think it should be a problem to discuss the amounts I've received. But if a mod disagrees, I understand! And keep in mind that these amounts are what I have decided. O'Dea gives his patients the option to determine the rate at which they would like to feminize. I started at a moderate level and I've been going up on the scale with every visit.

Early December (HRT begins):
7 estrogen pellets (moderate dose)
single dose progesterone shot

Early February:
double dose progesterone shot

Late March:
10 estrogen pellets (high dose)
1 progesterone pellet
double dose progesterone shot

Late May:
triple dose progesterone shot

My next appointment is later this month and I plan on going the max amount of pellets he will allow, which is 12. These things are like candy and I cannot seem to get enough. O'Dea seems to think at this rate that I will be fully feminized at the year mark or shortly thereafter... literally 1/3 the time it would take for orally administered HRT.

I have had not one mood swing, not one random outburst of emotion, not one single feeling of haggardness. My energy levels are spectacular, I am happier than ever, and my body is metamorphosising so steadily and quickly without any kind of daily meds regimen.

The ONLY downside I could see for some: the cost.

And kari to answer your questions about t blockers, on pellets you shouldn't need them as long as progesterone is being administered as well because it has anti androgenic effects. The only reason you would need anti androgens (and a suuuper low dose at that) is if you are one of the few with over reactive t receptors or if you have a naturally high t level.

[misschievous]

The ONLY downside I could see for some: the cost.

How expensive is it?

[Jennygirl]

How expensive is it?

It's expensive, almost so much that I don't feel comfortable posting it because I don't want people to think I'm some sort of richie ms rich pants. I don't mind spending an arm and a leg for hormones, as long as I think it's worth it. To me it is worth it considering the health and mental issues I am avoiding altogether.

So now that I've said my little disclaimer...
Pellets are around $75 each and progesterone shots are around $150 each. So you can do the math... It's expensive now, but once the feminization portion is complete I will go down to a much smaller number of pellets. And then after SRS even fewer. Probably 2-3.

[Cindy]

It of course varies.

I get an implant every 5-6 months and it costs me about $220 which pays the implant and the procedure.

The procedure is a local anaesthetic to allow for a subcutaneous placement and a stitch to close it. I take the stitch out myself after 48 hours.

The beauty as Jenny mentioned is the lack of worry about remembering to take pills, injections or patches and you just forget about it.

You have to factor that into the cost IMO.

Also once your doses are worked out, which can take a bit of playing about, you are hormonally stable. I can tell when I need a replacement very quickly!!!

I have a blood test every 3 months to check all levels of everything and decisions are made from there about when to replace or not.

My E levels were close to catastrophe on pills, unknown to me at the time, and very stable on implants.

Again of course we are all individuals and good endos design treatment for the patient and not for the condition.

[Kristen8]

Jennygirl, the estrogen pellets are obviously working for you judging by you profile pic...  What age did you start on the estrogen implants? Do you mind me asking what your last estradiol level was on your lab work? The reason I ask that 12 pellets (w/o knowing the dose of each pellet) seems like a very high dose of E compared to what others have mentioned. I'm prescribed estradiol valerate IM every two week, but I inject 1/2 of the total two week dose each week to keep my levels more consistent. My estradiol blood level is quite high(931pg/mL, however my physical changes are still not quite as good as I had expected, that is why my curiosity about your levels. My endo appointment is coming soon and I am going to ask him about adding progesterone and possibly getting off the spiro. Other than the high cost, have you encountered any negative aspects of the implanted estrogen? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[LizK]

I am on pellets...into my third month and compared to pills they are brilliant. When you take pills the amount you actually ingest on a daily basis can vary tremendously depending on heaps of different factors. The implant takes away all of that...my emotional roller coaster slowed dramatically after the implants were used. Don't get me wrong I am still way more in touch with myself emotionally but I don't have those uncontrolled frustrating swings that I got when I was on pills. I am already a B cup and starting to show some really positive signs of feminisation.

As Cindy said...you don't have to worry about missing a dose...although I still take one pill each day as a boost but if I missed it by accident then it would not have significant impact on me n the short term.

Cost is about $220 which is cheaper than pills...I was going through a box of Progynova in a couple of weeks and at roughly $32 per script (or $5.80 for a pensioner) it soon adds up. But apart from that I just like how well it works. I am having my 3 monthly bloods at my next appointment in a couple of weeks.

Liz

[kelly_aus]

Just be aware that they are not for everyone.