debating on switching from tablets to injections, opinions please?

[latoya rayne]

Recently I've been debating on switching from take the pills to switching over to using the needles. Its just a pain in the ass for me taking pills everyday and I'd much prefer to switch to weekly injections. Could anyone give me any opinions on this? I've been on hrt for 9 months BTW. I'd love peoples in sites and opinions on what they r experiences were on the injections. Thanks

[Misha]

Hello,

there was quite a live debate on this in this thread:

Is it true that the shots are more effective that the pills?
https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,97015.0.html

[latoya rayne]

Yes I know, but I would like my own answers to my post thanks

[LittleEmily24]

Im gonna be switching to injections or patches soon if it happens to occur before your change, i'll let you know xD so far ive been seeing endless info that pills are the least effective form.. i mean my endo seems to be very specific about "taking it slow", but theres taking it slow and then there's "my speedometer can go faster than this".

Though if its just because you don't like to take pills frequently, i would think that injections are good if you can manage to inject yourself xD i mean they teach you and all but.... thats an intense thing to stab yourself hehe, i hear patches can be fun though. 0_o

[Randi]

I have only used Oestrogel and Estradiol Valerate injections.

The half-life of Estradiol Valerate is approximately eight days.  The "side chain" of the molecule takes a while to detach from the estradiol, so it helps keep levels more steady.  Estradiol without the valerate or cypionate would have a very short half life.  Injecting deep into a large muscle like the gluteus maximus or vastus lateralis makes it last even longer since there aren't many capillaries deep in a muscle.

Over time the various "half lives" of earlier injections, combined with the new shots adds up to a reasonably constant level.  I have used Oestrogel in the past to add in a little in the days before the next shot.

Oral estrogens are subjected to the first pass effect in the liver.  This strains the liver and lessens the effectiveness of the estrogen.  People over 40 probably shouldn't be using oral estrogen.

I was diagnosed as hypogonadic eight years ago and don't produce any significant testosterone, so my development may be more related to that than my HRT.  With that said, I have bigger boobs than either my mother or sisters.

Randi

[latoya rayne]

Thank you, then yes I will be switching over :-)

[Christine Eryn]

Years ago, I started off with my doctor giving me injections. It was a good drive from where I lived, so she taught me how to inject myself. Oh, how I hated it. Moved to another city, new doctor, pills perscribed, never looked back. Have bloodwork checked once or twice a year, so far so good.

[faye]

I have only ever used injection, after 2.5 years it has become quite routine, the main reason I chose this is because of the health side of HRT, i read initially they would be less harsh on my liver, so yeah. goodluck choosing.

[KatrinaLynne]

You really need research the pellet method. Check out this site. its in california, but it explains the benefits well and if you have any doubts there are girls on here that have been there. you can go 3-6 months and its safer. Non oral. and hrt can be 13-24 months so it is faster than oral and no blockers.

http://gendermedical.com/

[Randi]

I've heard Dr O'Dea is pretty expensive, even without travel costs.  Are other doctors doing pellets?

You really need research the pellet method. Check out this site. its in california, but it explains the benefits well and if you have any doubts there are girls on here that have been there. you can go 3-6 months and its safer. Non oral. and hrt can be 13-24 months so it is faster than oral and no blockers.

http://gendermedical.com/

[Janae]

When I first stared self med'ing @ 19 I had instant results within days using injections.

Flash forward to 29 when I began HRT for real I started injections again and I had a similar result. My doc told me that it has that kind of effect because it bypasses the liver and lingers in the muscle so it's effects are faster. I started on pills 21 mos ago and even though they were cool to start I noticed the most changes after injections.

[Evelyn K]

Ladies if using an ampule, then a reminder. Make sure your doctor has explained to you how to pre-filter whatever it is you are using if it's drawing from an ampule where the top is broken off possibly raining glass shards down below.

(and there's also the safety requirement for intra muscular aspiration)

That's about all I would be allowed to say on those subjects.

[Ltl89]

I'm in the same boat.  I've been taking the pills for some time and get jealous of all the results and feedback I hear from those on injections.  It seems it's a more effective, even if a bit more costly, method of administering hrt.  Guess I will have to get used to needles.

[Jessica90]

Dr odea is a bit pricey I know there's a few more in California that do pellets as well  and I do pellets and am super happy once every few months and no pain so I like It on the other hand if you don't have insurance or its a cost thing ide seriously think about doing injections being as it's way better for your liver also if you look into patches are pretty useless the for post menopausal women and the dose is so very low that it's not really worth it "that's my opinion" but deffinetly talk to your endo and see what plan you can work out

[Allyda]

I see my Endo again on July the 3rd. I just had my bloodwork done yesterday. I know he will be increasing my E and he mentioned a more effective delivery method. Patches are out of the question for me because they won't stay on no matter what I do. And I'm not comfortable using gels. So my only alternatives are the injections or the pellets. While my insurance will cover the injections I doubt it will cover the pellets unless something has changed. I have no problem with needles. It's the up's and down's I've heard of (the not being able to keep things constant) that are worrying me with injections.

Ally

[JoanneB]

For me going the injection route was driven more by the pita of taking pills then results driven. Pills are very easy to skip. Especially if you are adding one more to handfull or two of supplements you do each day. In the past when taking pills if I was in a WTF am I doing funk it was so simple to skip a pill and get even deeper into a depression.

[Evelyn K]

Took my first injection today.

Wow. WOOO!!! Never got that with Oral!

[Jennygirl]

All the people switching to injections deserve a big hip hip hooray and CONGRATS!

Cheers to healthier methods of HRT administration! Makes me really happy to see

[Evelyn K]

Only thing is, I'm needle shy.

I had to curl my toes, stammer, feigned once, feigned twice!, bit my lip to sidetrack any pain, then OK darn it, feigned again

^^ X4

OK - IN!

Opens eyes. That's it? Hmm. Pull back on the plunger. OK no red stuff. And away wE go! WEEEEEEE!

[Ltl89]

Took my first injection today.

Wow. WOOO!!! Never got that with Oral!

What do you mean when you say "never got that with oral"?  Do you really feel and notice the effects right away or something?  I'm very needle shy but I'm going to likely switch very soon so I'm a bit curious about the short term differences when going from pills to injections. 

By the way, for all the people that switched, did you have more trouble with injections than pills with insurance?  I can pay out of pocket if I have to, but it's so nice having to pay nothing for my hrt cause of insurance.  I fear that injections may be more difficult to get covered, but I have no idea either.