Estradiol valerate or estradiol hemihydrate: much of a difference?

[StartingOver]

My new doc has prescribed me estradiol hemihydrate instead of estradiol valerate.  I've only just noticed to be honest - I thought estradiol was estradiol was estradiol.  Much of a difference between the two forms of estradiol, or are they pretty much the same thing when it comes to growing boobs and suchlike?

[CollieLass]

The interesting difference lies with the possibility of using the alternative routes of sub-lingual/buccal administration of the hemihydrate {micronised} form.

Google using the combined search terms: "Sublingual versus Oral Estrogen" and "Transas City" and an interesting article on that site, will explain in great detail. (sorry, but I believe direct links aren`t permitted in posts).

[StartingOver]

Thanks CollieLass.  I've been taking my estradiol (valerate) sublingually for quite some time now and the results have been reasonable.  The new drug though (the estradiol hemihydrate) - I've been taking that sublingually for a couple of weeks, but only just realized that it's not the same stuff that I had been taking beforehand.  Yikes!  Or maybe not.

But yeah, sublingual is the way to go.

[Rejennyrated]

Hemi-hydrate was an alternative forumlation which was developed when it became apparent that a small number of people have a genetic variation which makes it impossible for their bodies to respond to valerate - these people typically do not feminize on valerate because their bodies cannot use it. Switch them to hemi-hydrate and they do just fine. So in short its a superior formulation. I've been on it for as long as it has been available (about ten or more years now). Before that I took the dreaded premarin for 25 years.