Estradiol implants in the UK?

[Padma]

Has anyone heard about trans women in the UK having access to estradiol implants on the NHS?

I've a friend in Australia who's being switched to them, you basically only have to get them put in once a year with a local anaesthetic. They're only indicated post-op (or presumably post-orchie), because you need a stable endocrine system with no Significant T production going on.

From what I've been able to find out, there's no licensed pharmaceutical provider in the UK, but they are available unlicensed. Some CCGs are funding them for menopausal women, but I've not heard anything about trans women.

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

I would be very interested in this! I am guessing that its a no go though. It was when I asked about it before a couple years back now.

[calicarly]

HI Padma,

The situation regarding estrogen implants is complicated right now, the company producing them for many years in the UK dropped them from production IN 2011, from then on it was still being given by Gp's in a generic form but patients have been slowly led off from using them etc. Nowadays only certain parts of the country offer them, elsewhere they are considered somethi like a not certified type of treatment (meaning not usual but possible in certain circumstances) this actually caused a discussion in the Houses of Parliament i think last year, about bringing them back due to their benefits.

So what you could do is speak to an endo and let him know the reasons why you would like one. If he or she is nice and agreeable it might mean you could get one on the basis of it being particularly beneficial for you but have in mind if you are not in London or the other few ares were its still given then you will have to travel for this. Although it would only be once ever few months or so.