Pellet Implants vs. Oral Estradiol (blue pills)

[JennJenn]

I am taking oral estradiol now for 10 years.  Actually switched to sublingual as of late and it's working much better for me.  Getting some good development now after like 10 years of post menopausal levels -- breasts are really taking off.

Anyways, I was considering bio-identical estradiol implants because I heard there is a good ratio of estrone to estradiol and it has lower risk of complications.

What's your take on it ?   I could afford $1000 a year or so on it if having lower estrone levels is really beneficial.

If you use it, which brand do you use?

[AnonyMs]

I'm not sure there's really a brand for implants. Mine are compounded.

Price would also depend on where you are.

[JennJenn]

One brand I have heard of is SottoPelle.  Don't know much about it.  I am in Oklahoma, USA.

[AnonyMs]

I expect your main problem will be finding a doctor who will give you implants at all.

Here's a place that makes them

http://www.collegepharmacy.com/index.php?/bhrt_fused_pellet_implant/

[KayXo]

Why change things if you are doing well at the moment? Bio-identical estradiol seems to be relatively safe according to studies, even when taken orally.

[LizK]

I am on Implants, I have these replaced about the 5-6 month mark. These are compounded and the cost for the entire consult and procedure it about $300 Aus. My Dr gets them compounded and inserts them herself.

My Last Levels were way too high and were in the 600's  but I have to say I am getting good results. The spike could have been dues to my implant finally disintegrating, apparently this can skew the numbers. I don't think so because my breasts are sore and I guess I need oestrogen to make them grow.

Prior to this I seem to have a very stable level in the upper normal female range.

[KayXo]

My Last Levels were way too high and were in the 600's  but I have to say I am getting good results. The spike could have been dues to my implant finally disintegrating, apparently this can skew the numbers. I don't think so because my breasts are sore and I guess I need oestrogen to make them grow.

Prior to this I seem to have a very stable level in the upper normal female range.

600 pmol/L would appear to not be such a high level. Significantly higher levels have been recorded in post-menopausal women (as old as 66 years old), men with cancer of an advanced age (as old as 91 yrs old) in several studies, some of these individuals having been at these levels for as much as 28 years without serious side-effects. Levels recorded ranged from 78-3,000 pmol/L +.

[AnonyMs]

I'd not be happy at all on 600pmol/L. I get new ones when I'm down around 800, and feel a whole lot better for it.

[StacyRenee]

My pellets are called BioTE. I'm paying $350 and that includes the office visit and procedure. My NP likes to do new pellets every 3 months,  so that's $1400/ year. This is in Texas,  BTW.

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[AnonyMs]

My pellets are called BioTE. I'm paying $350 and that includes the office visit and procedure. My NP likes to do new pellets every 3 months,  so that's $1400/ year. This is in Texas,  BTW.

That seems very frequent. My first ones lasted only 6 months or so, but the longer you are on them the longer they last. My endo also told me that if you take progesterone, which I do, it increases the interval further. I'm at 15 months interval now.

Maybe for 3 months they are tiny little ones?

[LizK]

I don't know about the levels quoted by others because I am not an expert but I am having some reasonable results and as far as I can see most of the other Girls I hang out with are somewhere between 3-400 which my understanding is that this level is upper normal for average female...

I am getting a second opinion on my current regime so will be interested to see what the second Dr will have to say especially as far as levels go.

[jentay1367]

I don't know about the levels quoted by others because I am not an expert but I am having some reasonable results and as far as I can see most of the other Girls I hang out with are somewhere between 3-400 which my understanding is that this level is upper normal for average female...

I am getting a second opinion on my current regime so will be interested to see what the second Dr will have to say especially as far as levels go.

There are two ways of measurement, Liz. One is pmol/L and the other pg/ml.  Both are very different and where your 600 number is low in pmol/l   600 pg/ml is quite high. I'd suggest that if your Doctor thought you were high, you were being measured by the latter and not the former measurement.

[LizK]

There are two ways of measurement, Liz. One is pmol/L and the other pg/ml.  Both are very different and where your 600 number is low in pmol/l   600 pg/ml is quite high. I'd suggest that if your Doctor thought you were high, you were being measured by the latter and not the former measurement.

Nice one...I think you are exactly right because some of the numbers quoted seemed way to high for what I am talking about. I also spoke with someone who I would trust to know the correct levels as she is a Dr, she also advised me that it was high. So I am seeking a second opinion. But I would still remain on implants despite this level as I saw it even out my moods really quickly  compared to straight tablets.

Thanks

[jentay1367]

Nice one...I think you are exactly right because some of the numbers quoted seemed way to high for what I am talking about. I also spoke with someone who I would trust to know the correct levels as she is a Dr, she also advised me that it was high. So I am seeking a second opinion. But I would still remain on implants despite this level as I saw it even out my moods really quickly  compared to straight tablets.

Thanks

Well anecdotally speaking, I've seen more people get better results from injected pellets than any other protocol. All anecdotal mind you. But I've seen some astounding and outstanding results from the medium. I'd do it if it wasn't so ridiculously expensive over here.

[KayXo]

My endo also told me that if you take progesterone, which I do, it increases the interval further.

Strange as progesterone increases conversion of E2 (estradiol) to E1 (estrone), the weaker estrogen.

I don't know about the levels quoted by others because I am not an expert but I am having some reasonable results and as far as I can see most of the other Girls I hang out with are somewhere between 3-400 which my understanding is that this level is upper normal for average female...

I assume your levels are in pmol/L because you are from Australia. Typical levels seen in pre-menopausal women during a menstrual cycle are anywhere from 73 - 2,800 pmol/L, they can go as high as 275,000 pmol/L during pregnancy. Hence, 300-400 does not appear to be upper normal female range. Transsexual women may not respond the same as ciswomen to estradiol, in terms of feminization, for various reasons and thus comparison, in my opinion, is futile.

There are two ways of measurement, Liz. One is pmol/L and the other pg/ml.  Both are very different and where your 600 number is low in pmol/l   600 pg/ml is quite high. I'd suggest that if your Doctor thought you were high, you were being measured by the latter and not the former measurement.

I suspect it is the former because in Australia (in Europe, Canada), it's pmol/L, typically.

[AnonyMs]

Strange as progesterone increases conversion of E2 (estradiol) to E1 (estrone), the weaker estrogen.

I expect he's correct. He's really good. I think he said something about it keeping blood levels down and it dissolving more slowly, but can't really recall.

[KayXo]

I expect he's correct. He's really good. I think he said something about it keeping blood levels down and it dissolving more slowly, but can't really recall.

It would be interesting to get the full explanation and details. Have studies confirmed this?

[AnonyMs]

It would be interesting to get the full explanation and details. Have studies confirmed this?

I'm not seeing him again for another year and I'll probably have forgotten all about it by then.

[LizK]

I assume your levels are in pmol/L because you are from Australia. Typical levels seen in pre-menopausal women during a menstrual cycle are anywhere from 73 - 2,800 pmol/L, they can go as high as 275,000 pmol/L during pregnancy. Hence, 300-400 does not appear to be upper normal female range. Transsexual women may not respond the same as ciswomen to estradiol, in terms of feminization, for various reasons and thus comparison, in my opinion, is futile.

I suspect it is the former because in Australia (in Europe, Canada), it's pmol/L, typically.

I checked with my Dr and it is pg/ml is the unit measure that is being used.

[KayXo]

Ok. Then I stand corrected about assuming it was in pmol/L. 600 is indeed upper range.