Update on my HRT using Estriol instead of Estradiol

[Stephe]

It's been a while since I posted (life has been great!) but wanted to stop by to update how my HRT is going. I had strong/bad reactions to estradiol (tried half a dozen or more different forms etc) and after six months of my doctor and me experimenting with different products and dosages, we almost gave up on HRT other than taking spiro. As a last ditch effort my doc prescribed some estriol transdermal creme from a compounding pharmacy. Reading online you will see people saying this med does nothing for MTF trans people. My Doctor wasn't sure if it would be effective either. I'm proof that they were wrong

I had some mild side effects at first but shortly those went away. I feel great on this med, unlike estradiol which made me feel simply horrible. The first year of being on this med + spiro at close to what is considered the max dose for menopausal women, I was a full 36B cup and saw some fat distribution, face softening etc. Plus a major reduction in body hair. Breasts also have a nice rounded natural shape. In the 3 months since then I have seen further breast growth + other nice changes to my curves.  For the first time, I feel my body shape actually looks good in a sun dress. I expect I may end up with 36C breasts (they still are tender most of the time and seem to be still growing) but if 36B was all I got, I'd be happy.

My BMI is in the normal range and I started out very flat chested. I have put on a few pounds on HRT but I blame that on my boobs have to weigh something lol. I do think the 5-10 pounds I put on being on HRT is part of why I look more fem now too. I can also say HRT has changed me into a calmer, more patient and understanding person as well.

Anyway, just wanted to send an update and some hope for people like myself who have horrible headaches, insomnia etc from taking estradiol and question if they can tolerate HRT. Estriol might work for them too. One thing I have learned about HRT is there is no "one size fits all" formula and you really need a good doctor to sort out what will work for you. Ignore anyone who says "This is what you need to do","that med does nothing for you" etc as our body chemistry is very complex and everyone's reaction to different meds is going to be different. I'm sure for some people estriol would do nothing.  Unfortunately a lot of this is trial and error finding what mix of meds works for you plus what you can tolerate.

Stephe

[Jamie D]

Nice to hear from you again Stephe!  I am glad this medication is working for you.

It is a great lesson in never giving up when the standard treatments don't work.

[generous4]

estriol transdermal creme from a compounding pharmacy

Transdermal means it bypasses liver, always a good choice -- smaller dosage. 

And I like the idea of estriol in general, because pregnancy brings a ton of it into your system, so that is good.  I.e., whatever pregnancy produces is, by definition, good for your body.

[Stephe]

Transdermal means it bypasses liver, always a good choice -- smaller dosage. 

And I like the idea of estriol in general, because pregnancy brings a ton of it into your system, so that is good.  I.e., whatever pregnancy produces is, by definition, good for your body.

And from what I read, it would be hard to OD on this stuff given the amounts of this found in a woman's body during pregnancy and the worst problem you will see if you do take too much is "morning sickness". In addition I have found my nails don't break anymore along with soft skin etc. I am kinda surprised more MTF don't use this drug or maybe it doesn't work on other people? IDK I would think people, especially with heart and circulatory system issues would be on it.

[generous4]

I think maybe it is the same old story as in the larger pharmaceutical industry: you cannot make money off of aspirin or vitamin C, because you cannot patent them.  Or, stated another way, it is like Premarin: heavily marketed by Wyeth for a long time, so women were used to dropping tablets of pregnant mare urine into their bodies -- doesn't make sense but Wyeth made a ton of $$ from it.  In the case of estriol, the industry probably ignores it because estradiol is more potent as an estrogen and is one of the two main components of oral contraceptives, another big profit generator for Ortho et al.

So everybody just normally thinks ESTROGEN = ESTRADIOL.

But Mother Nature, during pregnancy, thinks in terms of estriol.  That is why I consider it good.

Thanks for the good report, Stephe.

And from what I read, it would be hard to OD on this stuff given the amounts of this found in a woman's body during pregnancy and the worst problem you will see if you do take too much is "morning sickness". In addition I have found my nails don't break anymore along with soft skin etc. I am kinda surprised more MTF don't use this drug or maybe it doesn't work on other people? IDK I would think people, especially with heart and circulatory system issues would be on it.

[Nocrazypplpls]

Hi. I know this is an old post, but just wanted to ask you for an update. How has the cream been working for you? Have you noticed any differences between the Estriol and estradiol?
For myself, I have tried different hrt, I never did Spiro though, as estradiol injections seem to be lowering my t well (Highest TT pre get was 750, now my highest on get is 62, with the lowest being 7), I used estradiol pills (makes my estrone go up to 700, with estradiol being 65 4 hrs later, and made me feel emotional. Estradiol patches didn't seem to have much effect on my estrogen level, and caused me to have wrinkly skin in the area where I put the patch. SL pill form also increased my estrone a lot, and makes me feel emotional, but increased my estradiol a lot more (10 mins after I did it my e2 was 450, e1 of 470). The shots work the best for me, my peak e2 was 3000 with e1 at 200, and my t was very low for a male, between 7-62, BUT I do not like how I have to inject at least 1 time a week, and how it gives me headache and other WE. I am only on <no dosages please> a week. I looked into Estriol cream, and I love the idea, especially since I could use it 1-3 times a day, and get it to be spread out.
Just curious, have you had your Estriol levels tested?  Ty for reading

[KathyLauren]

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