Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hey guys.

So, I'm still really far from being able to afford a hysto (or even get back on T again). I recently found out there's this procedure called endometrial ablation that's supposed to either eliminate or reduce Hell Week, Shark Week, or whatever you'd like to call it. I have no idea how much it costs (I emailed a clinic about it but they haven't gotten back to me about it yet), but I'm thinking that if it's cheap enough, I'll just get that done so I'm in a better situation until I can get a hysto and definitely never have to worry about it again.

Has anyone had the procedure done, or heard of anyone else who's had it done? How much did it cost, and how effective was it? Would you recommend it?

Is there a reason you wouldn't use the money that you would otherwise spend on the procedure to instead go back on T?   I know there are reoccurring costs, but they are distributed over time, and any upfront costs to get started again may be less than or comparable to the cost of the procedure.

I was on T for six wonderful, amazing months until I couldn't afford it anymore (got fired from my job). The months following that were much worse than before I had started T, psychologically, since I knew exactly what I was missing out on. So for the sake of my sanity, I don't want to start on T again until I'm financially secure and therefore have a zero (or, nearly zero) chance of having to stop again.

A quick google search shows a fair price is around $5,500. Here is where I looked:

http://www.healthcarebluebook.com/page_Results.aspx?id=98&dataset=MD (http://www.healthcarebluebook.com/page_Results.aspx?id=98&dataset=MD)

Just a couple grand more and you could have a complete hysto.

Wow, I didn't expect it to be that much. I'll just save for a hysto then.

Where do you live? Have you checked out low cost options of any kind. We have guys here who are homeless on T. It seems like trying to save for a hysto and so on when you could maybe save to start T again? A hysto is very $$$.

--Jay

I live in Utah. I don't know of any ways to get it cheaper. The cost of T itself isn't so much a problem as the required endo visits and blood tests. As I said in reply to spacerace, I don't want to get back on T until I know for sure I won't have to stop again. It really messed with me when I had to stop and basically involuntarily detransition (well, not fully, but that's how it felt--I still present as male, still got my voice, but not much else).

I think what both of us are trying to say is this:

Hysto:          $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
1 year of T: $$$$$$

Time to save money for hysto:           XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Time to save money for 1 year of T: XXXX

You are going to have to save up the money anyways - but you could plan one year in advance for T way faster than you could get the hysto. Then, you would have another year to make another year's worth of T, etc.  Since either scenario involves saving money, you could get on T without the risk of losing it with some planning way quicker than saving for the hysto.

Just showing you a different angle to view it in - if you would rather concentrate on saving for the hysto first your way makes sense

I see others have already mentioned that is an expensive procedure. I have a female friend who had it done (was mostly covered by her insurance) and she kept bleeding even after that, so that's no full proof either. Might as well just save up for the hysto.

Quote from: insideontheoutside on July 28, 2013, 08:20:11 PM
I see others have already mentioned that is an expensive procedure. I have a female friend who had it done (was mostly covered by her insurance) and she kept bleeding even after that, so that's no full proof either. Might as well just save up for the hysto.

That's true, it is supposed to reduce the Shark thing and not necessarily stop it. I agree on the saving thing. Also do you have Planned Parenthood. Some of them do T, and I would think they would be on a sliding scale. One thing about PP in red states is you need to call ahead. Do not drop by, they get very nervous for obvious reasons.

--Jay

My doc mentioned having an ablation to me ... then decided it wasn't worth it since she knew I would be having a hysto -- and my insurance would pay for it -- but she didn't seem worth it to her to have me have two procedures so she just scheduled a hysto for me.

I'm up for an ablation whenever the National Health gets around to scheduling it.  My gyno says the uterus itself doesn't produce estrogen,  the ovaries do that.  So I tend to think major surgery just to pull out an organ that isn't the cause of my problem is maybe a waste of time.  I'd get my ovaries out if I could, but the doc won't give me a letter.

The thing with a hysto is you NEED hormones after it since your body won't be producing E anymore without those organs if I understand it correctly. If you can't afford T, how would you pay for T after a hysto? It's not like you can go without it after the hysto is done.

Quote from: Darrin Scott on July 31, 2013, 08:33:46 PM
The thing with a hysto is you NEED hormones after it since your body won't be producing E anymore without those organs if I understand it correctly. If you can't afford T, how would you pay for T after a hysto? It's not like you can go without it after the hysto is done.

The adrenal gland still produces T and E, but in very small amounts.
You wouldn't need as large a dose of T to be effective after a hysto, because of the lack of estrogens competing with it.

Quote from: Soren on July 31, 2013, 08:40:45 PM
The adrenal gland still produces T and E, but in very small amounts.
You wouldn't need as large a dose of T to be effective after a hysto, because of the lack of estrogens competing with it.

This isn't actually true. It's come up before but it's always worth reiterating. Most guys tend to still need the same dose after hysto. They may need slightly less but most feedback has more been along the lines of none to little change. It's come up before as some guys think getting a hysto will reduce their dose and thus amount they spend on T, but the reality is that it can't be banked on, and even if they are lucky enough to be able to have a lower dose, it's not a massive difference.

From personal experience, I know 13 guys now who've had a hysto, and all 13 haven't changed dose since. Not 1 changed. I expect that maybe isn't the actual odds bit it's still quite telling.

If you get a hysto, then you have no hormones (or close enough to it at least). You can live without hormones, but it's a shock to the system. I'd personally not get a hysto if I knew I couldn't afford T afterwards. Well, we can never know the whole future, but at least directly after.

Quote from: Jack_M on July 31, 2013, 09:59:13 PM
This isn't actually true. It's come up before but it's always worth reiterating. Most guys tend to still need the same dose after hysto. They may need slightly less but most feedback has more been along the lines of none to little change. It's come up before as some guys think getting a hysto will reduce their dose and thus amount they spend on T, but the reality is that it can't be banked on, and even if they are lucky enough to be able to have a lower dose, it's not a massive difference.

From personal experience, I know 13 guys now who've had a hysto, and all 13 haven't changed dose since. Not 1 changed. I expect that maybe isn't the actual odds bit it's still quite telling.

Oh. I heard that the changes happened much faster after a hysto and assumed you could use less. My bad.

Quote from: Jack_M on July 31, 2013, 09:59:13 PM
From personal experience, I know 13 guys now who've had a hysto, and all 13 haven't changed dose since. Not 1 changed. I expect that maybe isn't the actual odds bit it's still quite telling.

^This.

I was under the assumption that I would be on a low dose after mine but nope. I wish it was true because my vial would last longer.

Quote from: Soren on July 31, 2013, 08:40:45 PM
The adrenal gland still produces T and E, but in very small amounts.
You wouldn't need as large a dose of T to be effective after a hysto, because of the lack of estrogens competing with it.

Though, I suppose for the price of a hysto you could buy a lifetime's worth of T. I didn't do the math on this, just a guess. I don't think the reduction in dose (if there is one) is enough to say "oh you'll use that much less T". I don't think it's really any sort of financial argument.




--Jay

Quote from: aleon515 on July 31, 2013, 11:30:41 PM
Though, I suppose for the price of a hysto you could buy a lifetime's worth of T. I didn't do the math on this, just a guess. I don't think the reduction in dose (if there is one) is enough to say "oh you'll use that much less T". I don't think it's really any sort of financial argument.




--Jay

I was corrected on that anyway. I was thinking more of the "if you're going to do something to that, a hysto would probably be better than an endometrial ablation" thing. Personally, I would want the parts out so I wouldn't need to see a lady doctor.

Quote from: Soren on July 31, 2013, 11:39:28 PM
Personally, I would want the parts out so I wouldn't need to see a lady doctor.

One thing I tell guys is make sure the surgeon understands you want the cervix removed as well. That is optional and some surgeons don't do it because then they have to do a cuff which has a greater chance for complications during healing. If the cervix remains you have to still get examined. I have spoken with guys who didn't know about that and still have their cervix.

One of a few good reasons for a vaginal hysto is no cervix remains. Also, no scars to tell on you.

The way this thread has gone, I though I might list some of the pros and cons of endometrial ablation, I know I will not get all of them.
pros:
relatively simple and quick procedure
cheaper than a hysterectomy
probably faster recovery then a hysterectomy

cons
may not completely stop periods
still have your uterus, tubes, and ovaries to have problems with later