Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So I just had an appointment today with my endo. She switched me from pill estradiol to Estrogel. I am not sure about the switch because last time she was very adamant that I switch off the pills which I was fine with she kept really saying I should switch to patches. I agreed to the change the last time we spoke. I asked her how this differed from the patch and she just told me it would be easier for me. Which I kind of agree with since adhesives really mess with my skin. My question is does anyone have experience with using the gel? I really hadn't looked into it until she prescribed it today.

I'm using estrogel - its a lot safer than pills from what i've read so far.

So far, so good.  I've never taken a pill or used a patch.

After the orchi, I'm thinking pellet implants to keep me on a more even keel and well, the fact it's idiotproof.  :P

Quote from: Jill F on March 11, 2014, 08:59:41 PM
So far, so good.  I've never taken a pill or used a patch.

After the orchi, I'm thinking pellet implants to keep me on a more even keel and well, the fact it's idiotproof.  :P

Cool cool. I was going to listen to her advice regarding meds. I just wasn't sure since she was ado meant about the patches for a few month but so far the gel seems fine. She offered injections but my fear of needles despite getting better with all these blood test is still bad. Either way it's nice to see other people prescribed gel also.

I have been on estrogel for a little over 4 weeks. My endo believes it is a safer way to go, given my age and overall health. It is easier on the liver than pills, and gives you a more even application of E over a number of hours. But I am having a difficult time understanding how the amount of estrogen I am getting relates to pill dosages.

Hi Hayley!
        Estrogel works great, so do patches. Anything topically applied is a lot safer as it doesn't have to make two trips through your liver like pills do and it gets the goods to your hormone receptors more efficiently than pills.

Just to reiterate, bio-identical estradiol, even delivered by way of pills, does not, at least in those doses typically prescribed to us, adversely affect liver function/health. Alcohol is, by far, more toxic to the liver. What it does affect and only very slightly is clotting since when estradiol passes through our liver, it triggers change in the production of clotting enzymes/proteins so that clotting is increased. So far, I have seen no mention of use of oral bio-identical estradiol leading to increased risk of DVT or pulmonary embolism. The only studies that have found an increased incidence have been with forms of estrogen that are NOT bio-identical (like Premarin, conjugated estrogens and Ethinyl Estradiol), often combined with progestins that are not the same as bio-identical progesterone. We cannot base ourselves on those studies alone since the form of estrogen is quite different and affects clotting to a much larger extent. When your doctor does mention this to you, ask them what they base themselves on for asserting this and you will see...

Bio-identical estradiol delivered non-orally does not affect clotting or increase risks but the difference with oral is very small, even perhaps insignificant. The advantage of non-oral is a higher ratio of estradiol to estrone and whether this more favorably affects us, our feminization, our health is questionable. Oral bio-identical estradiol also results in steady levels over 24 hours, even if taken once daily so in that respect, estrogel is no better or worst. Some even contend that a slight fluctuation of levels over time is best as this may avoid desensitization of cells to too stable levels of estradiol.

I have used them all.  Gel is good.  It leaves no mess and is safer than pills.