Okay, I got a good one for you ladies.
On Friday and went to see my endocrinologist and after a two-hour appointment with her. She went ahead and gave me a prescription for Cenestin. So the problem is I am on Medicare and they are telling me they will not cover Cenestin. The hard part is I'm trying to find out if I would be covered if my gender marker was different because I do know that Medicare automatically reject treatment that does not align with your gender marker associated with your Social Security number. I've been trying to figure out if there is a difference between Cenestin and Estradoil and would anybody out there know what that difference is I know that Cenestin is a synthetic conjoined hormone when I see everybody here talking about a Estradiol. I'm just curious if anybody out there has had any experience with Cenestin? Just for the record, I have put a call into Mander Canal adjust to see if I can get onto estradiol instead of Cenestin which is just under $800 US for one month supply. Thanks very much for listening.
Hugs,
Melissa Ann
Cenestin contains horse (equine) estrogens and some estrogens also found in humans, mostly estrone, I think which is weaker than estradiol. Studies have found these types of estrogens, because they contain equine estrogen to have a greater effect on coagulation factors and be a greater risk factor. For this reason, it is extremely rare these days to have this be prescribed to transsexual women and ciswomen as well. I would talk to your doctor and ask for the bio-identical kind, safer and just as effective.
Quote from: KayXo on September 30, 2014, 06:19:19 PM
Cenestin contains horse (equine) estrogens and some estrogens also found in humans, mostly estrone, I think which is weaker than estradiol. Studies have found these types of estrogens, because they contain equine estrogen to have a greater effect on coagulation factors and be a greater risk factor. For this reason, it is extremely rare these days to have this be prescribed to transsexual women and ciswomen as well. I would talk to your doctor and ask for the bio-identical kind, safer and just as effective.
That is my my understanding also, estradiol is a more potent version with all my research indicating equine based hormones present a greater risk of blood clots. I'm in Australia and estradiol is readily available for MtF transgender. On the PBS under Medicare .I've been prescribed estradiol valerate and have been happy with progress so far and can get this on Medicare. I would speak to your Endocronologist.
It is your choice of course, but I strongly suggest you stay away from synthetics. Here is a great article from the Boston University School of Endocrinology. Your Endo sounds VERY out of date. My Progesterone ($39.67 - $2.55 after Medicare for 90 day supply) AND Estradiol Cypionate ($54.28 - $2.55 after Medicare for 90 day supply) are covered under Medicare. :)
http://www.bumc.bu.edu/endo/clinics/transgender-medicine/guidelines/
In addition to being better for you, Estradiol is a generic, which can never be patented. Any licensed pharmaceutical manufacturer can produce it.
Places like Walmart, which offer low priced generics would have estradiol.
Quote from: Jessica Merriman on September 30, 2014, 06:45:20 PM
It is your choice of course, but I strongly suggest you stay away from synthetics. Here is a great article from the Boston University School of Endocrinology. Your Endo sounds VERY out of date. My Progesterone ($39.67 - $2.55 after Medicare for 90 day supply) AND Estradiol Cypionate ($54.28 - $2.55 after Medicare for 90 day supply) are covered under Medicare. :)
http://www.bumc.bu.edu/endo/clinics/transgender-medicine/guidelines/
What's the difference Jessica between Estradiol Cypionate and Estradiol Valerate? Would one be better for you than the other?
Thank you so very much for the responses they have been very helpful. I did talk to my endocrinologist about the medication and she is now switch me to estradiol ;) ;), which is you all have pointed out, is much cheaper and a lot more readily available. Please everybody have a great day and journey on
Hugs,
Melissa Ann
Quote from: MelissaAnn on October 02, 2014, 02:06:45 PM
Thank you so very much for the responses they have been very helpful. I did talk to my endocrinologist about the medication and she is now switch me to estradiol ;) ;), which is you all have pointed out, is much cheaper and a lot more readily available. Please everybody have a great day and journey on
Hugs,
Melissa Ann
And congrats on starting hrt today
Your endo is a moron and is not competent to treat you. Conjugated estrogens have unnecessary risks and costs compared to generic estrodiol which only cost $12 for 90 pills at walmart. Your endo has obviously not read any studies from the last few years regarding HRT and is a menace to our community.
I'm happy they changed it to bio-identical estradiol. :)