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Hormone Pellets instead of Pills or Injections?

Started by Quinn_Elizabeth, January 05, 2018, 09:54:28 PM

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Quinn_Elizabeth

I started HRT back in February of 2016 and had issues with getting my estrogen levels up to where they needed to be.
So my doctor had recently told me that she was doing hormone pellets for her trans patients. She said they are usually used on cis-women who undergo HRT for menopause or full hysterectomy. They last for 4 months and they slowly release estrogen without the need for pills or injections!
I was just wondering if anyone else has had them done and their opinion on them!

I just had mine put in 3 days ago!

-Quinn 💖

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Denise

I too am curious about pellets.  Injections after a year+ is starting to get old.  I can only imagine in 5, 10, 20, 30 years.
1st Person out: 16-Oct-2015
Restarted Spironolactone 26-Aug-2016
Restarted Estradiol Valerate: 02-Nov-2016
Full time: 02-Mar-2017
Breast Augmentation (Schechter): 31-Oct-2017
FFS (Walton in Chicago): 25-Sep-2018
Vaginoplasty (Schechter): 13-Dec-2018









A haiku in honor of my grandmother who loved them.
The Voices are Gone
Living Life to the Fullest
I am just Denise
  •  

Dena

I have moved your thread to Hormone Replacement Therapy where it will be seen. There are members on the site who use pellets and they are pleased with the results. It may take a few days for them to check in as pellets aren't commonly used in the United States. They are available but aren't normally used.
Rebirth Date 1982 - PMs are welcome - Use [email]dena@susans.org[/email] or Discord if your unable to PM - Skype is available - My Transition
If you are helped by this site, consider leaving a tip in the jar at the bottom of the page or become a subscriber
  •  

Denise

Quote from: Dena on January 05, 2018, 10:32:32 PM
...pellets aren't commonly used in the United States. ...

Dena - do you know why?  My GP doesn't use them. I asked.
1st Person out: 16-Oct-2015
Restarted Spironolactone 26-Aug-2016
Restarted Estradiol Valerate: 02-Nov-2016
Full time: 02-Mar-2017
Breast Augmentation (Schechter): 31-Oct-2017
FFS (Walton in Chicago): 25-Sep-2018
Vaginoplasty (Schechter): 13-Dec-2018









A haiku in honor of my grandmother who loved them.
The Voices are Gone
Living Life to the Fullest
I am just Denise
  •  

Dena

Quote from: Denise on January 05, 2018, 11:00:20 PM
Dena - do you know why?  My GP doesn't use them. I asked.
I don't know the reason but I have heard several possibilities. Pellets seem to be the most expensive way to receive HRT, they require a surgical procedure which many doctors aren't trained in, I have heard it may require more than one pellet and the pellets are not common so they are produced by a compounding lab. It may even be for some reason other than the ones I mentioned so you should ask your doctor why pellets aren't available.
Rebirth Date 1982 - PMs are welcome - Use [email]dena@susans.org[/email] or Discord if your unable to PM - Skype is available - My Transition
If you are helped by this site, consider leaving a tip in the jar at the bottom of the page or become a subscriber
  •  

Cindy

Pelleted HRT (oestrogen) is not commonly commercially available through the large pharmaceutical companies and are generally made by a compounding chemist.
They are popular in Australia as several of the leading endos like them and have a steady supply. They require a local anaesthetic, a small cut and then insertion of the pellet, about the size of a rice grain.  followed by a stitch to close the wound.

They last from 4-12 months and give steady levels of E.

Disadvantages, the medic has to know how to put the pellet in and many family doctors don't. They can be extruded by physical exercise (very rare) if the wound has not healed. HRT cannot be stopped if so desired. They break down at the end of their life and E levels can rocket for a week or so that confuses the blood picture. They have to be available. You have a series of small scars where they are inserted.

Advantages, steady levels, don't have to remember to take E, cheap (in Australia).

They are usually only used when the E levels have been stabilised by other methods and any medical side effects have been dealt with and when the client is happy to be on E and has no intention of stopping.

I was on them for years and the stopped and went to patches as I could not find a medic to keep implanting them.
  •  

Ayla

Quote from: Cindy on January 05, 2018, 11:44:15 PM
Pelleted HRT (oestrogen) is not commonly commercially available through the large pharmaceutical companies and are generally made by a compounding chemist.
They are popular in Australia as several of the leading endos like them and have a steady supply. They require a local anaesthetic, a small cut and then insertion of the pellet, about the size of a rice grain.  followed by a stitch to close the wound.

They last from 4-12 months and give steady levels of E.

Disadvantages, the medic has to know how to put the pellet in and many family doctors don't. They can be extruded by physical exercise (very rare) if the wound has not healed. HRT cannot be stopped if so desired. They break down at the end of their life and E levels can rocket for a week or so that confuses the blood picture. They have to be available. You have a series of small scars where they are inserted.

Advantages, steady levels, don't have to remember to take E, cheap (in Australia).

They are usually only used when the E levels have been stabilised by other methods and any medical side effects have been dealt with and when the client is happy to be on E and has no intention of stopping.

I was on them for years and the stopped and went to patches as I could not find a medic to keep implanting them.
I am also in Oz and am a very happy user of hrt implants.  In my case they are replaced 6 monthly and my E levels have been stable for a number of years.  My endo does not use a stitch to close the incision.  He has also prescribed E tablets and allows me discretion to take them if I sense that my E levels are falling prior to the next scheduled implant.  To me implants are convenient and effective with no downside.  I am surprised that they are not more commonly used in the US.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

  •  

kelly_aus

Quote from: Aisla on January 06, 2018, 12:05:25 AM
I am also in Oz and am a very happy user of hrt implants.  In my case they are replaced 6 monthly and my E levels have been stable for a number of years.  My endo does not use a stitch to close the incision.  He has also prescribed E tablets and allows me discretion to take them if I sense that my E levels are falling prior to the next scheduled implant.  To me implants are convenient and effective with no downside.  I am surprised that they are not more commonly used in the US.

And I wouldn't touch them again for all the tea in China.. Stupid waste of my time and money - all I got from day 1 was lower and lower E levels.

As to why they aren't so popular in the US, I'd hazard a guess and say it's because injectables are fairly easily available from large pharma companies - pellets/implants are not.
  •  

Ayla

Quote from: kelly_aus on January 06, 2018, 12:17:08 AM
And I wouldn't touch them again for all the tea in China.. Stupid waste of my time and money - all I got from day 1 was lower and lower E levels.

As to why they aren't so popular in the US, I'd hazard a guess and say it's because injectables are fairly easily available from large pharma companies - pellets/implants are not.
Kelly
How long did you try them? I used a single pellet for 12 months then increased to 2 pellets.  My endo swears by them.  Any ideas as to why your experience was not as positive?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

  •  

auroratrans

Quote from: Cindy on January 05, 2018, 11:44:15 PM
Pelleted HRT (oestrogen) is not commonly commercially available through the large pharmaceutical companies and are generally made by a compounding chemist.
They are popular in Australia as several of the leading endos like them and have a steady supply. They require a local anaesthetic, a small cut and then insertion of the pellet, about the size of a rice grain.  followed by a stitch to close the wound.

They last from 4-12 months and give steady levels of E.

Disadvantages, the medic has to know how to put the pellet in and many family doctors don't. They can be extruded by physical exercise (very rare) if the wound has not healed. HRT cannot be stopped if so desired. They break down at the end of their life and E levels can rocket for a week or so that confuses the blood picture. They have to be available. You have a series of small scars where they are inserted.

Advantages, steady levels, don't have to remember to take E, cheap (in Australia).

They are usually only used when the E levels have been stabilised by other methods and any medical side effects have been dealt with and when the client is happy to be on E and has no intention of stopping.

I was on them for years and the stopped and went to patches as I could not find a medic to keep implanting them.

What is the difference between the pellets and patches? What you found in your experience? and whichever is better?

important subject thanks  everyone
I think this would be useful
http://derosamedical.com/hormonal-pellet-faqs/
"We are born with a gender identity crisis. It is not an imitated or learnt one, but a natural instinct that urges us to be women.'' - Dhanam  ;)
  •  

Cindy

Quote from: auroratrans on January 06, 2018, 01:46:17 AM
Quote from: Cindy on January 05, 2018, 11:44:15 PM
Pelleted HRT (oestrogen) is not commonly commercially available through the large pharmaceutical companies and are generally made by a compounding chemist.
They are popular in Australia as several of the leading endos like them and have a steady supply. They require a local anaesthetic, a small cut and then insertion of the pellet, about the size of a rice grain.  followed by a stitch to close the wound.

They last from 4-12 months and give steady levels of E.

Disadvantages, the medic has to know how to put the pellet in and many family doctors don't. They can be extruded by physical exercise (very rare) if the wound has not healed. HRT cannot be stopped if so desired. They break down at the end of their life and E levels can rocket for a week or so that confuses the blood picture. They have to be available. You have a series of small scars where they are inserted.

Advantages, steady levels, don't have to remember to take E, cheap (in Australia).

They are usually only used when the E levels have been stabilised by other methods and any medical side effects have been dealt with and when the client is happy to be on E and has no intention of stopping.

I was on them for years and the stopped and went to patches as I could not find a medic to keep implanting them.

What is the difference between the pellets and patches? What you found in your experience? and whichever is better?

important subject thanks  everyone




For me exactly the same. I was fully me before I changed to patches. I just maintain my E levels to suit my physiology. (Under medical supervision).
  •  

Jayne01

Hi Quinn,
I am not in pellets yet. I see my endo on the 15th of this month where he will be inserting a pellet (or 2?). He uses them with many of his trans patients and they are sourced from a compounding pharmacy. I am in Australia by the way. The Dr tells me to expect the first pellet to last about 6 months and each subsequent pellet would last a little longer. Time will tell how I feel about the pellets long term. I am looking forward to having this done.

Jayne
  •  

Bari Jo

I use pellets and Love it.  It's not thinking  about it, and lasting for months really gets me going.  It's not cheap though.  for me, it took a while to get the right number to implant.

Personally it's the best method for me.  I have a history of quitting when on hrt.   Implants force you to stay on it.

bari jo
you know how far the universe extends outward? i think i go inside just as deep.

10/11/18 - out to the whole world.  100% friends and family support.
11/6/17 - came out to sister, best day of my life
9/5/17 - formal diagnosis and stopping DIY in favor if prescribed HRT
6/18/17 - decided to stop fighting the trans beast, back on DIY.
Too many ups and downs, DIY, purges of self inbetween dates.
Age 10 - suppression and denial began
Age 8 - knew I was different
  •  

auroratrans

Quote from: Cindy on January 06, 2018, 01:53:36 AM
What is the difference between the pellets and patches? What you found in your experience? and whichever is better?

important subject thanks  everyone





For me exactly the same. I was fully me before I changed to patches. I just maintain my E levels to suit my physiology. (Under medical supervision).

Thank you
Love ♡
"We are born with a gender identity crisis. It is not an imitated or learnt one, but a natural instinct that urges us to be women.'' - Dhanam  ;)
  •  

kelly_aus

Quote from: Aisla on January 06, 2018, 12:41:33 AM
Kelly
How long did you try them? I used a single pellet for 12 months then increased to 2 pellets.  My endo swears by them.  Any ideas as to why your experience was not as positive?

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Well, there was no encapsulation and no issues with the implantation.. In the end, a defective pellet is a possible answer..
  •  

Ellement_of_Freedom

I love pellets, but once my surgeries are done I'd like to move to just pills so I don't keep acquiring 1cm scars.


FFS: Dr Noorman van der Dussen, August 2018 (Belgium)
SRS: Dr Suporn, January 2019 (Thailand)
VFS: Dr Thomas, May 2019 (USA)
  •  

AnonyMs

I've been on implants e or 4 years, and am now 15 months between new ones. The scars are almost impossible to see.

I absolutely love them and have no intention of ever going back to anything else.

I tried a progesterone implant, but it got rejected.
  •  

Quinn_Elizabeth

So from what I understand I need to move to Australia for cheaper pellets! Lol
I'm liking it so far. The only thing that is making me anxious is that it's not covered by my insurance so I have to pay for it out of pocket ($350). I'll be going to get my levels checked in two months and i'll Post an update then! Thanks for all of your input about it!
So many different viewpoints and opinions really helps! You're all so awesome! ☺️☺️☺️

-Quinn💖
  •  

Ellement_of_Freedom

Quote from: Quinn_Elizabeth on January 06, 2018, 03:29:20 PM
So from what I understand I need to move to Australia for cheaper pellets! Lol
I'm liking it so far. The only thing that is making me anxious is that it's not covered by my insurance so I have to pay for it out of pocket ($350). I'll be going to get my levels checked in two months and i'll Post an update then! Thanks for all of your input about it!
So many different viewpoints and opinions really helps! You're all so awesome! ☺️☺️☺️

-Quinn💖

It seems a lot of trans-related costs are less expensive here in Australia. Like laser hair removal and HRT.

I don't understand why though.


FFS: Dr Noorman van der Dussen, August 2018 (Belgium)
SRS: Dr Suporn, January 2019 (Thailand)
VFS: Dr Thomas, May 2019 (USA)
  •  

Quinn_Elizabeth

Quote from: Ellement_of_Freedom on January 06, 2018, 07:44:17 PM
It seems a lot of trans-related costs are less expensive here in Australia. Like laser hair removal and HRT.

I don't understand why though.

That's because Australia is the land of Kangaroos, Hugh Jackman, and Tim Tams!
You all have everything going for you!! Lol.

-Quinn💖
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