Over the last decade I've tried all kinds of oral HRT and anti- androgens and have seen very little results. Injectable HRT is illegal in the UK and is not licenced here. But I could buy it illegally over the internet and take a gamble or go for HRT implants which are licenced over here. Can anyone tell me what HRT implants are like? and how effective they are as I'm running out of things to try?

Hi NB

Horrible though it may seem it may just be that you are one of those unlucky women who don't get a lot of results from hormones. My first GF, for example, a natal female, never developed a bust at all. Sadly if so it is unlikely to be changed much by altering the delivery system so alternative methods may be needed to achieve the desired figure.

But there is one little thing which you should probably also investigate - if you are taking estradiol-valerate, which many people in the UK do, then you should try the alternative formulation of estradiol-hemihydrate because a very few women (about 1 in 100) lack the ability to properly metabolise estradiol-valerate.

The alternate hemihydrate formulation overcomes this problem. So it is worth trying that if you haven't already done so. It's available in both pill and nasal spray form, but as it is considered by pharmacists to be largely interchangable with valerate you do need to get a prescription which specifies Hemihydrate, (and in my experience it also pays to check what you have been given when the pills are dispensed.)

Quote from: rejennyrated on December 30, 2009, 11:04:03 AM
Hi NB

Horrible though it may seem it may just be that you are one of those unlucky women who don't get a lot of results from hormones. My first GF, for example, a natal female, never developed a bust at all. Sadly if so it is unlikely to be changed much by altering the delivery system so alternative methods may be needed to achieve the desired figure.

But there is one little thing which you should probably also investigate - if you are taking estradiol-valerate, which many people in the UK do, then you should try the alternative formulation of estradiol-hemihydrate because a very few women (about 1 in 100) lack the ability to properly metabolise estradiol-valerate.

The alternate hemihydrate formulation overcomes this problem. So it is worth trying that if you haven't already done so. It's available in both pill and nasal spray form, but as it is considered by pharmacists to be largely interchangable with valerate you do need to get a prescription which specifies Hemihydrate, (and in my experience it also pays to check what you have been given when the pills are dispensed.)

Hi Jenny,

I have tried estradiol-valerate in tablet form in the past and found it to have the least impact. I also found ethinyestrodial and androcur to be the most effective for me. I've also tried patches, gels and various other forms of HRT over a 10 year period. You will have to explain the hemihydrate formulation as I'm not sure what is is? The last time I tried estradiol-valerate in tablet form it gave me headaches and gave me a high prolectin level?

I have struggled for years trying to find something that works. My friend is about the same age as I am and has been on HRT for 18 years and she has had less effects from HRT than I have had. So I know I'm not the only one who isn't getting the right body fat re-distribution.

Estradiol-Hemihydrate is a slightly different chemical form of beta-17 estradiol.

It is much easier for the body to metabolise than valerate and therfore often works for those patients for whom Valerate causes problems. It is what both I and my partner take.

It is widely available in the uk under the brand name elleste-solo in various dosages. Perhaps you might give it a try.

Quote from: rejennyrated on December 30, 2009, 12:45:56 PM
Estradiol-Hemihydrate is a slightly different chemical form of beta-17 estradiol.

It is much easier for the body to metabolise than valerate and therfore often works for those patients for whom Valerate causes problems. It is what both I and my partner take.

It is widely available in the uk under the brand name elleste-solo in various dosages. Perhaps you might give it a try.

Hi Jenny,

I already have a supply of 'elleste-solo' which is in tablet form. I tried it a year or so ago and felt it had no effect. It was suggested by a friend. I'll try taking it again but I think I'm at the point where I've tried just about everything now apart from injectables and implants.

As I recall, there was a doctor in San Diego doing estradiol pellet implants but he was the only one who would do them in the amounts we need. I thought it was compelling until I saw the cost. In your case it wouldn't make much sense to come here to get them done, because you could just but a bunch of injectable while you were here for a lot less. When we discussed it here...

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,59046.0.html

...the reviews were good. It might be worth getting Maggie to nudge her friend and ask about it.

Quote from: Becca on December 30, 2009, 07:06:09 PM
As I recall, there was a doctor in San Diego doing estradiol pellet implants but he was the only one who would do them in the amounts we need. I thought it was compelling until I saw the cost. In your case it wouldn't make much sense to come here to get them done, because you could just but a bunch of injectable while you were here for a lot less. When we discussed it here...

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,59046.0.html

...the reviews were good. It might be worth getting Maggie to nudge her friend and ask about it.

I can get HRT implants here in the U.K as they are licenced here which is why I wanted information on their possible effectiveness. What I can't get here is injectable HRT which is something I would also like to try but is not available or licenced in the U.K.