Your opinion of the Estrogren creams, gels, or patches?

[girl_ashley]

So it seems I have been having a tough struggle with my inner demons and am having a hard time giving myself my injections.  I am going to be seeing my provider next week and am considering asking to be switched to the estrogen cremes because it just isn't worth all the anxiety of the needle and then missing my dose if there is an alternative available.  Can anyone tell me of their experience with the Estrogen creams, gels, patches?  Are they just as effective as the injections?  Your likes or dislikes about the creams/gels/patches?

[Cindy Stephens]

I currently inject.  However, I used gel for a short period, liked it, but it is very expensive.  Putting it on is a very sensuous act.  I used patches for years.  Less expensive, but I am prone to eczema, sort of a minor red rash.  The patches also leave a slightly sticky residue that is hard to get off.  I never felt quite as smooth while using them compared to gel or the injections.  It wasn't terrible though.  Some girls seem to have a problem during the summer, while outdoors, and having them fall off from sweating.  I work inside and that was never a problem for me.  It is my understanding that all methods of estrogen intake work just as well,  although some users swear about the efficacy of one over another.  I believe that it is just cost and ease of administration that makes a difference.  Good luck.

[Janet_Girl]

I use a progesterone creme when I am not cycling.  just a small amount.  Otherwise I use pills for my estrogen.  I have contact dermatitis when I have used the patches.  And my doctor thinks pills work just as well as anything.

[kae m]

My endo prescribes me a transdermal application in supplement to my pills just to keep my levels stable throughout the day.  Right now I use either evamist (transdermal spray applied to forearm) or divigel (transdermal gel applied to the thigh).  What I don't like is they're pricey compared to the tablets, other than that I like what they do to me because I can definitely tell the days I forget.  Divigel is annoying to apply and let dry, but it's easier to more discretely carry a few packets with me in case I forget to use the evamist.  I like that the evamist is easier to apply and quick to dry, but the applicator is bulky and it doesn't have a way to tell how many sprays you've used unless you keep track yourself.

As for effects...all I'm using it for is to keep my mood and body temperature stable, and it totally works for that.  The main drawbacks for me are the price and remembering to use it in the morning before I get dressed for work

Oh and because both of those are kinda cost prohibitive, every time I'm in for a checkup with my endo he gives me 3-4 boxes of samples for each, usually that lasts me until I see him again but I've had to fill the prescription a couple times just to fill in 2-3 week gaps.

[jesse]

i use patch exclusively i like the results but at times its annoying i find myself checking periodly to see if its still in place. i think i will ask for the pill at my next appointment assuming i ever get to it lol.
jessica

[laurita22]

hello, patches and creams are useless to our bodies we have bodies of men and estrogen containing aprches and creams are biological women thing that we're not, patches and creams can not estrogen level manterner blood as a bio woman as pills and injections if you can have estregenicos blood levels as a bio woman, but if you have a problem in the liver have every right to use but not a good andimistracion hormonal treatment we, the transsexuals, luck witch you a kiss


LAURA

[Silver]

hello, patches and creams are useless to our bodies we have bodies of men and estrogen containing aprches and creams are biological women thing that we're not, patches and creams can not estrogen level manterner blood as a bio woman as pills and injections if you can have estregenicos blood levels as a bio woman, but if you have a problem in the liver have every right to use but not a good andimistracion hormonal treatment we, the transsexuals, luck witch you a kiss


LAURA

wut

[Nicky]

Well, patches have been working great for me, I can't complain at all.

(translation of Lauritas post:
patches and creams are designed for female bodies. they do not allow you to get to the same level of estrogen as a bio woman naturally has, unlike pills and injections. But if you have liver problems then they are a good alternative, but not the best treatment for transsexuals. Best of luck. xx)

Well, I disagree with that. You can get patches with a rather high dosage, I'm on a very low does patch and I am getting great results!

[jesse]

okies hmmm someone better tell my body patches dont work because it sure as hell fooled it
jessica

[laurita22]

Well, patches have been working great for me, I can't complain at all.

(translation of Lauritas post:
patches and creams are designed for female bodies. they do not allow you to get to the same level of estrogen as a bio woman naturally has, unlike pills and injections. But if you have liver problems then they are a good alternative, but not the best treatment for transsexuals. Best of luck. xx)

Well, I disagree with that. You can get patches with a rather high dosage, I'm on a very low does patch and I am getting great results!

nikcy hello, I'm happy for you, but it genral estrogenic patches and creams are useless to us transsexual women estrogen levels are very low in blood and endocrinologists recentes us patches and creams, as if we had ovaries and testes and we have to have a level enough to not have estrogenic problems descasificasion of calcium in the bones, so I use tablets and injections recomindo, kisses
LAURA

[Nicky]

If they were useless then why do I have breasts? Why has my body hair stopped growing so much, why has my face changed, why have I become so emotional?

The estrogen levels in my blood are pretty good. I think you are wrong. Lots of trans girls use them. You can achieve the equivalent of pills.

[kae m]

nikcy hello, I'm happy for you, but it genral estrogenic patches and creams are useless to us transsexual women estrogen levels are very low in blood and endocrinologists recentes us patches and creams, as if we had ovaries and testes and we have to have a level enough to not have estrogenic problems descasificasion of calcium in the bones, so I use tablets and injections recomindo, kisses
LAURA

I'm not sure where you got your information, but it's just not correct.  Both transdermal estradiol prescriptions I am using can be prescribed in dosages as high as the tablets.  Both of them work for me.  If I forget to apply either in the morning I tend to get hot flashes and feel more drastic shifts in my mood between taking each tablet.  So no, those aren't the only things in my HRT regimen, but the effect from transdermal delivery methods is clear.  There are plenty of people using only those applications who have good results.  There are plenty of people who are taking tablets or injections or some combination that wish they had better results.

It sounds like you're now saying they are ineffective because the doctor may prescribe an extremely low dose.  If that's what your position is I would agree entirely, an extremely low dose would be ineffective for a woman taking HRT to transition.  But that has nothing to do with the effectiveness of estradiol patches, creams, gels, etc. and everything to do with a doctor prescribing an ineffective treatment.