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63 lines
2.7 KiB
Markdown
63 lines
2.7 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: estradiol delivery methods
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timestamp: 2023-11-12T20:55:00.00Z
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tags: [trans, hrt, estradiol]
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desc: a comparison of the four forms of estradiol i've taken since starting hrt
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header_image_file: 2023/11/syringe.jpeg
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header_image_alt: A photograph of a syringe for instramuscular injection with needle still in its wrapper.
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---
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i started estradiol injections a few months ago and felt it might be useful to write out my experiences with each of them for posterity
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## patches
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my endo started me on estradiol patches. these definitely work, but only if you put them in the right spots and also if they stay on
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i had trouble with both of those and found it pretty annoying
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aside from that, i could feel them starting to wear off 12-24 hours before it was time to replace the patches. definitely not ideal
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additionally, insurance sucks and regularly caused me to be a couple days late on replacing a patch because they wouldn't cover it in time
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## sublingual pills
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these are pretty neat. easiest and cheapest of the bunch
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unfortunately, i could feel _these_ wearing off too, at about 5-6 hours after a dose. apparently this isn't common, but it affected me sooo
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i've also had problems with getting accurate estradiol level measurements since it flucuates so much. definitely my preferred method if they worked better for me
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## swallowed pills
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before switching to injections my endo had me try out swallowing my estradiol pills instead of dissolving them. the results for me were that i couldn't feel them wearing off anymore, BUT i couldn't get my levels back up either. not an ideal solution
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## injections
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these are _great_
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i was super nervous before starting them but turns out it's actually not that hard to inject yourself if it's your only option
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cannot feel these wearing off at all between doses _and_ i get good estradiol levels
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my E levels are so consistently good now that i don't need a testosterone blocker which is _very_ nice
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however!
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## insurance _sucks_
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my insurance filled my first three-month prescription of estradiol valerate for around $120. this is absurd.
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then they failed to fill my prescription when i was out. when i called to ask for a fill, they told me they couldn't. doing the math from what they told me i found they expected me to around 16 and half doses out of a vial, which would be an extra 3-4 weeks over what the prescription from my endo actually said
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so instead i went out of pocket and through discount programs get my estradiol for cheaper than with insurance and (importantly) _on time_
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loooooove insurance.
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## conclusions
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- injections rock if you can get insurance to cover them
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- sublingual's good too and works great for most people but didn't for me
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- avoid swallowing them
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- patches are ehhh
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that is all.
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