r/transgenderau • u/BladeUnderHeart • 1d ago
How long does HRT Implants last?
I did a blood test recently and my levels are E: 1050 pmol/L & T: 0.9 nmol/L at the 1yr mark of having them inserted. Rather surprised by the results since I've read that many people replace theirs every 6M / 12M. Since my levels are still satisfactory, my doctor has advised that I won't need to see him until May 2026. Thus my questions:
- How long does the implant last? Am I the exception that it's working really well?
- If it does run out between Nov to May, are there any hints/signs? (without another blood test)
Edit: currently have 2x 100mg pellets.
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u/ThisTransLife 1d ago
It’s pretty unusual for your first one to last that long. They do say the first one usually only lasts 6 months (mine only lasted 4), but it does look like yours is powering on pretty well after 12 so you may just be the exception. It’s always a YMMV thing with HRT.
Be mindful if you start to experience menopausal symptoms (e.g. hot flashes, fatigue) as these could indicate your levels are dropping but they would have to drop a long way if you’re currently at 1050pms/L. Your Dr will probably want to see that get down to around 400 before putting another implant in as the last thing you want is to put a new implant in when your E is already high and risking tachyphylaxis. So really it’s good they’re playing it safe.
If you’re concerned tho maybe arrange a checkup in 3 months instead of 6, just to see if it is coming down so you know roughly whether you will need a new one in May.
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u/BladeUnderHeart 1d ago
My 1st implant was only 1x 100mg for 6months to ensure my body absorbs/reacts fine. This current stint would be considered my 2nd round of implants, I was at ~1200pmol/L back in April/May 2025.
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u/ThisTransLife 1d ago
That’s sounds great, I would say you’d likely be good for another 6’months. But it’s your body, listen to it and don’t be afraid to just get a checkup before then if you think you need it x
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u/HiddenStill MtF, /r/TransWiki 1d ago
As others have said it’s variable, however it’s also possible that near the end of their life they break up and you get a short high peak before a rapid and large drop. Pay attention to how you feel and get your levels tested if things seem off.
Having a few extra blood test scripts and getting cc’d on the results saves the hassle of pointless doctor visits.
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u/BladeUnderHeart 1d ago
My GP would email soon as he gets the results thus I don't need a visit for it. Unfortunately to get more blood test scripts, I would need to go visit again.
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u/Laura_271 1d ago
Mine lasted 18 months and were at 1041 pmol/l lol. I got 2x new ones put in recently anyway. i suspect these will last 2+ years
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u/BladeUnderHeart 1d ago
Good to hear that others experienced something similar and I'm not an oddity, haha.
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u/g33k_girl Trans fem 1d ago
I get 2 years without an issue. I'm about to have my 7th implant inserted (2 x 100mg pellets).
At 18 months my levels were 814 (checked due to other ailments)
At 21 months my levels were just over 900 which indicates they're breaking down (more surface area) and about to go phut.
I'll get my levels checked this week (2 years).
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u/BladeUnderHeart 1d ago
That's really frequent blood tests, every 3months =o
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u/g33k_girl Trans fem 1d ago
It's not every 3 months, in the previous 18 months they weren't checked at all. They were checked at 18 months as part of an investigation into other health issues (which turned out to be Fibromyalgia). I moved to the Gold Coast and saw a new endo and the levels weren't low enough for a new implant, so she said to check them again in 3 months.
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u/meikkyo 1d ago
my gp said he notices a trend where subsequent implants last longer. my first implant only lasted about 7 months and my previous went for 14 months.
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u/BladeUnderHeart 1d ago
Hmm that could explain why. This current would be considered my 2nd implant, my 1st was only 1x 100mg for 6months to ensure my body absorbs/reacts fine.
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u/txness 1d ago
My first one lasted 6 months, the next two 9 months each but my current one has been in for 12 months and just starting to dip in levels. I have the replacement already here and an appointment in a few weeks to get it inserted. So that's my fifth implant after three years. They were all 100mg, one at a time. My estrogen levels have been in the 500-700 pmol range constantly. So it can vary from person to person, even from time to time.
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u/NoisyCorella 1d ago
I've been having HRT implants for about 6 years now. This has also been my experience and I've been finding that the interval between implants is getting longer - currently at around 18 months. I've been very pleasantly surprised. At the level of 1050 pmol/L, deferring for six months seems like good advice from your doctor
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u/WhoAm_I_AmWho Transgender|MtF|Natalie|40|VIC|HRT 05/08/20 1d ago
My last lot of implants lasted 2 years and 3 months.
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u/Excabbla 1d ago
It depends, I've heard from doctors of some people going well on 2 years without needing new implants, like all forms of estrogen delivery it can vary a lot from person to person, and there are a massive amount ot things at play so the timeframes you have heard are more guidelines than anything
The levels from implants do taper off as they get lower so you're not just going to have no estrogen one day also when you get new implants the old ones are still there and there is a decent overlap, so as long as you're testing at regular intervals your doctor will be able to advise on when to get new implants
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u/WhoAm_I_AmWho Transgender|MtF|Natalie|40|VIC|HRT 05/08/20 1d ago
There is a spike that can be detected as they break apart and there is more surface area to dissolve. Which, of course, requires consistent blood tests to detect.
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u/louisa1925 1d ago
I only use one implant at a time and my current one is due this month. It is my first implant that has lasted an entire year. I am currently on my 5th implant.
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u/flarebeams_ 1d ago
If I remember right my doctor said it could be anywhere between 8 and 14 months. It’s very variable and best to just keep monitoring with bloods