I’m about to begin HRT and since I am not able to get that through my country’s public healthcare, it’ll have to be either DIY, or something like GenderGP or Imago.

I’m uncomfortable with Imago being a US company, but if it otherwise makes much more sense than GenderGP, that might not be an unsurmountable issue.
There has been talk that neither of those give as much support, or as good quality support, as they once maybe did. For example somebody actually reading the laboratory results and possibly recommending changing a substance or dose if so required would be would be a nice thing. Being middle-aged and having had relatives die at around my age because of blood clots, I know that at least I should choose some other ways than injections for taking the estradiol. An ability to talk with a specialist about this kind of stuff would be appreciated.

So, what’s the practical difference between Imago and GenderGP? Also, is there also a third one?

The most important service would of course be the ability to get an EU prescription through them so that I can go to a local pharmacy and buy the hormones and blockers there.

  • Lim-Lim@piefed.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
    0·
    10 days ago

    What do you mean about not taking injections because of blood clots?

    I’ve heard it recommended that estradiol should not be taken as an injection if you’re over 40-year-old. And that should not be such a problem with blockers, for example.

      • Lim-Lim@piefed.blahaj.zoneOPEnglish
        0·
        10 days ago

        My source is basically hearsay from other trans women, based on what the doctors in the public healthcare in my country have told them during their transitioning.

        • applebusch (she/her)@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
          0·
          9 days ago

          just want to chime in to point out that often doctors are major sources of misinformation about trans care, even so called trans care specialists. some of the things people have said doctors told them on here are ridiculous. this sounds like a remnant of advice based on estrogens harvested from pregnant horse urine, which did have clotting issues because of the presence of estrogens not normally present in the human body. modern bioidentical estrodiol doesnt have the same issue at all. you probably shouldnt trust anything you hear from a doctor at face value without some corroborating sources to back it up.