My name is Blake Newton, known on social media as The Transgender T-Rex, and I'm the owner of Caged Earth Designs wire wrapped jewelry and art. I am female to male trans.
The birth control implant (AKA Nexplanon) is a tiny, thin rod about the size of a matchstick. The implant releases hormones into your body that prevent you from getting pregnant. A nurse or doctor inserts the implant into your arm and that's it — you're protected from pregnancy for up to 4 years. It's get-it-and-forget-it birth control.
One of the awesome things about the implant is that it lasts for a long time — up to 4 years — but it's not permanent. If you decide you want to get pregnant or you just don't want to have your implant anymore, your doctor can take it out. You're able to get pregnant quickly after the implant is removed.
The reason I am telling you the above, is I had the idea to turn Nexplanon into a slow release trans hormone device, by replacing the progestin with either Testosterone or Estrogen (depending on whether the patient is FtM or MtF)
The benefits included in adding this as an option for hormone therapy are as follows:
●No moodiness and hostility surrounding injection days for FtM
●No worries about forgetting to take your shot/pill
●stop or change in insurance? Not as big of a deal! You would need to get it changed out only every 4 years, so, there would be no emergency to get a prescription filled.
●It costs less! The implant costs $0-$1300 to put in, and $0-$300 and that is ONCE every 4 years to remove depending on insurance.
Whereas testosterone injections cost $12-$120 a month, and estrogen pills cost $30-$100 a month depending on insurance. So maximum savings would be $4460 over the course of 4 years! So much savings, so much less hassle!
This petition is to let FDA know we want this as an option for trans therapy, to make our transitions easier, cheaper, and less hassle!
