So much information on this thread is also just wrong. Like the comment or above said you can keep your vials and my doctor told me to as well. In my experience, Estradiol doesn’t go bad very quickly if you keep it sterile (you look at the color and throw it away if it gets cloudy or changes color). Keep it out of sunlight and follow the package instructions for a cool and dry place.

As for it being sterile, it is important that you do the drawing out of the vial properly. Make sure it is a sterile needle, and that you use a small enough needle gauge (I have had the best of luck between 23g and 25g) so that you do not core your vial (little rubber pieces that fall in). Putting the needle in at an angle also helps. When you pull it out the rubber stopper is supposed to be self sealing. As another comment said you can also wipe the top with an alcohol wipe before drawing. If you are having issues with the process I would see if you can get an appointment for someone at planned parenthood to show you.

Also the month expiration is just what was tested as safe, they didn’t actually test what the maximum is as it is for the manufacturers liability, so at the end of the day it’s your decision

Yeah, it's hard. Especially if you're used to a doctor's office being a safe space. And often the docs aren't even being bigoted. Overtly bigoted docs don't tend to get involved in trans care at all. But even well-meaning ones can be ignorant. A few common doctor issues, even among well-meaning docs:

• Not realizing that modern bioidentical estradiol is nothing like the premarin of decades past. It doesn't have the liver and kidney risks that premarin did.

• Prescribing estradiol valerate on two week intervals (resulting in a week of menopausal E levels.)

• Demanding patients stop estrogen for weeks prior to surgery. (This came out of the premarin days.)

• Prescribing massive doses of T blockers with minimal estrogen doses.

Etc. And if you're just starting this, another thing to keep in mind is to always see your own blood work levels. So many trans folks end up getting screwed over by their doctors. The doc will say, "your levels are fine!" while you're actually in the menopausal levels of estrogen. Not all docs are like this, but plenty are. Do NOT simply rely on your doc telling you your levels are good. Insist on seeing the levels yourself.

I feel like this kind of thing falls more within a pharmacist's knowledge than a doctor's. But you can also try reading that tiny writing in the mini-book that might have come in the box that held the vial, see if there's anything about it and any reason for it. Otherwise you can follow the advice of isleepinahammock.