Hi Loulou1960
According to the information from Besins (there is a long-running thread on this) oestrodose and oestrogel are exactly the same - if they are manufactured by them at their Belgium plant. They are just given different packaging. I can't comment on any different consistency or smell you have noticed because many others have used them side by side for years and have never noticed no difference whatsoever in smell or consistency.
The ony thing you can do please is, for the oestrodose you say is thinner and doesn't smell - is look at the leaflet and see where it is manufactured, and which company has done the repackaging ( they don't actually repackage the raw gel itself just the container and leaflet) - and take note of the batch number. If you have noticed a difference in consistency etc then please write to Besins themselves with these details, and also I think you can report it under the yellow card scheme because all medicines are supposed to be tested to the same standard and are supposed to be identical (this is the advice given on the other thread).
If you are just thinking you notice a difference in efficacy but have not noted any observable difference in the product then it could just be coincidence - your hormones will fluctuate in peri-menopause anyway, or else expectation - the different packaging appears to mean that the products are different even if not!
If your hot flushes are creeping back in and you haven't changed anything else then it may be that you need a slightly higher dose? I can't comment about the spotting but you should contact your doc about any unscheduled bleeding you are worried about.
Whatever you decide I hope your flushes disappear soon!
Hurdity x
