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[Erika28]

Hi,

I recently tried something, just to find out what would happen. From years of being on Estrogel, I had many bottles left so I thought that instead of having them be wasted, I should use them and experiment. Since about 1 month and a half, I've been applying 1 pump to my vulva. On top of my existing regimen which consists of estradiol and testosterone injected intramuscularly which, honestly, have not alleviated some of my issues.

To my amazement, I've observed a significant improvement in mood, energy and memory. My skin is softer, more even and smooth. My features have softened and I look younger than ever. I also noticed an increase in my attraction to men, my desire to engage and my libido.

The gel burns a little, as expected but it's tolerable and this lasts, at most, a few minutes.

As some of you may already know, the vulva, being thin, mucosal and very vascularized, absorption in this area is increased, several fold (I believe up to 5 times, maybe more). This may account for why I'm having such good results.

Food for thought...I just couldn't keep this to myself and had to absolutely share with the rest of you.

[Hurdity]

Thanks for sharing and glad to know you are getting good results Erika28 but probably not a good idea to apply gel to such a delicate area for which it has not been formulated. I know ( at least I think it is still available) that in US there are oestrogen creams developed for systemic absorption that are applied through the vagina but not here in UK.  Applied in this way is giving an increased oestrogen dose as it will surely be absorbed to some extent.

A better way if you need a higher dose is to get this authorised through GP or meno specialist and use local oestrogen for this delicate area, and try to get testosterone prescribed for continuing problems with libido.

Anything which causes additional burning to this very delicate area is surely not to be recommended when so many women suffer this symptom as part of the horrible condition of vaginal atrophy?

Here's to a good libido though!

Hurdity x

[Alicess]

 Hi Erika28, Thank you for your post. I agree with Hurdity that it isn't meant for such a delicate area but I'm m desperate for relief as both Estrogel and patches made my symptoms worse
So I'm very interested. Did you find any relief of symptoms when you used Estrogel on your skin in the past? Why did you change to injections?

[MicheleMaBelle]

Erika28- glad this seems to be doing the trick for you but I really think you'd be much safer referring use in this way to your medics to see what they say?
Years ago I read that rubbing crushed aspirins as a paste to your skin made it glow. I hotfooted it to the supermarket to buy some, made the paste and slapped it on. Wow, I looked great, my skin was so fabulous that I repeated it a few days later. Again, great results, made a significant difference. And then the problems, peeling skin, horrible. Went to see someone who couldn't believe I had done that ( tip was from a beauty article in the Sunday Times ) . I had effectively given myself a chemical peel and she then had to spend a year trying to sort it! She runs training programmes and I'm still mentioned all these years later when she's training new beauticians.
Just be careful and get the ok from your doctors if you want to continue this regime x

[Tracey E]

Hi Erika, have you applied Estrogel to your face?

[Erika28]

I discussed this with my doctor and had her ok. I am continuing using it this way and am quite satisfied with results.

[Miche041]

Interesting 🤔

[KiltedCupid]

Hi Erika, have you applied Estrogel to your face?

Tracey E - I use Sandrena gel and after I've applied it, I put my moisturiser on the leftover gelbon my hand and rub it into my face. Tiny amount but I've seen a difference in my skin.

Erika28 - I've read reports before that the vulval region is a very efficient area to absorb hormones.

[Wilks]

I wouldn't use it that way myself: the instructions say in bold “Do not apply to the breasts or genital area”.
I think it's a higher concentration than the creams formulated for VA.

[Hurdity]

Absolutely Wilks. And as for the face.....

I discussed this with my doctor and had her ok. I am continuing using it this way and am quite satisfied with results.

....whatever your doctor says - this is not advisable for women to try. I am sure most doctors and gynaes would not sanction this for oestrogel. I presume you are not in UK Erika and seeing a private doctor?

Hurdity x

[Sgtvhilts]

As an experimenter myself!!! If it works and no troubles go for it. I ‘invented ‘ my own regime after the ‘wise' regime had little effect on my symptoms- bingo mostly gone.
The alcohol base in the gel may make your bits a bit dry possibly sore ,but hey ho you would know what has done it and us ladies are pretty good at thinking outside and around the box.
I now enjoy being mostly symptom free to quit my invention...

[KiltedCupid]

Sgtvhilts - agree entirely, particularly if your doc has ok'd it. We're forever telling ladies that one size does not fit all and holding onto that sentiment we must allow ladies to find their balance in conjunction with their docs approval and support them when they do.

[Hurdity]

As an experimenter myself!!! If it works and no troubles go for it. I ‘invented ‘ my own regime after the ‘wise' regime had little effect on my symptoms- bingo mostly gone.
The alcohol base in the gel may make your bits a bit dry possibly sore ,but hey ho you would know what has done it and us ladies are pretty good at thinking outside and around the box.
I now enjoy being mostly symptom free to quit my invention...

Hey Sgtvhilts - I'm all for thinking outside of the box - in fact science and medicine would not progress without it and associated creative thinking, but when it comes to medical stuff and from a patients' point of view, "the box" is there for a reason - for safety ( as well as efficacy). It means that drugs and products have been trialled and the resultant product instructions can be followed with some confidence about safety and efficacy, and taking into account the warnings (which are sometimes overcautious I acknowledge!).

I really do not think it is advisable for anyone to experiment in this way with a product developed to applied in a particular place on the body.

Sgtvhilts - agree entirely, particularly if your doc has ok'd it. We're forever telling ladies that one size does not fit all and holding onto that sentiment we must allow ladies to find their balance in conjunction with their docs approval and support them when they do.

Erika - sorry but we have no idea who your doc is, and what sort of doc. Which particular aspect of your regime has the doc given approval to? Most docs who prescribe or allow off-licence or off-label regimes do so on the basis of published research which supports this - even if not licensed in UK eg the use of utrogestan vaginally, or longer cycles etc - NOT the use of a product in a completely different way from that which it has been designed.

Kilted cupid - of course one size does not fit all we all accept that - but we certainly should not allow or rather encourage WOMEN (I don't regard myself as a "lady"  - not sophisticated enough!) to experiment in this way to find a balance. And I don't support anyone who posts in a way that might encourage other women to use products like this because one member says her doc has OK'ed it giving the impression that it is medically OK generally.

Also re the application of gel to the vulva area - yes of course products are absorbed well here in these very thin and delicate tissues - but gel is designed and formulated to be absorbed through the skin (not the face though....) and the dosage is worked out on the basis that a certain proportion gets through into the bloodstream when applied to the particular areas of the body studied. Although the amount absorbed is very variable between different women it is within a certain range of values tested through trials, and if absorption is higher through the vulval area then there is no knowing at all what systemic levels will be achieved and these could potentially ve very high - too high for many women possibly.

In addition all these products and their excipients (ie what the active ingredient is mixed with - the fillers) have been extensively tested as to how they work/absorbed on/through different areas of the body/skin so using a product in a different area could cause irritation or worse (like MicheleMabelle found to her cost).

Hurdity x

[Wilks]

Every woman needs an individualised dose of oestrogen, yes. However, if you play about with applying gel to your vulva when it's specifically for your skin, you could end up with an unnecessarily high dose, which over a long period of time could increase your risk of breast cancer. Although HRT carries a low risk of developing breast cancer, I would still be cautious about only taking the max dose needed to treat my symptoms.
OP- What about trying transdermal rather than intramuscular testosterone?

[bear]

Erika28- glad this seems to be doing the trick for you but I really think you'd be much safer referring use in this way to your medics to see what they say?
Years ago I read that rubbing crushed aspirins as a paste to your skin made it glow. I hotfooted it to the supermarket to buy some, made the paste and slapped it on. Wow, I looked great, my skin was so fabulous that I repeated it a few days later. Again, great results, made a significant difference. And then the problems, peeling skin, horrible. Went to see someone who couldn't believe I had done that ( tip was from a beauty article in the Sunday Times ) . I had effectively given myself a chemical peel and she then had to spend a year trying to sort it! She runs training programmes and I'm still mentioned all these years later when she's training new beauticians.
Just be careful and get the ok from your doctors if you want to continue this regime x

Hi MicheleMaBelle,

I wonder if someone has confused acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) with salicylic acid, a well known skin exfoliating agent?

BeaR.