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[LuLu71]

 Hi Everyone,

I'm wondering if there's people on here who have been advised by their doctor or gyno to increase the estrogel pumps to more than two times per day? If so, for how long?

I recently started to increase my estrogel pumps to four times a day because I was so sick of not sleeping and feeling hot and being dry down there...it really was working in every area and I was finally sleeping again and like magic I was feeling so much better down there. When I went to see my gyno almost two weeks after increasing the gel, she advised that I was giving myself too much and that the amount I was using increases the risk for breast and uterus cancer. So, I am back to just two and my symptoms are coming back.

A little background on me-today I am officially postmenopausal, yay (no period in a full year)! However, what a horrendous year of health struggles that I am now so sick and tired of. I am on the continuous HRT with 100 mg progesterone and two pumps of estrogel (17 estradiol 0.06%) per day. This week I started vagifem 10mg for my dryness.

I am asking on here because after searching the forum I read that a few ladies on here had their doses increased but it wasn't clear if they did this on their own or if a doctor had prescribed more than 2 pumps. My gyno is quite respected in women's health and hormonal related issues so I really take her seriously when she warns against more than 2 pumps a day. However, I did read in the estrogel pamphlet that sometimes women need more than two pumps...it's so confusing!

Thanks so much for reading and I would be so grateful to hear from people about this subject.

[Dotty]

Hi you can use up to 4 pumps. I use 4 pumps.

Some ladies use more than 4 pumps under specialist guidance x

[LuLu71]

Dottie, thank you, that's great you use 4 pumps. What does specialist guidance entail? ie. extra blood testing, some restrictions in other aspects of your daily living? Did the specialist warn you about any risks by increasing the dose?

[Dotty]

Hi there are no further risks using up to 4 pumps. I asked if I should try decreasing the amount and was told not to. The instruction leaflet says you can use up to 4 pumps x

[Karen max]

Hi
I use 4 pumps per day , hrt clinic put me on this dose abd didn't mention anything about 4 pumps being higher risk to cancer

Kaz x

[annedenmark]

Hi Lulu71, I use 4 pumps a day. Agreed by my GP. 2 in the morning on thighs (each thigh) and then 2 more, one on each arm in the evening.  2mg of zumenon/ progynova just wasn't doing it for me.

[LuLu71]

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for letting me know that doctors do prescribe this much. Just to confirm, are you all using estradiol 17, .06% estrogel? And 100 mg of progesterone (if you still have your womb)?

Also, sorry to be a pain but where are all of you in your menopause journey? ie. beginning peri, mid peri, late peri, menopausal/ postmenopause? Thank you so much everyone!

[annedenmark]

Hi Lulu71, I think it's the same, I'm using Oestrogel, green/ turquoise capped bottle with swirly pattern on it.
I'm using Utrogestan 12 x200, shortly to switch from oral to vaginal delivery. (See my thread- thank you Hurdity!)
I'm 49, been on forms of HRT for 2 years; in hindsight, should have started a couple of years prior. I reckon I'm post now. Still got womb and ovaries.
Tried a conti programme, but prog symptoms were too much; I prefer a sequin cycle. Good luck, hope you get it sorted out x

[LuLu71]

Hi Annedenmark,

Thanks again for responding. Interesting that you are on 200mg of a progesterone (utrogestan) and I'm only at 100 mg of progesterone. I wonder if this is why your doctor thinks it's okay to use twice as much estrogel? I will check out your post on Utrogestan, thanks again.

[Dotty]

Hi LuLu you are fine on 100mg per day. This is the post menopausal dosage . If you are in peri then you take 200mg for 12 days of every month.

I'm post meno and use 100 mg of Utrogestan and 4 pumps of Oestrogel.

You are on the correct dose x

[Annie0710]

I use 3 pumps per day.  I increased in 0.5 increments and both gynae and dr are aware of the 3 pumps.  I did this all off my own back but told them x

[sheila99]

I'm peri and use 3 pumps, specialist said I could use 4 if I needed to. You should use the least amount that controls your symptoms and advisable to increase gradually.

[LuLu71]

Thank you so much everybody for answering my questions! I really am truly grateful for this site and the caring members on it.

I am going to go back to 3 pumps every day for a couple of months and then perhaps taper down to 2.5. If I notice swollen boobs and a headache I will adjust as needed sooner.

I guess I will have to make something up to my gyno if she asks why I need estrogel prescriptions quicker than in the past  I get the feeling she is much more on the conservative side of all of this but I have to sleep and be able to work again darn it!

Thank you and if anyone wants to share their experience here about estrogel please, jump in! I hope I can offer some help on here too.

[Gracie65]

Hi Lulu,

My levels on 2 pumps Estrogel after 3 months was still too low at 91pg/ml and it needs to be around at least 350 to protect heart and bone health which I achieved quite quickly by increasing to 3 pumps.  This was under the instruction of menopause GP and could have increased to 4 if necessary under her instruction.  My hot flushes and tiredness had gone after the 2 pumps but three pumps helped with my very achy joints and I now don't go down the stairs painfully in the morning lol!


I am on continuous Utrogestan 100mg and am post meno age 53
Grace x

[Ladybt28]

GP said 4 pumps and meno clinic concur.  I have been on 4 pumps for a year now. I use 200mg utrogestan on a cycle 12 days vaginally but I do know 100mg vaginally is also ok.  I would stake my life that I read on the forum that one lady uses 5 pumps on the advice of her consultant and the absolute maximum under supervision I have heard is 6!  Don't whatever you do, LuLu tell that to your consultant, by the sounds of it, she's so conservative, she'd keel over! x  I'm not suggesting that you try anything over 4 LuLu which seems to be the most common "higher dose" - the others are the exception. x