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[Lippyqueen]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone has used oestrogel and Estradot patches.

I changed from Estradot 75mg to Oestrogel starting at 2 - 4 pumps, at least 6 weeks ago.  I have been varying the amount of gel and dividing into 2 doses, am and pm.  I am now at 6 pumps in the evening and still finding breakthrough of hot flushes, terrible aches and pains and lack of energy.  I changed to the gel because my oestrogen levels had dropped and my gp wondered if a different route of administration might help.  I do not feel that 6 pumps are helping much so wondered if anyone had tried using a patch topped up with gel in the evening and if so, how many pumps?  Does anyone know if Oestrogel is slow release like the patches?

I had been happily using Estradot 75mg patches for years following a hysterectomy when I was 50.  I am now 65 and in complete turmoil as I dont seem to be getting control of my symptoms no matter what I try.

[Postmeno3]

Might testosterone be the missing link? 🤔

[sheila99]

As you seem to absorb from estradot better than gel why not try a 100mg estradot patch? The 75 patch is roughly equivalent to 3 pumps gel.

[Lippyqueen]

Thank you both for your reply. I had wondered about Testosterone but my GP told me it was not available on prescription.
I will definitely suggest the 100 mg patches to my GP and see what she says.

[Kathleen]

Hello Lippyqueen and welcome to the forum.


I am also 65 and still have emotional symptoms despite my HRT regime of Sandrena gel, testosterone and progesterone pessaries and for me the addition of testosterone didn't make much of a difference. My meno doctor at Newson Health assures me that there are many versions of HRT available so there is always hope!

I hope you find the right combination soon and please keep us updated.

Wishing you well.

K.

[sheila99]

Testosterone is available on the nhs but has to be prescribed by a specialist because there isn't a product licensed for women in the UK. You can ask for a referral to an NHS menopause clinic who can prescribe it or you could go privately.

[Turkish delight]

Hia,

Testosterone helped with libido not so much with flushes, for me anyway. It may help with energy levels and aches though.

It takes an age to kick in and I got mine from seeing an NHS gynecologist, as GP's can't prescribe it only specialists can.

TD

[Hurdity]

Hi Lippyqueen

Sorry to hear about you sympotoms and problems with gel.

I am wondering why your doc measured oestrogen levels after such a long time because normally they go by symptoms? Did you start to get a return of symptoms at approx age 65 after many years? If so what were they and what were your oestrogen levels dropping from and what were they after measurement? Some symptoms especially at that age could have other causes.  In your position I would want to remain with a patch and go back to it asap because it sounds like for most of the time they have worked on symptoms?

Because gel was so often recommended on this forum I though I would give it a try in my 60s after being on patches for 13 years or so but my flushes came back and I had no idea whether to start tweaking the dose to get it right or not - but decided that because patches had always worked I would go back to them and lo and behold my flushes disappeared.

I started testosterone at age 62 which helped.

Hurdity  x

[Lippyqueen]

Hello Hurdity, my gp decided to measure oestrogen levels as I was starting to get hot flushes and joint aches and pains.  She wondered if the Estradot patches were not working effectively.  The levels she felt were low considering I was using the patches so she wondered if a different means of administration of oestrogen ie. Oestrogel would be more effective.  As I mentioned it was not and I have tried the gel for about 2 months with no effect on the symptoms, in fact they have become worse with added sleeplessness , anxiety and tearfulness.  Today I had a phone call with the GP.  She has re-prescribed Estradot 100mcg instead of 75mcg.  I am hoping that this will settle things down again.  TBH I wish I had not said anything in the first place as things may have settled on their own, just like happened for you.  The GP may look at Testosterone too, she said “1 thing at a time, let’s settle the other symptoms first”