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[soph35]

Hi all,

I've just received some blood test results, and my oestradiol level is 214 pmol/L. I'm 36 and have been thrown into menopause thanks to chemoradiation late last year. I've been on four pumps of oestrogel and continuous utrogestan for just over three months, and I feel pretty awful if I'm honest; tired, achy, and flat - particularly in the mornings.

Does this level sound low, particularly as I'm on the highest dose of oestrogel? I'm wondering if I'm not absorbing it very well

Thanks!

[ATB]

That is low considering the dosage you’re on. Your symptoms also indicate you’re not absorbing it. What does your doctor say? Would you consider switching to a patch?

[Nas]

Hi,
That reading does sound low, particularly as you still  have symptoms.
It might be worth swapping to patches or the spray even? Otherwise you are going to run out of parts of the body to apply the gel.

[soph35]

Thanks, ladies. The GP didn't really say anything! I'm speaking to a specialist tomorrow at the hospital where I had my treatment, so I'll definitely bring it up with them. I was on Evorel Conti initially, but it gave me really bad acne. I guess I could go on an oestrogen-only patch and continue with the Utrogestan? Although I'm not sure if that's causing some issues, too - pretty sure I'm progesterone intolerant!

[ATB]

For me, it took much longer to adjust to progesterone. I was prescribed it 2 weeks out of every 4, and I noticed those weeks while on it were much harder, I had bloating etc and now many months on it’s ok. So maybe you are experiencing symptoms to do with progesterone but maybe it will pass? A evorel patch plus Utrogestan might be better. I was on estrogel and didn’t really like it so switched to patch after 3 or 4 months and much prefer it. I don’t know why honestly, I don’t know enough to answer that question but I know I’m not the only one who found patches better. There are also women who don’t get on with patches and prefer gel. Spray might work better for you too. I know it’s annoying that it isn’t easier to figure out which method should work but sadly trying them out seems to be the only way.

[soph35]

It's all a bit of a minefield. I think you might be right that moving to a patch and sticking with the utro is the best idea for now. If I'm not absorbing the gel very well then maybe (hopefully) a patch will solve things!