Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Dotty]

I’m hoping that someone can help me. A lovely friend of mine is using patches…100….but still struggling. Her doctor has told her to change the patch 3 times a week instead of 2, as this will increase her oestrogen levels quicker.

I thought that patches released the same amount of oestrogen every day, so not sure how changing them more often will help?

Can anyone advise me ? Thank you 😊.

[joziel]

You're right. She needs a higher dose of patch. She could add a 25 patch to get 125.

The doctor may be nervous of going above 100 because it is the max licenced dose (although many women need more) so she might need to see a menopause specialist to get this prescribed. She may also need additional progesterone, although opinion differs on that one.

[Dotty]

Thanks Joziel … I thought I was right. x

[sheila99]

As above, though there do seem to be a few people who change every 3 days because they feel they don't get enough on the 4th day.

[Dotty]

Thanks sheila99.

What does anyone else think ? x

[Joaniepat]

I agree with the other members. The patches are designed to give a steady dose over four days. I can understand people thinking it is running out of juice on day 4, who knows? But telling your friend to change it 3 times a week won't help. If she has been given an extra supply to cater for three times a week, she could experiment by using one and a quarter patches.
JP x

[Dotty]

Thanks, Joaniepat x

[Salad]

Just seen this - I was advised by Nick Panay’s Clinic to change my patches 3 times a week to ensure the dose was more consistent. 
 

[Perinowpost]

Hi I change mine every 3 days as I could literally feel it running out the half day. However, I still leave the old one on for the full 3 and a half days (if you see what I mean). It feels enough of a top up without going up a patch, I didn’t want to do that as I don’t want to take any more progesterone. Hope this helps x

[Hurdity]

 What symptoms is she struggling with and is it definitely down to oestrogen? How does she know her levels are insufficient?

The amount of oestrogen released from the patch rises quickly to a peak then declines very slowly - though the rate at which it does this seems to be different in different studies - ie one paper I read suggested that a twice weekly patch only really started to decline after 7 days! However all these studies are averages amongst women and as we know our skin is different and the amount of fat we have etc, so this will vary.

I change mine every 3 days for maximal oestrogen.

I think there can be a law of diminishing returns because it takes ?maybe half a day ( can't remember) to reach maximum release and therefore eg changing it every day would result in less oestrogen.

Therefore I would suggest changing every 3 days to start with - and see how she feels?

Hurdity x