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[shoppingqueen]

Hello
I am 54 and currently using gel 3 and half pumps. It’s hard to say but suspect I’m post meno.
I wanted to get estrogen levels checked. I apply pumps in the morning. Is it best to not apply prior to blood draw?
I’ve previously applied in the morning pre bloods but wondered if it’s best to not apply until after as the results will reflect peak levels 3-4 hours after application and I really want to know what I’m retaining between doses if that makes sense?? 
Thanks for help 😁

[CLKD]

When was your last monthly period?  Peri-menopause are the years that lead up to the final period = menopause.  End of.  Unless Nature throws in a curved ball  when 1 has to begin counting again: it's bets to leave 12 months free from the last bleed B4 considering menopause proper.

Will your GP do hormonal blood tests which are reliably un-reliable?  How do U feel otherwise?

[shoppingqueen]

Hi CLKD

Thanks for getting back to me. It’s a strange one as I used to be on the mini pill before hitting peri at 46 like a speed train. I’d not had periods on my mini pill so the GP put me on continuous HRT tablet but it took a while to get the right one at Femoston 2/10 sequi and I did prefer the bleed (weirdly). Femoston was great for me for over 2 years and I only switched to gel as a meno specialist thought I wasn’t absorbing. I wish I’d stuck with it. I wasn’t flushing or anything but had been unwell with low thyroid and I think she assumed it wasn’t that and was meno symptoms??
She put me on gel and utrogestan in 2020 (couldn’t tolerate the utro) and didn’t really bleed then so had a coil and again no bleed. I hated the coil and had to go to patches with the shortage of gel then didn’t absorb. Tried provera awful and now trying Cyclogest. You get the picture 😂 I bled when changing from patches to gel.
It’s only a week into Cyclogest and honestly I’m not sure I’ll cope with it tbh. But it’s early days. So the flushes are ok, but I don’t feel consistently good let’s just say.
I wondered if it was worth paying medichecks to get estro checked on the gel just to see how much I’d going in. I realise at 54 it’s likely my own estro is either non existent or plummeted. I’d go back to Femoston but am concerned it won’t be enough estro for me now. Arrgh!! It’s a minefield 😁 xx

[CLKD]

Certainly can be Trial and Error.  What would happen if you stopped HRT completely ?

The body doesn't get where it is suddenly so any hormones that you may still be producing may well be 'annoyed' by HRT  .

[shoppingqueen]

Hi CLKD

Eek- honestly, I’ve thought about it. You know, going back to baseline to see what the heck is going on. I’m scared though. I’ve been so unwell previously with low thyroid I daren’t rock boats at the moment. But it has crossed my mind. I’d have to have a long break ahead work wise to be sure I could do this. My peri symptoms were debilitating.
Have you tried this? If so, how did it go? Are you using HRT now and what has worked for you? So many questions 😁!
I do think at some point I may well try to taper off and then have a break to see what’s what. I’m curious. But also after 8 years on HRT I had recent spikes in resurgence of symptoms between changes of HRT so it’s all still there 🙄 xx