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[Hurdity]

Hi there everyone

As most of you know I've been on patches more or less the whole time I've been on HRT - since 2007, apart from a brief foray into Sandrena gel a few years ago because gel seemed to be so popular, but swiftly returned to patches that have always worked, at the right dose.

However for various reasons, after asking for an HRT review due to spotting and the fact that I hadn't had a review for some years, my wonderful gynae specialist GP (also 70!) whom I've known for years, gave me an MOT of blood tests including all the hormones (will do a separate thread about this).

We discovered my estradiol level (on a cut down 75 mcg patch) was only 163 pmol/l. I had recently cut it down to approx 50 mcg on her recommendation (due to spotting etc) and this was two days after patch change. She decreed this was not sufficient and preferred women to be on between 200 and 400 max - the few occasions my levels have been tested it's never been much more than 200 but as I haven't lost height and I'm over 70 and have no symptoms then this would be fine for me.

She said "Have you ever tried Lenzetto?" !!! Well - I hadn't even considered changing at all - just was hoping to go back to cutting less off my patch with her agreement, so she would continue prescribing 75 mcg, and I would have about 65 mcg or so.

So....I agree and started Lenzetto this morning. She said 2 sprays were equivalent to 50 mcg ( which is less than I have been using anyway) but looking at the BMS charts it should be 3? Is this what others use?

Also when I sprayed the second one the liquid ran down my arm rather than staying on the circular delivery place?  Does this happen to others?

She also plans to retest my estradiol in 4 weeks, and see how I get on with it, but I also am concerned about getting a false reading (due to concentration gradient)  if I apply regularly to my inner lower forearms as directed, since the recommended application site is near the vein where bloods are drawn, so I was thinking of applying to inner thigh (also suggested as a potential application site). Anyone else use it this way?

I realise there are not that many users and I will look at other posts but any useful tips welcome!

Strange to be changing HRT at my age and stage! The best thing is she is totally in support of my continuing with HRT as long as I want because of the benefits and as long as I am vigilant.

Hurdity x

[joziel]

Hurdity, why is she changing you to Lenzetto and not just increasing your patch up again?

I don't understand... Is she trying to raise your estrogen? Why not just increase your patch again? If she does manage to get the estrogen up (however), what is this going to do with the spotting? I mean, raising the estrogen (whatever product you use) is going to make the spotting happen again unless she deals with that via progesterone....

Lenzetto is weaker as a HRT product which means you need more of it to get the same dose. You are right that you should be on at least 3 pumps for 50mcg.

I haven't heard of anyone using it on their thighs but could you not just always use the arm which isn't used for blood draws? I always use my left arm for bloods so would do Lenzetto on my right for eg....

I think this sounds a bit crazy really. I mean, trying to increase your estrogen but for some reason switching products (??).

[Hurdity]

Hi  joziel

Thanks for replying. She just suggested it because she felt I wasn't absorbing from the patch and she "sold" it to me as being very convenient - which I agree it is (2nd day so far). Though I have been using patches for most of the last 17 years, I am always keen to try new things out, and there was no reason not to really. She herself said that if it didnt suit me I could go back to patches and the previous arrangement.

The spotting is a separate issue - she's not worried about that though could not explain why it has been occurring before the end of the progesterone phase - but again said maybe lack of absorption. Maybe my body has changed since I'm now old! Weirdly though the bleeds are light but last time the lining was measured I had biopsy and hysteroscopy (early 2023) - all was normal despite thickened lining but my oestrogen levels not high!

re this she has given me Provera to take once a year to "strip" the lining as she puts it (not a medical term!) and I am prepared to do this for the sake of remaining on a longer cycle (now reduced to 5-6 weeks) and to see if it prevents abnormal spotting. Although I have always been nil-by-mouth for HRT as the most natural way of getting the hormones into my system, I am prepared to do this though I might have a nightmarish two weeks!

Re application site - the pIL suggests inner thigh if you run out of spcae on your inner forearm or if you can't find a circular patch big enough! (presumably if very thin arms?). Yes I could use my left arm all the time. Instructions don't say anything about alternating arms.

I used 3 sprays this morning and the 2nd and 3rd dribbled a bit! I will have to wait and see if I absorb this better than patches ...though I have been happy with these for years!

Thanks for your input

Hurdity x

[joziel]

Good luck with it. I think the inner thigh sounds fine then.

The issue might be that you need quite a high amount of it because it’s a pretty weak product but time will tell…

[Zara69]

Hi hurdity any update on the lenzetto? Are you still using it?

[CLKD]

Hey U 70 isn't old  .  There isn't a legal number for us to be considered 'old' 

Any News?

[Evie606]

Hi,

I’m back on to 2 sprays Lenzetto after 12 weeks on Evorel 50. My oestrogen levels fell from high 200’s to 88 on Evorel.
3 weeks on and I’m feeling much better, I spray it on inner forearm and only had issues when I tried to go up to 3 sprays but turns out thyroid was issue not Lenzetto.

As for the runny 3rd spray, I used to get that too. I always give it a good shake before I use it. I did 2 sprays then gave it another shake before the 3rd, I found this stopped the run of liquid.
Hopefully you’re getting on ok with it Hurdity. X

[Wrensong]

Hi Hurdity, I've come a bit late to this thread so not sure whether you persevered with Lenzetto, but yes, I've used it on thighs as well as inner forearms, but can't vouch for levels achieved I'm afraid.  I used it first trial as standalone systemic oestrogen some years ago & more recently to supplement patches.  I didn't continue with it long enough as a standalone product to get around to testing absorption as symptoms suggested I was not getting much from it; in fact on 2 sprays it felt like I wasn't on any oestrogen at all & as you know it is now considered a lower strength product than other comparable methods.  I'd say if you need to get your levels up above what your patch was providing then 3 sprays would be your best bet then test as soon as you sensibly can for confirmation?  I also found the spray dribbled & ran across the skin at times, so got into the habit of holding the cone in place for a while to prevent it escaping & potentially dripping onto the floor!

I can't remember what patch brand you were using (I think most recently Evorel?) but tests over a 2 year period gradually confirmed my suspicion that I was getting extremely inconsistent levels from Evorel & as symptoms were poorly controlled throughout that time I've recently gone back to Estradot which were formerly more reliable for me.

Good to hear you still have a fab, knowledgeable & supportive GP  .  How wonderful that would be if the same applied everywhere.
W x