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[CrispyChick]

Hi all. I'm very new to HRT.

I'm in chemical menopause so I now know what my very very low estrogen symptoms feel like.

I started on evorel conti patches almost 3 weeks ago. It's tough, as fluctuations cause me a lot of symptoms and adding in hormones is another fluctuation.

But, 8 days ago I moved the patches from my bum or lower back to my lower abdomen. Pelvic area to be precise. Over the last 7 days I've had a lot of my usual fluctuation side affects, along with terrible mood (new) and mild bleeding (new).

Then over the last two days it's become apparent my low E symptoms are back at their worst.

So, today I've upped the patch. But I'm actually wondering if location of patch has caused an issue. Seems strange that I have worse low E symptoms now, 2 1/2 weeks in, than I did at 7 days in. Unless there is an initial boost before flatlining.

Not sure what's gone on. But looking for real experiences where absorption has been affected by different placement locations please.

And when people say they put it on their bum, where do they actually mean??

I'm not a big person and there is no fat in my pelvic area where I had it last week.

This is my last chance saloon. Please help...

[joziel]

I think the most common area for patches is the lower abdomen - switching from one side to the other with each patch change. Your bum is quite cold (everyone's is!) due to fat deposition and the patches need a certain amount of heat to get working. (That's why they say to be careful of direct sun exposure to them if you are say sunbathing somewhere hot and not to dry with the hairdryer to speed up sticking etc etc.) Plus of course when you sit down etc, there is a greater risk of the patch coming off or getting rubbed off.

I'd think they are actually getting absorbed better on your abdomen, which fits with the bleeding. Evorel Conti has synthetic P in it, which can cause mood issues...

Not sure why your low E symptoms would come back, except that a 50 patch is really very low for someone in chemical menopause with no other source of hormones. It's the base line starter dose. You likely need a lot more E to feel okay. Like at least 100, if not more. And you can't get that on Evorel because it's an all in one patch.... Best to have separate E and P dosages so you can tailor each separately.

[CrispyChick]

Thanks joziel.

I can't touch utrogestan. Knocks me sideways orally. And either oral or vaginally causes immense stomach pain. Not an option.  Hence the conti patches.

I thought my bum was maybe warmer, with all the sitting down. Lol.

Yes, I think possibly it's been absorbing ok and it's just stabilised at the two week point, back to very low E. Just seems weird.

[Jjumper]

Gosh, this thread is interesting to me. When I started in 2022 I put the patches on my bum but found they wrinkled a lot. As a result, I’ve always put my patches on the top  of my thighs since then.
But I am a very cold person and my legs are always cold! I’m wondering should I try them on my stomach? Or hips? Absorption is always an issue for me - wondering if a change of location would help…

[sfreesto]

I put my patches at the top of my bum, I guess on the more fleshy bit towards the outside.

I also heard Heather Currie say your bum was the best place on a Podcast.

Hormones are fat soluble, so maybe they are better absorbed on more fatty places?

[CrispyChick]

Sfreesto - thank you.

So like top of bum towards lower back and at the side towards hip? Rather than right in the middle of a buttock???

[sfreesto]

Yes, that’s what I do anyway. I find it doesn’t catch on your knickers or anything there, or wrinkle.

[Jjumper]

Brilliant - thanks!