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[EllaAurora]

Ladies,
Has anyone found a solution to improve oestrogel absorption without having to change the product?
I'm on 4,5 pumps oestrogel (have increased dose following gynae advice) but hot flushes and symptoms are back. 
Very worried about this - had a nightmare start of meno couple years ago and it took forever to get it sorted.

Thankfully I've been relatively stable for 2 years, but past couple months symptoms have been returning. Had a consultation recently and was advised to increase dose up to 6 pumps if needed which I'm doing now. But symptoms just getting worse and I'm starting to question if I actually absorb any of it. 4,5 pumps is already high dose, shouldn't it at least control flushes? Previously i was well controlled with 3,5-4 pumps, so I'm not sure whats happened. I know I can further increase up to 6, but if I'm this symptomatic with 4,5 pumps, is the 1,5 addition really going to make a difference..

I know the 'obvious' thing is to try another formulation (patch, spray), but before going there, wonder if there is anything else to try.

Grateful for any advice 

[Pippa52]

EllaAurora a similar thing happened to me.  I was on Oestrogel for over 20 years with no problems and then after the shortages a couple of years ago was changed from pillar to post when it was unavailable.  When it came back after the shortages it simply did not work for me at all and my blood levels plummeted down to 58!!  My Meno consultant said I may as well not be on HRT at all as I clearly was not absorbing it so somewhat unwillingly had no option but to change over to patches (Estradot) which unbelievably are also not readily available right now.  I do hope you can get things sorted and the higher dose will start to work for you.  Its just awful when something that has worked so well suddenly seems to cease doing so.  I don't have any knowledge or advice as to how you could improve absorption though I'm afraid   Fingers crossed for you x

[EllaAurora]

Hi Pippa,
sorry to hear the same happened to you too I've been browsing around today and it seems not uncommon actually -saw several discussions here too. Many have needed to change to patch (or from patch to gel, or to go up to super high doses, like 10 pumps).. I wish this would be better understood from scientific point of view, so then we'd also have some hope for a solution.

I did run into interesting information in another thread though -it seems the area I'm applying gel has been too small, so that may have had an impact. I'll try to spread it thinner over a larger area and see if it helps. Also I read that applying moisturizer one hour after applying gel might increase absorption (not really sure how that would work, but I suppose no harm trying).

Hope that patches will come available again soon and you'll get sorted quickly! xx

[chopsuey]

I looked into this issue when the bottles changed in 2023 and I started getting symptoms again. I do think it matters how you apply the gel. I found this which gives some useful info.

https://www.instagram.com/p/COilhbUM7sw/?utm_medium=copy_link&img_index=1

I would also add applying after a bath or shower, so your skin is warm and free from any natural oils. Personally, I wouldn't apply it over a large area, as that will just make the alcohol evaporate too quickly, before it can help to draw the product under the skin. In the original trials, they didn't apply it over a big area - enough to cover the outer upper arm is roughly what was used per pump. 
 

[AmandaJR]

Hi EllaAurora, this happened to me back in March after using Oestrogel for 3.5 years. I didn’t notice any symptoms, my GP ran two blood tests and my oestradiol readings were 80 & 82 pmol/L on 8 pumps. I was told to increase to 10. I switched to Estradot which I had at home as I didn’t believe adding two more pumps would get adequate levels for bone protection when 8 hadn’t. Wasn’t aware of the Estradot shortage so a month later changed again.
Not sure why I suddenly stopped absorbing, always used the gel at the same time, same application etc. My previous E level 8 months ago was 800 pmol/L.
If I’d had easy access to Estradot I would have used a 100mcg patch and topped up with gel.

Good luck, I hope you find a solution x

[EllaAurora]

I looked into this issue when the bottles changed in 2023 and I started getting symptoms again. I do think it matters how you apply the gel. I found this which gives some useful info.

https://www.instagram.com/p/COilhbUM7sw/?utm_medium=copy_link&img_index=1

I would also add applying after a bath or shower, so your skin is warm and free from any natural oils. Personally, I wouldn't apply it over a large area, as that will just make the alcohol evaporate too quickly, before it can help to draw the product under the skin. In the original trials, they didn't apply it over a big area - enough to cover the outer upper arm is roughly what was used per pump.

Thanks chopsuey! This was very helpful. I will try applying after shower to see if it makes a difference. Also, it was advised on the IG post you shared that the application site should be rotated!  This was new to me -have used inner thighs the whole time (soon 5 years), so maybe thats part of the problem. Will try shoulders/outer arms, though reluctantly because it feels very close to breast area.. but after another bad night sleep feeling desperate to try.

[EllaAurora]

Hi EllaAurora, this happened to me back in March after using Oestrogel for 3.5 years. I didn’t notice any symptoms, my GP ran two blood tests and my oestradiol readings were 80 & 82 pmol/L on 8 pumps. I was told to increase to 10. I switched to Estradot which I had at home as I didn’t believe adding two more pumps would get adequate levels for bone protection when 8 hadn’t. Wasn’t aware of the Estradot shortage so a month later changed again.
Not sure why I suddenly stopped absorbing, always used the gel at the same time, same application etc. My previous E level 8 months ago was 800 pmol/L.
If I’d had easy access to Estradot I would have used a 100mcg patch and topped up with gel.

Good luck, I hope you find a solution x

Thanks AmandaJR, hope you're better now and found a solution? If I may ask, did you find better absorption with patch?

My doctor advised I can go up to 6 pumps, but I'm hesitant to just keep adding more without understanding what the problem is. I'm also doubting whether adding more would make a difference if the current 4,5 pumps has zero impact.. Have decided to try applying to shoulders/arms and if that doesnt work, I will look for other options.

[AmandaJR]

Hi EllaAurora, I found Estradot to be really effective, I felt energised within ten minutes. Perhaps that was because my E levels had decreased so much and my body was desperate for it? I’ve not tried other brands of patch so have nothing to compare it to, it’s tiny and sticks really well but I don’t want the stress of locating a supply.

Have you had your oestradiol tested? My low levels were picked up on the annual NHS HRT review, I wouldn’t have known they’d dropped as i put slightly drier skin down to aging and changed moisturiser.

Totally hear you about just increasing, my GP increased mine and it worked for years. It’s worth trying before changing product but I’d definitely run tests to monitor. I found my surgery were very good with tests once I was over the licensed dose.

Good luck.x

[Inbetween]

Hi all, I have only been applying to inner thighs, didn't realise needed to rotate area, can't recall reading this in oestrogel instructions. I'm going to try arms after shower later, will be sure not to use shower gel on arms as read this can affect absorption and will apply in one swipe on each arm and leave to dry? X

[chopsuey]

I looked into this issue when the bottles changed in 2023 and I started getting symptoms again. I do think it matters how you apply the gel. I found this which gives some useful info.

https://www.instagram.com/p/COilhbUM7sw/?utm_medium=copy_link&img_index=1

I would also add applying after a bath or shower, so your skin is warm and free from any natural oils. Personally, I wouldn't apply it over a large area, as that will just make the alcohol evaporate too quickly, before it can help to draw the product under the skin. In the original trials, they didn't apply it over a big area - enough to cover the outer upper arm is roughly what was used per pump.

Thanks chopsuey! This was very helpful. I will try applying after shower to see if it makes a difference. Also, it was advised on the IG post you shared that the application site should be rotated!  This was new to me -have used inner thighs the whole time (soon 5 years), so maybe thats part of the problem. Will try shoulders/outer arms, though reluctantly because it feels very close to breast area.. but after another bad night sleep feeling desperate to try.

Hi EllaAurora

Have you been splitting your 4.5 pumps over twice a day, otherwise if you have been putting it all on your thighs once a day, that is probably too much product to get properly absorbed. As I understand it, a reservoir of the product forms under the skin and the area can get saturated if too much is applied in one go. Regardless of whether you are doing it once or twice a day, I would use both inner thighs and outer upper arms to spread it out a bit and see if that helps.

Agree it would be useful to get your levels tested though and the problem then with using it on your upper arms is that there is the possibility of contamination, which will make your levels seem higher than they actually are. There was a study posted on here a while back about the variation in oestradiol levels depending on where it was applied. Even applying it with gloves seemed to affect the results i.e levels were higher when gloves were not used!   If you are going to get tested, maybe leave a 'testing arm' free of gel for a few days and apply it elsewhere instead. 

[chopsuey]

Hi all, I have only been applying to inner thighs, didn't realise needed to rotate area, can't recall reading this in oestrogel instructions. I'm going to try arms after shower later, will be sure not to use shower gel on arms as read this can affect absorption and will apply in one swipe on each arm and leave to dry? X

Hi Inbetween

Where did you read that shower gel can affect absorption? Did they give any explanation for this? The area obviously needs to be clean from natural body oils and I am careful to use products that don't contain moisturisers, like Dove for example. You're right that it doesn't talk about rotation in the leaflet and if you are on 4 or more pumps then that is difficult anyway.  The leaflet gives very little useful information to be honest.

My previous specialist who was involved in the original Oestrogel trials advised applying it in two swipes. I found this too difficult to get it to spread thinly enough for it to dry in a reasonable amount of time and seemed to end up with more product on my hands than on my arms and thighs. I apply it directly to the area and spread it with my fingertips only a few times and then wipe my fingers on another area of skin to maximise the amount being absorbed. Some people on here use a spatula.

It should be so simple and for some who absorb well, it probably is!

[EllaAurora]

Great advice on above comments!! Yes, I do think i'll need to get tested, though dreading to see how low my values actually are. 

Chopsuey, yes, I've been splitting the dose morning / evening,otherwise that amount of gel would never dry. Interestingly, I applied one pump this morning on outer arm/shoulder area and noticed it absorbed much quicker compared to the other pump which I put as usual.
Lets see what happens, I will report back in couple days.

[Inbetween]

Hi Chopsuey,

I'm sure I have read on here that moisturising shower gets can affect absorption but I have read so many different things regarding application of gel. You think it would be easy and simple to use...but almost 3 weeks of use now after restarting and still having hot flushes...feels almost constant...Will try arms today...sure I've read to use the bottle lid...would be similar to a spatula I suppose. Looking on official oestrogel website it states to not rub in. Thanks for your reply x