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[Konijntje]

So, I’m trialing Drovelis (estetrol/drospirenone), the estetrol (which is less potent than estradiol) is too low of a dose for me (I still get some hot flushes) and I want to supplement with a bit of estradiol, just to see if that takes care of my symptoms. I’m also pretty dizzy and I’m not sure if that is from low estrogen (dizzyness was my second worse symptom after insomnia) or from the drospirenone. So adding estrogen might solve the dizzyness or it might not and it will help figure out if drospirenone is the right progestin for me. (I also have other side effects, but still hoping those will subside).

I’m guessing the amount of estetrol is about equivalent to a 37.5-50 mcg patch, because I was on 3-4 sprays of lenzetto. (Towards the end that did seem slightly low, so it could be that I need more estrogen now). In Slynd, there is 4 mg of drospirenone, and I think that that is potent enough for much higher doses of estrogen, so I’m thinking it would probably be safe to supplement with a low dose of estradiol? I have 1 50 mcg patch left and I was planning to cut it in 4 to try 12.5 mcg first for a week and if that doesn’t seem enough try 25 mcg next. After that, I have 1 mg oral tablets (lots), which is slightly higher than 25 mcg patch I believe (I know absorption differs from person to person)? I’m just experimenting for about 5 weeks (next appointment), so I’m not worried my lining will grow that much anyway, just a bit unsure on what to try.

[bombsh3ll]

3mg of drospirenone is paired with 30 micrograms of Ethinylestradiol in combined pill Marvelon.

This is equivalent to 300mcg estradiol via patch.

I am not sure about gel but you would struggle to obtain a prescription for any form of menopause hormone therapy that is anywhere near the potency of 30mcg EE.

[Konijntje]

3mg of drospirenone is paired with 30 micrograms of Ethinylestradiol in combined pill Marvelon.

This is equivalent to 300mcg estradiol via patch.

I am not sure about gel but you would struggle to obtain a prescription for any form of menopause hormone therapy that is anywhere near the potency of 30mcg EE.

Ah thanks. Well, I don’t think I need anywhere near such a high dose, as I was doing fine on medium before (fine with the estrogen not the progesterone part). So, I am going to experiment with supplementing (and only telling the doctor if my other side effects go away, otherwise I’ll switch anyway).

Your mention in the other topic that testosterone could help with joint laxity is very interesting, could you point me to some articles about that (I don’t think I’ve read about that, but I haven’t been searching either)? I was planning on waiting until I got my E+P right to discuss testosterone (for libido + energy), but if it could help with my lower back issues, I might talk about my non existing libido at my next appointment.

[Mary G]

Konijntje, you can take a high dose of oestrogen with 3mg of drospirenone.  To give you an example, I used Angeliq which is an oral form of HRT and the dose was 1mg oestrogen (equivalent to two pumps of Oestrogel or a 50mcg patch) and 2mg drospirenone.  I found it too progesterone heavy so I topped it up with an 50mcg oestrogen patch and there was a definite improvement - it would have been equivalent to about 4 pumps of Oestrogel or a 100mcg oestrogen patch.  My uterine scans were always well under 5mm.

Drospirenone is a strong synthetic progesterone so you could also get away with a 100mcg patch , 4 pumps of Oestrogel or 2mg oral oestrogen.  Obviously you will be using more progesterone than I was.

There is a lot of wriggle room there.

[Konijntje]

Thank you Mary, I think I’m going to try to supplement with estradiol (I might just do the oral 1 mg tablets, since I have many left) for the next few weeks. I read some articles that say estrogen can help with lower back pain too, so maybe the too low dose of estrogen is causing my back to act up again so much.