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[herewego]

Hi
I have been on sequential HRT, oestrogen gel and progesterone capsules, and am switching to patches. I've just collected my prescription and have some questions:

1. Sequential HRT hasn't been giving me bleeds so am I right in thinking I can start the patches any time? Eg, take my progesterone tonight as planned but then use a patch from tomorrow morning?

2. It says they have to go on the lower body but not under tight clothing. I run or workout 6 times a week and that means wearing leggings or cycle style shorts - what am I supposed to do about the fact that my patch will be under tight clothing then? I'm an endurance runner so can run for hours at a time during peak training and events!

Thanks 

[Therese83]

I can't help with the first point I'm afraid. On the second, I admit the no tight clothing advice was new on me! I wear tight leggings multiple times a week for exercise.

From a look online it seems it just relates to tight waistbands rubbing on the patch. So I guess just placing them somewhere lower than the waistband. Personally I prefer on the lower abdomen so tends to be covered by knickers. So a good bit lower than leggings waistband. That seems to be fine in my experience.

[herewego]

I can't help with the first point I'm afraid. On the second, I admit the no tight clothing advice was new on me! I wear tight leggings multiple times a week for exercise.

From a look online it seems it just relates to tight waistbands rubbing on the patch. So I guess just placing them somewhere lower than the waistband. Personally I prefer on the lower abdomen so tends to be covered by knickers. So a good bit lower than leggings waistband. That seems to be fine in my experience.

Thank you!

[bombsh3ll]

As an athlete your clot risk is absolutely minuscule so my advice would be don't discount oral estradiol tablets which can be a much more convenient and reliable option for those with an active lifestyle.

I also assume you shower after working out - this too significantly affects the longevity of patches.

I would just add that there is no evidence that applying the patches above the waist eg on the upper arms is harmful in any way.

The advice to use the lower body is based on fear of breast cancer, which science suggests is actually largely attributable to the progestogen.

Illogically, nobody seems to bother about applying either gel, or the much higher dosed contraceptive patch, on the arms.

Finally a couple of tips to improve patch longevity that I picked up from using patches for IVF were cleaning the skin first with rubbing alcohol to strip out the oils, using heat to bond the patch to your skin, and applying a square of hypafix dressing over the top.

However I personally prefer oral treatment and would not want the faff and lifestyle interference of patches long term.