Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Meno44 on April 02, 2022, 11:38:51 AM

Title: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: Meno44 on April 02, 2022, 11:38:51 AM
As above.

I’m sure that as the bottle becomes less full each pump of gel seems less?

Last month and now this month I’ve also experienced some horrible stomach cramps in the night (2 or 3 nights) and this coincides with coming to the end of a bottle.

Does anyone else feel they get less gel out when the bottle is running out?
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: Turkish delight on April 02, 2022, 02:58:13 PM

It can feel that way at times it's true, but it's meant to be a measured dose each time 🤷
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: sheila99 on April 02, 2022, 03:02:42 PM
Yes. I've never counted the doses but I assume you get the full dose for the 64 measured doses it says it contains. I use a full bottle alongside the nearly empty one so if the trail of gel down one thigh is less I add a bit more.
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: AKatieD on April 02, 2022, 04:41:28 PM
I set a timer to see if my bottle last 64 pumps (16 days x 4) but it definately does not last that long and as you say the end pumps are noticeably smaller.

Don't know if they are not putting enough in due to the shortages or if it does not measure properly
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: Uptick on April 02, 2022, 08:56:15 PM
Hi Meno44, you could try to email [email protected]
Nemera is the manufacturer of the bottle/pump/pouch  https://www.nemera.net/products/dermal/sofbag/
All Besins gels have exactly the same bottle now, Oestrogel, Oestrodose, Testogel and Androgel.
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: VictoryV on April 02, 2022, 09:51:50 PM
I’ve found there are approximately two pumps of gel in the foil bag when the pump stops expressing. I’ve only dismantled Oestrogel pumps.
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: Louise2010 on April 03, 2022, 06:58:15 AM
I find as it gets to the last few doses,  the bit that you push down to dispense the gel, rises much slower and there’s definitely less coming out but not counted.
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: Dotty on April 03, 2022, 07:08:43 AM
I agree with Louise2010 that the pump rises much slower at the end of the bottle. As I near the end of a bottle, I open another bottle and use pumps from both. I’ve sometimes got a lot more that 64 pumps out of a bottle. I don’t like to waste any of it with the shortages as they are at the moment 😄.xx
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: Meno44 on May 16, 2022, 07:35:14 PM
Update:
So my genius partner came up with the idea of measuring all of the doses to see how accurate they really are.

So I started a new bottle and used some small precision digital scales to measure out my 3 pumps.

At first it was a little over, I was getting between 3.85 - 3.90. Now I’m getting to the end of the bottle 3 pumps is giving out a meagre amount between 2.40-2.60

So that definitely proves what we all thought, this pump system is not very accurate at all.

So I’m now measuring every dose to ensure I get the 3.75ml I’m meant to get!
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: ATB on May 16, 2022, 08:08:35 PM
That’s really bad!! But explains my experience. Well done you for doing that!
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: alibeau on May 16, 2022, 10:06:47 PM
Shocking!

So now I also have to worry about the dose as well as the whole amber/green square issue that seemed to effect me!

I have been suffering with my ‘anxious chest’ the past couple of days and guess what, I am coming to the end of my bottle…..

What next?  ::)

Oh, how rude of me, thanks for the update  ;)

Ali x
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: Meno44 on May 16, 2022, 10:42:11 PM
I know, it is so bad.

It explains why I was getting horrible stomach aches and a worsening of my anxiety every time I was near the end of a bottle. As soon as I started a new one I felt better again!
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: Gnatty on May 17, 2022, 07:40:05 AM
Did the reduction in dosage coincide with the top of the pump starting to slow down on its way back up? If so, we could use that as guidance.
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: Meno44 on May 17, 2022, 09:32:06 AM
Did the reduction in dosage coincide with the top of the pump starting to slow down on its way back up? If so, we could use that as guidance.

Yes it did coincide with that
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: ATB on May 17, 2022, 12:54:25 PM
It feels like something to write to the manufacturer about. This should be widely known to alleviate any unnecessary suffering for women. I’m quite shocked really, and that nobody prescribing seems aware? When I was on it I wasn’t told and I definitely noticed something, both visually and physically I too felt different. It’s really not good enough, they need a better delivery system than this.
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: Uptick on May 17, 2022, 01:37:06 PM
Hi ladies,

According to Oestrogel's Patient Information Leaflet:

'How you know when your Pump Pack is empty
• The Pump Pack is nearly empty when the plunger does not
return back to its original position after you have pushed it
down.
• When this happens, do not use the Pump Pack any longer.
Start using a new Pump Pack.'
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: Gnatty on May 17, 2022, 03:54:08 PM
But does that include when it does return to its original position but takes longer to do so, I wonder?
Title: Re: Does the oestrogel pump out less the emptier the bottle is?
Post by: Dotty on May 17, 2022, 04:01:29 PM
Hi the advice I’ve read is to discard the bottle when you’ve used the 64 pumps. x