Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Erinne on July 13, 2019, 04:51:50 PM

Title: Estrogel or Sandrena
Post by: Erinne on July 13, 2019, 04:51:50 PM

I'm 54 and am just over 4 years postmenopausal. I've been taking Elleste Solo 1mg and Utrogestan 100mgs continuously for the past year. Very sadly, after feeling so much better,  a couple of months ago I started experiencing adverse symptoms which I've worked out is because the Elleste Solo is no longer effective, thereby making the Utrogestan too dominant.
I know that really the best way to take oestrogen is transdermally, I just wanted the ease of a tablet!
Anyway I'm wanting to try Estrogel.My preference is for Estrogel rather than Sandrena as it's got more flexibility in dosage. And also, from the research I've done it looks as if specialists such as Louise Newson and Renee Hoenderkamp tend to recommend it.

Incredibly and appallingly Estrogel is not under licence where I live so the GP I've been seeing, who knows nothing about the menopause anyway, has to email the Gynaecology Department at one of the local hospitals to get their say so.
They've come back and said Sandrena rather than Estrogel.
I've asked the GP to email them again as my preference remains for Estrogel.

Would appreciate any help and advice. I'm so tired of having to navigate this menopause  nightmare on my own because so many GPS don't know anything and the whole system, certainly where I live, seems to be set up to make life as difficult as possible in trying to get the best and right treatment  :'(

Title: Re: Estrogel or Sandrena
Post by: Roadrunner on July 13, 2019, 06:52:22 PM

Hello Erinne

I use Sandrena, l see a private gynae and that's what she prescribed.

I've never used Oestrogel so I couldn't say which is "best", but Sandrena is also very flexible. It comes in 0.5 and 1 mg sachets.

When I was titrating the dose up I would use half a sachet and clip it closed and use it the next day.

Some people say it takes longer to dry than oestrogel - as I said I can't compare the two.

You'll also read on here that some people get Oestrogel and some get Oestrodose, and although they're supposedly the same product some people feel that they aren't. With Sandrena you get Sandrena!

For me Sandrena is working and I like it. Hope that helps a bit, and good luck in whatever you decide.

RR xx

Title: Re: Estrogel or Sandrena
Post by: Erinne on July 14, 2019, 09:16:33 AM

Thanks for your very helpful reply Roadrunner 👍 It has made me feel more confident and hopeful about potentially using Sandrena.

Erinne xx

Title: Re: Estrogel or Sandrena
Post by: jillydoll on July 14, 2019, 03:31:11 PM

I used Sandrena too.
I thought it was pretty good stuff. Quite strong...x

Title: Re: Estrogel or Sandrena
Post by: Erinne on July 17, 2019, 11:36:28 AM

Thanks jillydoll.

I have the prescription now so here's hoping! x