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[Sue1972]

I think it is more of a problem with the product rather than the dispenser. I noticed there was a different consistency and a slightly different smell. I was given some Oestrodose to try and that was the same as the so called Oestrogen in the new bottles. Like someone has mentioned previously, I think they are maybe trying to pass that off as Oestrogel due to the shortages.

I now used Sandrena which comes in a sachet. I use 1.5mg so I have to split a sachet for part of my dose. It is hard to get the same amount each time but it does not effect me at all. Unlike when I was using the new cap dispenser.

[Tynkabelle]

Like you guys above I have contacted Besins and MHRA/yellow card and have had similar worded responses, I have 5 bottles they can have back but they only want the 1st one I mentioned at the start, the chemist will be getting the lot regardless!

My Dr has been fab, changed me to Sandrena without any fuss, although prescribed too low a dose, but there was surplus in the packs to test - for me, after trying 1,1.5 and 2mg, the 2mg a day suits.  Just had my next 2 month prescription approved - 1x Utrogestan and 2x 1mg Sandrena per day.

Just annoying that they haven’t recalled Oestrogel or admit something has gone wrong with the current batches.

[Banjo1973]

I will post back with my blood results next week, I just wanted to reinforce what others have said on here that it's not the pump, the dispenser, or anything else to do with the packaging or amount dispensed. It is absolutely a different product. Different texture for one (sticky not silky) but most importantly weak as f***. I more than doubled my dose and still didn't feel right.

In my opinion, the packaging is a red herring that Besins can use as an explanation rather than admitting the product changed. I think I had my first cylindrical batch in April 2023. This is not a rogue batch. And it's making me rage!!!

[Pippa52]

Banjo 1973 you are spot on it is the actual gel that has changed I am living proof having been happy and well on the 'old Oestrogel' for over 20 years - completely different to the insipid formulation in the latest Oestrogel which made me feel dreadful and dropped my oestrogen blood levels so low that I may as well not be on HRT at all as stated by  my Meno Consultant.

[Pippa52]

Reb JT - I too bought digital scales and weighed out the Oestrogel so was getting EXACTLY the same dose every day which made no difference I still felt dreadful and when I got my blood level results I could see why 55 pmol!!! Crazy.  You are dead right the issue is the formula which is so insipid and weak it is useless at the old doses.  Makes you wonder if it's a money making exercise from Besins - people using more gel so more sales!  I am personally beyond disgusted with Besins and certainly won't ever be using any product made from them again.  It made me really unwell for a long time despite them denying several times that anything had changed with the make up of the gel.  I thought I was going totally bonkers.  Am very glad to be rid of it and I returned my remaining Oestrogel to the pharmacy so they could dispose of it. xx

[Scampidoodle]

I agree it’s a different product and in my experience likely to be Oestrodose.

In 2020 I was happily on estrogel and got prescribed Oestrodose and was vomiting and feeling desperately depressed overnight. I reported it via yelllow card back then. And despite sooo many people gaslighting me that it’s the same it just wasn’t. And now they’ve changed completely over more people are noticing. Awful.

[Pippa52]

Scampidoodle - 100% its changed no doubt about it x

[chopsuey]

I am getting my oestrodial levels checked and will include my results when I send off my details to Besins, following my yellow card report. I am expecting it to show a significant drop compared to when I was using old Oestrogel, given the reversion to all my old menopausal symptoms. I am post menopausal, so the results should reflect the effect of Oestrogel, as my natural levels had dropped beyond what is measurable.

What I have just found, however, is that I am spreading the gel too thinly. I use 4 pumps, which according to Besins, should be spread over 750cm2. When I drew that area out on a piece of paper and measured the area I was spreading it on my upper arms and inner thighs, it was being spread over far too great an area on my thighs. I have made a paper template now to guide me and see if that makes any difference, given that I am someone who doesn't absorb well transdermally.

This doesn't explain why the new Oestrogel isn't working of course. The new pump is definitely erratic and usually delivers less than the old stuff ( I now weigh each dose and top it up) and the gel itself is undoubtedly different. The vapour from the old stuff was so strong, it used to make me cough, whereas the new gel hardly smells. 

[joziel]

I've experimented with spreading over more or less area and it hasn't made any difference to me. What is 750cm2 when we're talking pieces of paper? I think I spread each blob over roughly an A5 piece of paper area...

[chopsuey]

Hi Joziel

A5 will be too much. 29cm x 26 cm = 754.  I cut out a strip of paper that is 22 cm x 8.5 cm, which comes to 748 cm2 if multiplied by 4. I then use that to mark out each application area and use that to guide where I apply the gel. I don't rub it in, as was advised by my meno specialist, who was involved in the original Oestrogel trials, that it should be left on the skin in a thin layer for the alcohol to draw it down under the skin.

I have only tried this method today, so too early to say if it will make a difference but the constant headache, which I have had for several days, has now lifted and my joints have stopped aching this afternoon. Placebo effect perhaps but we will have to see.

[Sue1972]

I was told to just use my finger tips rather than applying it like sun lotion. That was a game changer.

[chopsuey]

I also do that in order to minimise the amount absorbed by your hands. Prior to all these problems with the new gel, I used to apply it directly from the pump to my arm or leg but now I have to weigh the damn stuff.

[joziel]

I use a silicone spatula so I don't get any on my hands and it's all on my body.

I'll try spreading over a smaller area but it already takes so long to dry I don't fancy leaving a thicker layer on me...

[RebJT]

Hi Ladies

Just chiming in to agree with you all, it's defo the product, not helped by duff dispenser - so not only is the formula different (I'd bet my life savings on this!) but the dose will be inconsistent day to day due to crappy dispenser.

I'm now on 7 pumps, and feeling vaguely human, and vag soreness gone, getting a bit more deep sleep through the night (according to my fit bit) - testing on 20th, and then will need to test again shortly afterwards during my period, and then stick to testing during bleed from there on out, so I have a better idea of what the product is doing.  However, given I pay for this privately, I'm not going to keep paying for ever increasing doses at a tenner a cannister.

I also read and reread the leaflet, it says five rapid pumps to 'prime' the dispenser - it's still doing farty duff doses despite this, and the doses defo get smaller as the level in the bottle drops.

I also agree that sending back cannisters is a whole load of 'busy work' as the cannister is secondary to the actual product, which isn't doing its job at ever increasing doses.

For now I'm happy to keep slapping it on as I have a whole box of gel as I got two repeats in one go, so I have a stash (which I've already paid for) whilst I test and figure out with my gynae over the next few weeks what we're going to do (and hopefully try and juggle my diary and deadlines a bit to give me a bit of flex to transition onto a new product without bringing the whole lot down on my head!).

Reb
x

[boomerang]

I've experimented with spreading over more or less area and it hasn't made any difference to me. What is 750cm2 when we're talking pieces of paper? I think I spread each blob over roughly an A5 piece of paper area...

Is the 750cm2 per pump or per dose?? I’ve been rubbing 1 pump on each leg over an a4 size … sounds like that’s too spread out ?!!