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[Sooze]

Hi all,
I haven’t been around for a couple of years as menopause wise things have been pretty stable.  I’m now around 8yrs post meno and been on Sandrena 1mg, Utrogestan 100mg (vaginally alternate nights, but I do a couple of extra nights a month as I can tolerate that) and was on Tostran - petit pois blob on alternate days, but just changed to Testogel 40.5/2.5mg last week (looks like a sachet is going to last me around 12 days).

New GP wanted bloods done in Jan, which were the first bloods I’ve had done since being post meno.  Previous Drs were happy to prescribe on symptoms, so I had no idea what my levels would be. They came back as….Serum oestradiol 139 pmol/L  and Serum testosterone 0.7nmol/L

I’m not planning on changing anything because I don’t think I have any menopause symptoms, but is the Serum oestradiol a bit low? Has anyone else been symptom free with low levels?
TIA,
Sooze

[Hollyboll]

Hi
Glad things feel stable.
Both those are on the low side, but that's no reason to change anything.  GP probably wanted to test them just to check they weren't too high, and they aren't!
ZILLIONS of women have no symptoms and low levels.  Zillions don't ever take or go anywhere near taking HRT. 
The leading meno consultant with whom I've been lucky enough to end up (or unlucky enough since that's only because of what I'd been through) describes them as "the lucky ones".
Those women will probably not be on this forum!
So I'm not a doctor but if you are feeling stable and symptom-free, keep doing what you are doing.
xx

[Sooze]

Thanks Hollyboll,

I’ve been on Sandrena etc since the end of 2019, before that Tibolone since 2016 which was a vast improvement on nothing, but I changed because of side effects and breakthrough hot flushes. From 2012-2016 I wasn’t on any systemic HRT and it was absolute hell for me, so I assumed my blood levels would be higher than they were because my symptoms are so well controlled.

I suppose my only concern is my Mum has osteoporosis, and whether the level I’m at gives my bones enough protection?  I’m doing everything I should re diet & exercise so I think I’ll keep my fingers crossed for that.

[Hollyboll]

I’m very ignorant about osteoporosis but you could ask your Gp to refer you for a dexa scan?
With family history and yes low levels in the results your Gp ordered, they should be happy to do that.

Xx

[Sooze]

Hi Hollyboll,
Thanks I hadn't thought of that.  Will ask about it at my next GPs appointment.

[Dotty]

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/treatafter.php

The starred doses are the doses recommended to prevent osteoporosis.

[orrla]

Hi Sooze,

if I may.. How do you make one Testogel sachet last you 12 days? Can you describe size of blobs, please! ..I seem to run out faster, but shouldn't..

Thanks!

[Sooze]

Thanks for that link Dotty, it looks like Sandrena isn't licensed for prevention and/or treatment of osteoporosis, but Oestrogel 2 measures is, but as 1mg Sandrena is equivalent to 2 measures of Oestrogel I'd assume what I'm on is OK.

orria, I'm on day 11 of my first sachet and I think I've got at least 2 days left.  The blob size I've done is about the size of a petit pois. This is the same size I used for Tostran, and so far I'm feeling fine, if not a bit better as I'm applying every day when to Tostran was alternate days.

I squeeze it onto my finger and then rub into my skin rather that directly onto my skin as I find I can judge the blob better (I actually rub it into alternate inner ankle bones).
HTH

[Dotty]

https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/27-WHC-FACTSHEET-HRT-Doses-NOV2022-A.pdf

Have a look at page 3 . 1mg of Sandrena is equal to 1 pump of Oestrogel so you may need more Sandrena for osteoporosis protection.

[Hollyboll]

This has shifted a bit from the original qn 😂

If you are symptom-free you don’t need to take more oestr and many take none.

Taking more might help protect against osteo.  And increasing might also cause some symptoms - both because fluctuations/ changes often do and because for many less is more.

I'm not anti HRT; I take it myself.  Just trying to answer your original queries!

Xx

[Sooze]

Hi Dotty & Hollyboll
I got my equivalency from https://thebms.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/15-BMS-TfC-HRT-preparations-and-equivalent-alternatives-APR2023-A.pdf which says a pump of Oestrogel twice a day is equivalent to 1mg of Sandrena.

I did experiment with 1.5mg in the first 6m of starting because my mood was very low (when I was taking Utrogestan orally daily), but it was defiantly too much for me, really sore boobs.  Then my gynaecologist recommended trying the Uterogestan vaginally on alternate days and that fixed the side effects I was getting.  I wouldn’t want to increase the Sandrena, because I’d need to up the Utrogestan, and I do have issues with progesterone.

I have also had a chat with my Mum, she went through the menopause 10yrs earlier than me and has never taken HRT due to all the health scares back then.  Her GP thinks this was a big contribution to her osteoporosis, so just being on my regime and with a later menopause I think my risks are significantly lower.
Thanks for all the help.

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

I recently moved to my GP surgery for my HRT ( I was with Newson Health before).
The senior Nurse Practitioner who runs the menopause clinic told me that two pumps of Oestrogel is the equivalent of one 1 mg sachet of Sandrena gel. I needed to know this because I was transferring from the pump to the sachets. I assume that she got this information from the BMS.

Take care ladies.

K.