Experiences of HRT oestrogen patches compared with spray or gel

[YonderlyYonderly]

If you're on HRT, do you take your oestrogen via patches, spray, or gel? I'm on patches but am thinking of switching because I honestly hate the sticky mess they leave behind. And in the summer you have this unsightly patch on your leg!

Is anyone here on either spray or gel who wouldn't mind sharing their experiences? Positive or negative? Thank you!

Wash your hands and that's about it. I apply the gel to my inner thighs so no worries about transference!

Gel here
Applied to thighs and rubbed in with the lid so I don’t have to touch it or wash my hands after
I was told no swimming or showering for an hour after application and likewise an hour for any touching by anyone else. I apply in bed, just before I go to sleep.

I've read instructions, it says avoid close contact with your partner for an hour. That means shagging in case in transfers onto him whilst absorbing. I wouldn't worry

I used gel and was happy with it. Switched to combined patches when I started Mounjaro so I could stop taking tablet progesterone. I like the patches too. I have seen shifts in bleeding, side effects etc (although that could be due to progesterone rather than oestrogen). As long as you have an understanding/available GP, no reason not to try changing and see how it goes.

Things to keep in mind with the gel: more convenient as doesn't show under a swimsuit but you need it to absorb for a while before you put on sun cream or go swimming. And you have to apply every single day, and make sure it doesn't get spilled/rubbed on your other half or children. I find patches more convenient in that sense.

Another patch to gel convert here! The patches just didn't stick to me and I found it harder to remember which days I was supposed to change them than to remember to apply gel every day. It just becomes part of your routine - shower, apply moisturiser, deodorant etc Just add apply gel to your list and it dries while you're doing your hair! It's also easier with the gel to play around with the dosage if you need to do that.

What part of your body do you apply it to? Stupid question I know but does it need to be below the waist like the patches?

It can be applied to either upper arms or thighs - everyone has their preference but I do arms which means I can get half way dressed, apply gel, then dry hair etc, then finish getting dressed. It really doesn't take long to dry anyway so even if you don't do all that you're not waiting for long.

I use tattoo film over patches. No sticky mess and they don't budge.

Thanks for the info. Definitely thinking of swapping to the gel after this weather.

When I had my tattoo and they used second skin it came off in my first shower 🙈 I’m starting to think it’s me that’s the problem and I have dodgy skin that nothing sticks to!

Patch to gel convert here too. Patches kept coming off. Only downside of the gel is it’s bloody cold which I don’t like in winter.

I apply it to my thigh while sitting on the loo having a wee first thing 😁. My pjs are baggy so I can pull them up while still not 100% dry and then wash my hands.

I like the patches. I don't find they leave much of a sticky mess at all. I found that gel took forever to dry and you have to stand around in your knickers waiting for it to dry. Never tried the spray.

I find the gel is fully dry in a minute or so, but maybe I have bigger thighs to spread it across 😂

I got very irritated by the adhesive on the patches. Didn’t know there was an alternative so stuck with it until during Covid there was a shortage of patches and was offered the gel. Haven’t looked back since.

Only downside- it can take a while to dry so I have adjusted my morning routine to include teeth brushing, moisturising and sun-screening.

Gel to patch to pill here. Easiest for me

I’ve been using gel since January and I haven’t had any problems with it, I switch between thighs and upper arms. I’ve never used patches though so can’t compare the two.

Big fan of the spray - dries so much more quickly than gel and doesn't get on your hands.

That’s one of the main reasons I changed to patches. I lived in a cold house and had to have 4 pumps of gel - one on each arm and each leg so knowing I’d have to get out of my nice warm bed and stand naked while it dried was grim. Every bloody morning in the winter.
Also the bottles took up a lot of storage space.

Thank you everyone for the input. It seems that the spray version is still not widely used. I get that the daily application can be annoying but at least I won't have to contend with the grey adhesive marks (I don't have the time or patience to try to remove them twice weekly. I tried once and failed).

In the meantime, the grey marks come off really easily if you rub them with the patch you've just taken off.

@namechange0998776554799000 it wasn't the sticky marks that bothered me, more that I had red irritated patches whenever I took one off and they took weeks to clear up. The stick stuff comes off easily with baby oil.