Osteopenia and HRT - does amount of estrogen help?

[ChocolateTruffleCake]

Had my DXA-BMD and results came back yesterday: I have osteopenia. Despite my regular exercise (both weights and cardio), not drinking at all, not smoking and eating healthy with enough calcium and 1000mg vitamin D ... I have osteopenia. I am 52.

It all comes down, I think, to loss of estrogen.

I'm on 4 pumps Estrogel (increased since October), plus Prometrium ... but does anyone know what is optimal amount of estrogen to stop or restore bone?

Has your doctor said anything? I have it too but dr seemed really uninterested.

Meant to say , I am 47 and dr seemed to think it was normal at my age.

My GP said to stay on HRT and she'll order another BMD in a year to see if there's an improvement. That was it.

There is info online on this and it shows the amount from each type of HRT.

Using gel, the amount you need is 2 pumps minimum- giving 1.5mgs estrogen.

There is however a sliding scale, whereby any amount will help but the higher the dose, the more it helps to an extent.

There is a research paper - think it was headed by Nick Panay - showing that ultra-low-dose estrogen, which is 0.3mgs, helps bones but is not enough to control hot flushes.

A lot depends on what your bone density score is. Osteopenia can be very mild and just below normal, or severe and almost osteoporosis.
You need to know your T-scores to show how severe or not yours is.

Mine originally was very low in my hips and almost osteoporosis. I got it up by weights (specifically for hips) , HRT and diet.

Very helpful! Thank you @JinglingHellsBells - you are such a font of valuable information.

My GP didn't give me the T-score, so I will call her office on Monday to find out (she said I was "moderate").

I don’t know much about this area but maybe have a search for the effect of oral estrogen (progynova) on bones.

My understanding is that this is a different type of estrogen than that delivered by transdermal preps and may be helpful for bone health.

There's no difference @Deux between how you take estrogen. In fact more is absorbed transdermally and now it's the first choice of experts as it's also safer re blood clots.

I think I was getting confused with the general ‘collagen’ benefits of low dose oral oestrogen on arteries and stuff. I don’t use it myself mind.