Where to apply oestrogel/lenzetto spray... my GP says differently to leaflet

[ParanoidGynodroid]

I started oestrogel a few weeks ago and GP told me to apply on thighs/fleshy part of lower body, but the leaflet says arms. I've now had to switch to Lenzetto spray as the gel isn't available; again, the GP label says 'below the waist' but the leaflet says apply to arms.
Does anyone know if there's any reason the GP would give advice that differs to the label?

Go by the leaflet.

Oh and by the way the leaflet in gel says inner thigh or upper arm. So your GP wasn't exactly right on that one!

I downloaded an app called Balance and checked on there, they say EITHER inner arm or thigh, so either or is fine

I thought it was BOTH.
The idea is to rotate the areas over time. One arm,the other arm, one leg, the other leg etc…. So the area doesn’t saturate with the hormone.

@WhyIsEverythingSoHard

I thought it was BOTH. The idea is to rotate the areas over time. One arm,the other arm, one leg, the other leg etc…. So the area doesn’t saturate with the hormone.

Nope. No such thing as saturating the area. How could it? It's absorbed in 1 hour.

@MzHz

I downloaded an app called Balance and checked on there, they say EITHER inner arm or thigh, so either or is fine

Keep it away from your INNER arm as it's too near your breasts if you are not wearing clothes and it happens to transfer.

Thank you all.
It says arms on the leaflets, but thighs OK too. My GP said fleshy below waist for both of them without even mentioning arms, so I had wondered if:
a) there were some new guidelines, or b) the advice was tailored to me personally for some reason... e.g. because I'm a bit overweight.

I'll stick to thighs for now but ask about it at my review. Thanks again all.

I think some drs conflate a lot of things and quite honestly, don't really know.

For example, patches are supposed to be stuck on the lower part of the body- bum cheeks mainly.

So, some drs apply this 'logic' to gel.

Likewise, there have been examples here of micronised progesterone being prescribed by GPs for 14 days, as this is the usual progestogen dose per month of patches and pills. Whereas the actual dose by the manufacturer is 12 days (for most women.)

Thanks again @JinglingHellsBells, you're very knowledgeable.

Seems it's no biggie if I do thighs or arms then, but I'm just a bit confused as to why I was given the advice I was.

@ParanoidGynodroid

Thanks again *@JinglingHellsBells*, you're very knowledgeable.

Seems it's no biggie if I do thighs or arms then, but I'm just a bit confused as to why I was given the advice I was.

Knowledgeable) Only because I've used it for years and see a very good consultant.

As I said I expect your dr is applying the same 'rules' to gel as patches and hasn't read the leaflet (why would they?)

@JinglingHellsBells, or anyone else with knowledge.....I'm just wondering out of interest, why gels go on your arms, & patches bum or thighs when they (often) contain the same dose/ level of the dame hormone.
why can't gels go on your bum & patches on your arm?
I know its no big deal in the scheme of things, I am just interested ! Thank you!

[quote mattcockhand]@JinglingHellsBells, or anyone else with knowledge.....I'm just wondering out of interest, why gels go on your arms, & patches bum or thighs when they (often) contain the same dose/ level of the dame hormone.
why can't gels go on your bum & patches on your arm?
I know its no big deal in the scheme of things, I am just interested ! Thank you![/quote]
I'm sure it makes no difference.

Whilst you are right in saying you may only need utrogestan for 12 days it’s usually prescribed for 14 just to make it easier . 14 out of 28 days. And the extra 2 days is of no consequence.

Blimey, I take Utrogestan for 25 days! Quite a lot of difference.
I really must do some more reasearch on HRT.

With regard to the patches, perhaps the thigh/buttock placement is just so it can't be seen?

@TobyMory

Whilst you are right in saying you may only need utrogestan for 12 days it’s usually prescribed for 14 just to make it easier . 14 out of 28 days. And the extra 2 days is of no consequence.

It's not actually @TobyMory

Where are you getting that info from?

It may be what GPs are saying, but that doesn't mean they are right :)

In fact it's only something that has cropped up recently as more and more women use the gel/ Utrogestan regime. GPs seem to be applying the doses in tablet type HRT with Utrogestan.

The 28 days is really confusing for women, as no month (other than February) has 28 days.

The advice from my consultant has always been (if using it monthly) to start on the same day each month - often the 1st- and count 12 days, working on calendar months.

The reason for not using it for 14 days is also that many women find they have side effects and 12 days reduces the amount taken.

OK, a quick look tells me I'm 100mg for 25 days rather than 200mg for 12 (or 14). Well that's fine, but again why is it done like that for some?
HR

Although a week has 7 days so arguably taking it for 2 of every 4 weeks is easier.
And if they can have side effects use vaginally.

Wow can you actually get it at the moment. It's been out of stock for weeks!

@ParanoidGynodroid

As Utrogestan has become more popular, some consultants have advised moving away from the regimes on the leaflet for some women.

The 25 days is for women using it continuously as a no-bleed regime.
The 3 day gap is there to allow for a bleed if there is any lining to be shed.

In most women, once they get settled on it, there is no lining to be shed. On that basis, drs are advising that it's better and easier to take it daily (and ignore the 25 days 'rule'.)

This brings it into line with all other continuous combined HRT- patches and tablets- where there is no 'gap' of 3 days in the HRT.

What you would be advised is if over the 3-day gap you have no blood loss, your lining is thin, so it's safe to use it daily and no need to allow for a possible bleed.

There are many variations on using progesterone now that have evolved ahead of changes from the manufacturers/leaflets.

I use my dose in a different way but it's with specialist advice and supervision (I extend the estrogen-only weeks). But that involves some scans now and then (paid for- not NHS.)

HTH

@TobyMory Are you a) using it yourself or b) a medical practitioner backing up your own prescribing?

@ParanoidGynodroid I think you are not appreciating that the 2 differnt ways are for women who are either peri meno/ post meno.

For women in peri meno, it's usually 12 days per cycle, and daily (every day) for women without periods.

Some women like me, post meno, prefer to stick with the cyclical regime as there is some evidence that it's slightly safer re breast cancer than continuous regimes. (The actual amount of progesterone is linked to a higher risk it may seem.)

For what it’s worth, when I was using the gel I started on my arms and over time I felt that my outer arms grew bingo-wings for the first time. My kids would come up to me and squish them! I am fairly sporty and had nice arms so this was a shock. So in my very unscientific survey, it might be better for aesthetic reasons to choose thighs :) Thank god I got some patches back, like them much better and there seems to be some improvement in the bingo wing department.