Perimenopause - is one pump oestrogel enough?

[choixduroi]

Hi,
I'm 46, regular periods but recently had bleeding middle of month and doc prescribed oestrogel (I already take progesterone for last half of cycle since 2 years after having shortened cycles and mood swings). She said start with one pump per day. Will this be enough? I know the 'normal' dose is 2. Any advice appreciated. Also, I've seen things saying you should only take the gel weeks 1-3 and then have a week without anything, this would seem to mirror natural hormones more, or is this overthinking?

Hello, sorry you didn't get any replies to this. How are you getting on? I've just started 1/2 pump as I get migraines and read that starting small would help get my body used to it. I've also started a body blast gentle exercise class 3/4x a week so I can't tell for sure what the benefit is due to, but I'm fairly sure I'm doing better because of the gel, even at that tiny dose.
Hope you're doing well too!

Thanks very much for your reply @Festivfrenzy!
I can report back now after a couple of months, and what seems to work well is, no gel for 5 days during period, then a bit of it a day increasing to a full pump around my ovulation day (or what used to be, not sure I always ovulate any more), reduce it a bit to 3/4 of a pump after ovulation, then up it again towards the end of the cycle. (basically try to mirror the normal cycle). With progesterone every day on second half of month. So far have had normal periods again, no more period after 15,16 days, and have felt loads of energy, also mental energy, not that feeling of woolliness I was getting before I took anything. I do do a lot of sport which helps also but I've always done that and it did nothing for the hormone symptoms. Also gave up alcohol completely in January (regular social drinker since 16-17 and I feel like that has helped me overall a lot). Would be great to hear others' experience on oestrogel as 'perimenopausees'.

Are you doing this regime with a doctor helping you?
It's a very unusual way to use it!

Also, I've seen things saying you should only take the gel weeks 1-3 and then have a week without anything, this would seem to mirror natural hormones more, or is this overthinking?

This isn't correct wherever you have seen it.

HRT- is estrogen every day.
Progesterone 12 days per monthly cycle (or daily if post menopause.)

It may be better to stick to the prescribed way of using it because otherwise you can get problems later on. The benefit of using estrogen daily is that is gives you a constant dose without the highs and lows of peri. You don't need use 2 pumps. That is the guidance for women who need that amount (or more.) You can just as easily use 1 pump if that controls your symptoms. The difference between 1 and 3/4 pump is minute and it must be quite hard to know it's 3/4 pump anyway.

Thanks @JinglingSpringbells
I was initially just on progesterone for the second half of the month, from when I was 43 and started feeling really grumpy, awful, periods coming early etc. That helped me a lot. This year (47) I started getting periods half way through the month, so the doc suggested adding oestrogen. She said a pump a day every day and then continue with the progesterone in the second half of the month. I do approximately do that, and never use more than 1 pump, but do use a bit less and try vaguely to mirror my natural cycle, so use a tiny bit less after ovulation when oestrogen drops naturally. I am quite attuned and e.g. know when I'm ovulating, which day etc. This may all be overthinking but seems to be working great so far and I feel so normal and back to my old self. I know I'm not doing anything dangerous as am only having max 1 pump and faithfully continuing with the progesterone...

Thanks so much that's really helpful- so good that it's helping you too! I'm quite surprised that most people seem to start on 2 pumps straightaway without knowing whether 1 would help them too. Anyway it's brilliant to know if it starts to be less effective I can use more and it'll still be safe.