Anyone else had issues absorbing oestrogen from the patches

[CarolineR]

Hi Ladies,

I am post menopausal and wanted to ask if anyone else had to change from patches to gel due to absorption issues? I have been on Estradot 50 since last May combined with 100mg Utrogestan and was doing really well. Since Jan have been feeling off, had a 5 day period, sleep issues and the Dr said my oestrogen levels were low (around 350) so told me to slowly increase to estradot 75. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Also I have been doing regular saunas and wonder if this affects the patches.

Many thanks for any advice :-)

Yes I don't absorb through the skin I'm on utrogestan and oestrogen implants.

Yes, I switched to gel from patches as I exercise a lot and when it came to peel the patches off they were only stuck on around the very edge. Feel better with the gel

Yes I swapped to gel and feel much better. Also the patches were irritating my skin. Hope you get it sorted.

"Implants of HRT are not widely available and are not used very often." Per NHS.

I've asked and been refused. Which one are you on please @Bublemuble?

I changed to gel for the same reason

I'm with Birmingham women's hospital meno clinic is E - 25 on NHS but I went through 5 years of treatment and nothing was working on me.

Private hospitals will do implants

Thanks ladies, how did you switch, equivalent gel dose to patch? Did you notice any delay/changes before the gel kicked in? How did you know you were not absorbing? Was it symptoms or blood tests?

My meno specialist said to move it around to different areas. I had been putting it on my stomach as previously advised by another doctor and she said it didn't absorb as well there.

So might be worth trying to move where you are applying it?

Thanks silentpool. So do you put your patches on legs etc? I notice they annoy my skin on my bottom/thighs.

I've been putting it all over the place - she said inner surfaces so I've tried inner thigh, near my armpit, top of thigh under bottom etc. Worth a try!

@silentpool I was told by my nurse specialist not to put it anywhere near armpits or breasts and to keep them below the waist.

@silentpool Yes, have a read of the leaflet in the box, my one definitely says not to apply above the waist. I think it's about breast cancer risk?

I just put them top of thigh, alternating legs each time, always leave a tide mark but it comes off with a scratch in the bath. Sometimes on hips

Apparently heat (saunas) can cause the hormone to be dumped all at once, I'll see if I can find a link.

OK thanks! I only did that once so I won't do it again.