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Menopause

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Original poster

Patches or gel

38 replies

Carol52 · 12/01/2024 14:21

Hi
My doctor had prescribed HRT for me.

She asked if I wanted gel or patches.
Which is best also I have to take a tablet at night time.
Any advice .
I apprehensive about side facts and which is bst

OP posts:
AnOldCynic · 12/01/2024 14:30

It's more about convenience than side effects as far as I know. Patches same dose but leave sticky patches and you can see them. Gel you need to leave to dry.

RainyLife · 12/01/2024 14:51

I have tried both and I prefer the gel. I don't like the residue the patches leave and find removing the residue with baby oil a faff. Also, I found that different makes of patches perform differently. Estradot sticks well (for me) and is small and discreet. However, my chemist seems to go through phases where they can't stock them. When this happens I get switched to Evorel which are much bigger and don't stick to my skin so well and causes issues with absorption.

The gel is annoying in that it has to be applied everyday, but it's useful being able to alter the dosage if necessary. My skin seems to soak up the gel pretty quickly. I shower every morning so it fits in well with my routine.

I think it's all a bit trial and error and you have to find what works best for you.

DustyLee123 · 12/01/2024 16:23

I prefer gel as I’m in control of the dose.

Whatsgoingonwithmyhead · 12/01/2024 16:25

I use gel, the patches just seemed so unsexy to me

AnnaMagnani · 12/01/2024 16:29

Literally personal preference.

Of the oestrogen only patches:

Estraderm are useless and fall off all the time
Estradot are the smallest, stick really well but leave the toughest residue
Evorel are somewhere in the middle- medium size, sticky but might come off, not too bad a residue

I didn't fancy gel.

TheLurpackYears · 12/01/2024 16:29

I use patches, family life doesn't give me the time for waiting for gel to dry- especially as I'd need 4 pumps. There is also a spray bottle option that dries quicker I believe. For the progesterone element you can also use a patch or have a Mirena. You will have been firstly offered the cheapest option you are able to ask for an alternative that suits you.
I loved Estrodot patches too, so small and sticky, but I don't think they are made anymore.

smokingcarriageonly · 12/01/2024 17:37

Imo patches are more convenient to use but harder to get. I reacted to the adhesive in some brands so Estradot was my only option.

I'm on gel now anyway because I wasn't absorbing the oestrogen in the patch.

LadyBird1973 · 12/01/2024 18:13

I like the patches. The gel was fine but the progesterone pill that you have to take with gel, gave me awful headaches

quietlycontent · 12/01/2024 18:29

I have Evorel Patches not tried the gel but they are fine for me. Have discovered if you use the patch to rub on the residue it brings it off nicely when you are taking one off

Original poster
Carol52 · 12/01/2024 19:48

the tablet can they change the dosage

OP posts:
AnnaMagnani · 12/01/2024 20:22

Utrogestan (the tablet) no they can't change the dosage.

But you can use it vaginally instead of orally which gets rid of side effects for most people.

EdgarsTale · 12/01/2024 20:34

Much prefer the patch. I reacted badly to the utrogestan tablet.

VWT5 · 12/01/2024 20:42

Prefer the gel, it dries in the short time it takes to clean my teeth after applying.

Evorel patches felt like “HRT Lite”, a sort of diet form of HRT to me, despite it being an identical dose to the gel.

The oestrogel in comparison feels much more effective, like being on steroids (of sorts)

Rainsdropskeepfalling · 12/01/2024 20:45

Patches for me - only need to remember them once week, while I forgot the gel most nights

Purplecatshopaholic · 12/01/2024 20:49

I like the gel, it’s easy to use. My two friends who use patches hate them - they get irritated skin with them, and they often fall off apparently.

LaPalmaLlama · 12/01/2024 20:51

Gel here. Use testosterone as well so whack them both on and then it’s a 5 min wait in my underwear for it to dry so I just use that time to do emails or whatever.

MirandaWest · 12/01/2024 20:51

I had a mirena coil anyway and so could have either patch or gel. I have gel - there was a time with supply issues and I had to have patches and found they didn’t work as well - hated the residue, they kept falling off and I didn’t absorb the oestrogen well

Allthecatseverywhereallatonce · 12/01/2024 20:54

Patches for me too. I use everol and they are quite small, the residue rubs off in the shower no bother. I used the spray and the progesterone tablet orally and it was horrible. Heavy bleeding, bad moods, bloating. Honestly not worried about being sexy my dh is not at all bothered as he knows the benefits.
The tablets led to me being iron deficient anaemic and I went through the 2ww to find out the false period it caused was the cause

LaPalmaLlama · 12/01/2024 21:02

Honestly OP I think this thread shows it’s quite personal. Pick one and if it doesn’t work out, switch. Just one thing is that my friends who majorly work out said the patches fall off if you get heavily sweaty so if you’re that way inclined maybe try gel first.

tokesqueen · 12/01/2024 21:05

Gel here. No trouble at all and didn't like the idea of a patch, it's like being 'branded' menopausal.
I even react to the hypoallergenic adhesive on ECG stickers after a day so it was a no brainier for me.

MapleSyrupWaffles · 12/01/2024 21:13

I thought most people had to take the tablet alongside the patch? (if they didn't want the coil).

Or maybe it's just at higher doses that you get the combined patch, or a different kind of progesterone that not every one can take? I haven't started it yet but I was looking into it a while back, and I somehow came to the conclusion that if I wanted patches, I'd have to have a tablet as well, at least to start with.

MapleSyrupWaffles · 12/01/2024 21:14

(i mean for those who are taking the patch, that is - some people have said they prefer it as they don't have to take a pill)

LaJoconde · 13/01/2024 11:17

There are two toes of patch - those with oestrogen only and those with a combined oestrogen and progesterone.

If you take oestrogen only whether it’s a oil a patch it gel, if you have a win you need to take progesterone whether it’s a coil or a little capsule - the capsule can be taken orally, it inserted vaginally.
The coil is an interuterine device which releases progesterone locally, like the vaginal progesterone capsule.

The oestrogen patches come in a few varieties. Some are small and sticky, Oestrodot are very well tolerated and small, others are thinner and larger, but may come off if you’re sweaty or have a lot of hair on your tummy.

the gel is delivered by pump and you sierras it over a large body area- outside of outer arms and inside thighs. If you need 4 pumps for example (100 patch dose) you might need to apply over a larger area of leg, and you may need a hairdryer to get it all dry.

I swim, so I use the Estrodot patch as I don’t have time to apply the gel afterwards. I use the micronised progesterone as a vaginal pessary as I’m intolerant of taking it orally… I get low mood.

take your lifestyle and your skin attributes into consideration even shipping around for what may suit you best.

If you decide to use the gel, don’t put it on at night as it will come off on your partner if you share a bed. Use it in the morning. The patches can be applied anytime.

everyone’s different so find it what suits you best and good luck

LaJoconde · 13/01/2024 11:19

Apologies about my autocorrect. That post is almost unreadable!

LaJoconde · 13/01/2024 11:22

I’ll post that again!

There are two types of patch - those with oestrogen only and those with a combined oestrogen and progesterone.

If you take oestrogen only whether it’s a patch or gel, if you have a womb you need to take progesterone whether it’s a coil or a little capsule - the capsule can be taken orally, it inserted vaginally.
The coil is an interuterine device which releases progesterone locally, like the vaginal progesterone capsule.

The oestrogen patches come in a few varieties. Some are small and sticky, Oestrodot are very well tolerated and small, others are thinner and larger, but may come off if you’re sweaty or have a lot of hair on your tummy.

the gel is delivered by pump and you spread it over a large body area- outside of outer arms and inside thighs. If you need 4 pumps for example (100 patch dose) you might need to apply over a larger area of leg, and you may need a hairdryer to get it all dry.

I swim, so I use the Estrodot patch as I don’t have time to apply the gel afterwards. I use the micronised progesterone as a vaginal pessary as I’m intolerant of taking it orally… I get low mood.

take your lifestyle and your skin attributes into consideration even shopping around for what may suit you best.

If you decide to use the gel, don’t put it on at night as it will come off on your partner if you share a bed. Use it in the morning. The patches can be applied anytime.

everyone’s different so find it what suits you best and good luck