Anyone have noticeable improvement on just one pump of oestrogen gel?

[WalksLikeDuck]

Doc told me to start with two pumps as one is "pissing in the wind" 😆. I am cautious and don't know if hrt is right for me yet. Is it silly to try a few weeks of a single pump before increasing it? TIA

The standard dose is 2 pumps (this in on the patient info leaflet.)That gives 1.5mgs. Half the dose is 0.75mgs and is considered 'low'.

It's good advice to start low to see how you get on. One pump might be enough. But the whole point of gel is that you can try different doses (up to 4 pumps a day.)

I did have success with one pump. It sorted my day time flushes. But it didn't help with the night sweats or insomnia.

However, it's not good advice to say that 2 pumps is a waste of time and it suggests your GP doesn't know much about HRT.

Thank you. That's very helpful

The thing with hrt is that we are all given the same two pumps advice. When all three of us on this thread have differing needs the nhs does not take this into consideration and gives us all the same dose! It's mental.

So I'd start with one pump for a week or a couple of weeks and progress to two if required.

I'm just starting mine shortly too and that's what I'll try.

The licensed dose from the manufacturer is 2 pumps but the detail is that anywhere from 1 to 4 pumps is possible. There is definitely an element of GPs not being confident in prescribing. I was advised (consultant) to start with a tiny dose (like half a pump) and work upwards to get control of symptoms.

I am on 2 pumps have been for 2 years . I am trying to reduce to 1 pump see if I actually need two

The thing we need is bloods taken to see where our hormones are at.

We would get that first everything else, iron, b12, folate, thyroid, diabetes etc. and then appropriate medication and doseage prescribed.

Yet not for these hormone levels.

It's disgraceful that we just get left and nobody knows what we are at and what we should be at!

@DeliciousApples I hear you but tests for estrogen are not accurate. They can change by the hour. I've used HRT for many years and it's been explained to me that blood tests mean nothing, although some drs feel they are 'doing a service' by doing them (and charging.) My HRT is private so it's not a case of 'saving money' by not doing them.

The best 'test' is to try the lowest dose and work upwards.

Hope it goes well for you.

I started on one pump and definitely noticed a difference.

However as I also felt quite odd the first two weeks (a bit high?!) I wouldn't have wanted to start on a higher dose. That didn't happen when I went up from one pump to two - going from 0 to 1 dose was the biggest difference.

I'm on 1 pump and definitely doing what I need it to, although I'd say my symptoms were not severe to start with. It did take a few weeks to feel a difference though and longer to adjust to the utrogestan tablets (2-3 months for them to settle) but I've stayed on 1 pump.

I have just started on one pump, which is fine for now. My problem is actually getting hold of Oestragel— my designated pharmacy hasn’t had it since 2023 and my local Boots doesn’t have it. In desperation, I bought some from Boots online doctor, paying extra for a prescription. So they have it, but only if you pay extra for it.