Ovestin on your face

[Garlicfest]

This wasn't a plan but, while devouring information about Ovestin cream, I found a lot of reliable-looking statements that it may be used to retard facial hair growth. Well, my face hairs grow faster than I can pull them out, so I thought I may as well give it a go.

It's weakened the hair growth, not eliminated it. But ...! I've got horrid wrinkles on my lower cheeks - it's quilted, you can actually see the collagen's collapsed - and the cream's really smoothing them out.

I'm not willing to risk my health for a prettier face but those wrinkles are quite disfiguring so, naturally, I'm pleased with the effect. Does anybody know how dangerous it's likely to be? My GP's anti HRT so I can't ask him; I'm getting my Ovestin (and, now, patches) online.

I'd quite like to carry on doing this until I've worked my way up to the full patch. I've started on quarters because I'm old and it's 7 years since I last took systemic HRT: it will be nine months before I'm using whole ones. I'm kind of telling myself I can keep hormone-ing my lower face until then, and then see whether the full patches can keep the damage under control.

Clearly, face cancer would be worse than wrinkles ... I've looked, but not found anything saying this is a realistic concern. Hoping you wise ones will know.

It's a pertinent question, but definitely postmenopausal women 😂

I hadn't realised a consultant's prescription would cost that much less. @CeruleanDive's right, I don't have that sort of money. It might be worth saving up though ... I'll have yet another go at the GP first. I've been assuming the real problem is their prescribing budget, as I've highlighted the NICE updates and sent other NHS info in support.

I'm going to speed up my full patch introduction to a quarter more per month instead of three months. Am still too wary of whacking on a whole one after so long - likely too cautious, but it's not like I'll die any faster for want of oestrogen right now.

Cerulean, it was only a week before I saw a difference. The hairs kept on thinning for about two months. They rebound if you forget, though!

Your GP is a sexist arsehole. I know you know that but I can't believe people like that get so much power! I'm really angry on your behalf.

Thanks, I'm going to try it OP.

Before you give up on your GP, send a sternly worded letter to the Practice Manager, attaching the NICE guidelines etc. Explain that if they continue to refuse to prescribe in line with the guidelines and your age/symptoms, then you will be asking for that refusal to be added to your notes.

I hadn't realised a consultant's prescription would cost that much less. 's right, I don't have that sort of money. It might be worth saving up though ... I'll have yet another go at the GP first. I've been assuming the real problem is their prescribing budget, as I've highlighted the NICE updates and sent other NHS info in support.

I'm going to take each of these points in turn @Garlicfest

A private prescription is the cost of the drug at RRP, plus the mark up from the pharmacy for handling it and their dispensing fee. It works out on average (and very roughly ) at 1.5 times the RRP per item.

Online pharmacies charge a LOT more

HRT is very cheap. Your GP cannot make decisions based on cost.
This table is a little out of date I think, but you can get a rough idea of the cost.
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/postmeno.php

These are the costs to the NHS.

• 3 months of Evorel conti is just over £37.

• Ovestin is £4.45 a tube. (online it's almost £30.)

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/postmeno.php

Rather than sending info you've printed off, it would probably be better to take the info in with you to an appointment and use it as part of a discussion.

You are paying a small fortune for private HRT by buying it online.
If you paid to see a consultant, they would write to your GP with their recommendations. You would also get more individualised help about restarting it after a long gap and the dose.

Your GP should prescribe it thereafter on the NHS.

If you are over 60 you can get an HRT payment certificate which means your HRT is FREE.

If you are over 60 you can get an HRT payment certificate which means your HRT is FREE. What??!! You bet I'm off to Google this!

Thank you for your really informative post 😘

Edit to say that ALL prescriptions for the over-60s are free and HRT is free at any age with a certificate.

Garlicfest, just to add in case it’s helpful, my very good consultant Gynae told me you shouldn’t cut the patches up to reduce the dose because then the stuff inside goes everywhere. If you’re gradually increasing or reducing you’re better off doing it via number of blobs of gel.

Thanks, @Gingangoolee, but the leaflet gives directions for cutting them!

I haven't read all this but just to say I've been doing this for a while now and i definitely see a difference. I am 52 and have been using it for like 6 months I think. I thought well if it plums up down there why not up here as well? I use a pea size about every other night and it goes around my eyes and on my nose to mouth lines and the rest is just sort of smeared around 😂

the same on my neck and back of hands. I measured it and it's roughly the same amount that goes up my bits one a week. I was prescribed 2-3 times a week so it's the same but just going in different areas.