Normal dose of oestrogel?

[BB49]

I’m just starting my HRT and threw away the packaging for the oestrogel pump and can’t remember the dose I’m meant to take. Is it two pumps?

Usually start with one pump, apply and don't rub in. If no improvement in 2-3 months May need to increase. Utrogesten too?

My starting dose is two pumps every evening. I do one each arm, some choose their inner thighs.

(Mid 40s, reasonably regular periods before starting, also take progesterone tablets for 12 days each month, starting on day 15 of cycle).

@cleowasmycat yes utrogestan 100mg as well. Not sure whether to do one pump or two now!

Goodness, I’ve always rubbed it in. I need to go back and read the instructions again!
It’s always freezing cold when I apply it for some reason, sumner or winter.

Can you look on the repeat prescription section of your NHS app? That should tell you the dose you have been prescribed. I have 3 pumps a day.

What do you mean by "don't rub it in". I have always rubbed it in. Wouldn't it just sort of slide off in a blob if you didn't?

Starting dose 2 pumps for me.

This has made me realise I’ve never read the instructions. I do one pump and rub it in. I always put it on my right buttock.

I was given two pumps a day but have been doing one and feel great. I'll increase when I need to, and I rub it in!

I think you would be waiting an awful long time for it to dry if you didn't rub it in/spread it out.
1 pump covers the entirety of my inner thigh and slightly onto the front and still takes 5 minutes at least to dry.

I watched a video on the Balance website and it suggests you should rub it in. I moved from combined tablets where I was on 2mg of estradiol, so am on two pumps.

https://www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/how-to-apply-oestrogel/

Never heard of anyone not rubbing it in or at least spreading it out!
Starting dose here was 2 pumps - I’m 40

It's best to start on 1 pump because medical advice is use the lowest dose to reduce and manage symptoms. You might also get side effects by jumping straight in with 2 pumps.

The information about how to use it is all online from various drug websites where all drugs are listed along with side effects.

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/353/pil#about-medicine

Point 3 explains exactly how to apply and what to avoid after using it.

How much to use and when to use

• Apply the gel once a day, either in the morning or evening.
• Try to use the gel at about the same time each day.
• Your doctor will prescribe the lowest dose for the shortest time to treat your symptoms.
• One pump is equal to one measure
• The usual daily dose is 2 measures (i.e. 2 pumps) of gel. The Pump Pack will last four weeks.
• If 4 measures (i.e. 4 pumps) of gel have been prescribed, the Pump Pack will last two weeks.
• Spread the gel on a large area of skin on each shoulder, outer arm or each mid-inner thigh.

How to apply the gel

1. Make sure that your hands and the skin where you are going to apply the gel are clean, dry and unbroken.
2. Remove the canister cap to reveal the plunger.

Remove the stopper from the spout.

1. Hold the Oestrogel Pump Pack in one hand and place your other hand under the spout, ready to collect the gel.
2. Push the plunger down firmly. This will dispense one measure of the gel.
3. Apply the gel to either:

• the outer arm and shoulder of both arms,

or

• the mid-inner thigh of both legs.

1. Do not apply on or near the breasts, or near the genital area.
2. Spread the gel over a large area of skin on each shoulder, outer arm or mid-inner thigh.
3. If your doctor has prescribed 2 measures of gel, spread 1 measure over each outer arm and shoulder, or each mid-inner thigh. If 4 measures of gel have been prescribed, spread 2 measures over each outer arm and shoulder or each mid-inner thigh. (See steps 4-8).
4. Cover the spout using the attached stopper.

Replace the cap. 10. Leave to dry for 5 minutes before covering with clothes. 11. Wash hands with soap and water after applying the gel. 12. Do not allow other people to touch the area of the skin where the gel was applied until the gel has dried and cover with clothing if needed.

If you believe Oestrogel has been transferred to another person (man or child):
Wash the area of skin onto which may have been affected immediately with soap and water.

To clarify, kind of smear on and wait to dry - it has a small amount of alcohol that will evaporate as it absorbs into the skin.

In terms of how to apply, the old leaflet many years ago used to suggest using the size of the leaflet as a template for the area of skin you need to cover. That leaflet was about the size of an A4 piece of paper.

So if you're applying to your arms, you need to spread one pump thinly over each upper arm from the shoulder to the elbow. If it's thighs, from your knees up to the top of your thigh (inner thigh only.)

If you're using more than 2 pumps a day, the BMS suggests splitting the dose am and pm - morning and bedtime ish.

The thinner it's spread, the more easily it's absorbed. But you don't rub and rub until it's all disappeared.

I use one pump every other day along with vagifem. I was told two pumps a day but I started slow and low and my symptoms are under control as in hone, except the losing words. I've been rubbing it into my outer thigh and it covers my entire outer and front thigh. I'm going to go and read the instructions after reading this thread.

If your doctor has prescribed 2 measures of gel, spread 1 measure over each outer arm and shoulder, or each mid-inner thigh.

Now I’ve read the instructions posted upthread, I’m wondering what damage I’ve done to my husband with my cavalier application 😂

I rub it into my bum cheek in bed and we sleep naked so he’s probably rubbing up against it nightly.

I read that somewhere a few months ago and changed my application to morning! We also sleep naked 😂

Good idea. I’ll change to morning.

Why does it need to be inner thigh rather than front or outer thigh? I think I’ve just put it in my outer thigh area 🫣

@BB49 I've been googling and can't find any rationale for it so far. I'm going to see my GP for a review so I'll ask her. I was reluctant to take it to start with although I don't know why. My symptoms are controlled on far less than one GP told me to use and I'm using the progesterone vaginally after reading on here that the side effects are not an issue when taken like this. I can't tolerate it otherwise. It's working great for me so I hope the GP is ok about it. I've not had a proper period now since April last year. I had an episode of brown discharge like the start or end of a period for about a week sometime around the early summer but nothing since then.

I think there is some evidence that it's better absorbed by fatty areas rather than muscle. (That's why patches go on bum cheeks or hips.)

I did read this ages ago and it's probably out there on google if you search.

It says on the leaflet that you should avoid skin to skin contact for one hour after application.

This also applies to children and pets.

Instructions with diagrams this time! On all other sites it says avoid skin to skin contact for an hour. Here, it says till gel is dry.

www.oestrogel.co.uk/how-to-use-oestrogel/