If HRT patches keep coming off..

[tinmrn]

On everol patches whilst there’s an estradot shortage & rarely do they stay stuck on for the requisite time. If you’re meant to change them half way through the week, but they fall off in between, does that not affect how much hormone you’re receiving? I gym and swim a lot & they are useless!

That’s why I changed to Estrodot, which are also tiny in comparison. Others have suggested buying wound dressing patch type things to put over the top, but then you have an even larger patch, plus more sticky gunk left round the edges, not to mention the expense.
I find they mostly stick back down once I’m dry, but IKWYM about not getting the right dose. I just stick a new patch on if it comes off completely but then change it at the normal time. I suppose you could leave the replacement patch on for 3 or 4 days but then you have to remember to replace it at the right time.

I used second skin over my Estradot (when I could get it!), I am now using gel because I can't deal with the alternative patches. You could try second skin? You cut a piece just a cm or so larger than the patch and it keeps it on really well.

Also, gel isn't so bad in the interim as an alternative, in my experience.

I use everol not had any issues with them coming off, I’ve showered, been swimming etc.i find the back of my leg near my bum works best. One I put one nearer the front, it didn’t come off but it did loose. A little.

I found that ‘warming’ the patch in my hands before I applied it helped it stick.

The tattoo protector patches I use dont get anything sticking to the edges, yes they are big but they stay on. I get packs of 50 from Amazon

I do cold showers (I know, sorry) and I've discovered that they stick much better on cold skin. If I change the patch before showering, when my skin is much warmer, they are more inclined to fall off. Just in case its helpful to anyone

I’m use Everol and don’t find they come off. I do however, end up with black sticky marks where they have been. How do people get rid of these?

Ooooh my dm had these and my poor dad would wake up with them stuck on him 😄

I went through a stage of the everol patches not sticking. I bought some Tegaderm patches to stick over them. Then I clocked that my shower gel was slightly oily: I fixed that, stopped replacing my patches immediately after a shower and no problems since.

@WeregoingtoIbiza- black marks here too. I whip them off with cotton wool and baby oil.

is your skin dry and oil free ? I swim gym and it only occasionally comes off

I'm on Evorel Conti patches and they never come off. I don't gym or swim but I do shower every day-I don't use any moisturising lotions or products afterwards, though. Stick on top of my legs. Maybe some batches are just poor?

I wipe over the black marks with the discarded patch

This made me laugh 😂

As said above, use tattoo patches from Amazon. The black residue easily comes off in the bath.

Ive found them alright. Stick them down my bra for a bit to warm them up first then they don't come off. I don't swim though but do a lot of gym and showers.

I don't replace them anywhere near a shower. Better to be bone dry.

Gel instead? I switched due to the patches just sliding off.

As an aside, who finds ig interesting that there NEVER seems to be a shortage for Viagra?

I changed to gel because the only patch that would stay in place was estrodot and that became extremely difficult to get here. My specialist and pharmacist both told me that holding the patches in place with tape etc is of very little benefit because the hormone is absorbed through the skin from the 'glue', I know I'm making a mess explaining this but if the patch isn't sticking to the skin in the way it's meant to you are getting a reduced/uneven amount which can really be problematic. It took a little while to adjust to the gel but I prefer it now.

I was on gel before - can’t remember why I swapped now… it’s been a ‘journey’!! But the patches agree with me in every way except for this coming unstuck! I do often put on after shower though so I’ll change that & see if helps. Thanks all.

Hi there! New on here, but wanted to share some info I received from a very helpful pharmacist yesterday, in case it helps anyone on here. The adhesive used in Evorel patches is very similar to the adhesive used in Estradot patches, so in theory, if you usually use Estradot but are switching to another brand due to the shortage, Evorel would be the most similar, albeit the patches themselves are larger than Estradot patches. FemSeven patches are slightly smaller than Evorel patches (not as small as Estradot) but use a different adhesive which is silicone based. Some make the switch from Estradot to FemSeven fine, others may find that the FemSeven patches irritate their skin.

The main thing to be aware of is that, under the current Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP079) if you have a prescription for Estradot the pharmacist can, with your permission, substitute the Estradot patches for another brand, e.g. Evorel or FemSeven, with your permission. That means you don't need a new prescription for Evorel or FemSeven if Estradot isn't in stock. I only found this out yesterday, and it's the same regardless if your prescription is NHS or private.

I'm going to try the Evorel 50 patches as a substitute for my Estradot 50 patches, based on what I know now and that the adhesive is the same. Will report back with an update in case it helps anyone, and similar to others on here, thoughts with everyone who is being impacted by this!

Yes I had this.

I swim a lot including lake and river swimming and they just were not staying on.

i asked for a HRT review and now U have tablets and gel. Much much better.

I was advised to warm the patch between my hands prior to taking the plastic off then hold it in place on my bum. Prior to that they fell off constantly. And they never stuck to my thigh.

been on Evorel patches for 16 years, never had one fall off, I shower and swim in them no problem

the black residue is easily removed with baby oil

I have had similar issues. It seems some packs are better at sticking than others, my pharmacist told me that some of the packs have been sitting around for longer so the adhesive isn’t so effective. Unfortunately tegaderm and tattoo patches really irritated my skin when I tried them I got nasty red welts on the area around the patch. I now try and warm it in my hands for a few seconds and stick it quite high up my outer thigh so it doesn’t rub on my clothes as much. Sometimes they still come off and I have a spare box for emergencies.

Never ever had issues with Evorel sticking. I am allergic to the glue though which is why I can't use them.

You need to stick your patch onto clean, unmoisturised skin. If you are using some sort of moisturising body wash which makes your skin "oily" then that could explain it. I just use plain soap. Also putting patches where they are being rubbed by the seam of your knickers or trousers. Patches need to be pressed down onto skin for at least 30 seconds, I have also seen advice to give them a quick blast with a hairdryer to warm up the glue and make it stickier.

I am currently on my first week of FemSeven patches due to the manufacturing issues with Estradot and my patch seems to be sticking fine.