HRT patches not sticking

[EclipseOfTheHearts]

I've only just started on these, Friday morning I put one on. Yesterday on getting ready for bed I could hear it wrinkling (I've put it on at the top of my bum, so it won't be impacted by sitting, but it's protected by my knickers) I had a look in the mirror & it had like a huge wrinkle through it so I straightened it up & hoped for the best.

Nope, it's crinkling away when I walk on getting up & it's wrinkled up again.

Am I putting it on wrong or something? The box says twice a week, I can't change them daily, can I?!

Should I try it in a different place?
Where does everybody else wear theirs?

I had a quick Google last night & it said nowhere with hair or where you may sweat excessively, so that's the entire front area a 'No' then as it's a sweaty, disgusting mess.

Oh my word. How unhelpful of your GP! Well maybe just ask for Estradot instead next time?
If you really want them to be unaffected by anything then just put a transparent wound cover plaster over. I have done that in the past. You can buy them on Amazon

Whyherewego I don't really want to make a fuss with the GP as I've been trying to be listened to about peri/menopause for 4 years now, she finally said that I could have one box of the patches & then contact her again (made me feel like I was being a right nuisance) but so I don't want to have to contact her & ask if I can have some more as I had to use extra!

That’s awful! I get repeat prescriptions through an app and when I was on gel and realised I needed a higher dose I put a note on to say I needed more bottles in each prescription, and I got them.

Can you see a different GP? My current practice has a menopause specialist but also several young female doctors that I have seen who are very clued up and positive about menopause and HRT.

Thanks for this thread, I have the same problem with the patches coming off. For me it's usually after swimming (which I do a couple of times a week) so I've timed my patches to need changing on the day I swim.

I spoke to the menopause nurse about it, and she said its fine to put a new patch on if one falls off early. She also said that they are more likely to fall off during warmer weather.

Estradot as some have mentioned is WAY better and what I started on but has been out of stock everywhere for ages now - Evorel which I have instead is nowhere near as good and MASSIVE on the 100 dose.

So, first bit of advice, if and when Estradot becomes available again ask for that to be prescribed instead (you can simply ask at the pharmacy if they have stock).

Some have suggested gel - the prob with that, a reasonable amount of gel when you start on a 25 dose (am assuming if it's your first box they've given you a low ish dose?) is bloody loads of the stuff to get to absorb when the dose increases. My GP also said it doesn't absorb as effectively for most.

Put your patch on straight out of the shower so minimal skin oils - I've tried a couple of times when I haven't showered and it def doesn't stick as well. The placement you described at top of buttock I found uncomfortable as it crinkled a lot and I was aware of it all the time. What has worked for me is on my tummy, but my tummy is larger than it should be lol so provides a nice convex surface to keep the patch from crinkling - if you have a nice slim tummy it might not be as good a spot! As others have said, don't move it - it will never stick again. Try and get it on nice and smooth first time without touching the back but if you fail either suck it up or replace straight away.

I do get annoying residue and it does really irritate my skin - one of my original symptoms was itchy and agitated skin. Really annoying can't get Estradot as it's so much smaller, sticks better with less residue and adheres better. I simply rotate around - alternate sides but also about 3 diff spots so not in the same place for 6 cycles.

It sucks to be a woman...sigh.

(Also empathise with the awful outdated attitude on the NHS to HRT...they'd rather hand out anti depressants like sweeties than HRT FFS...if you can afford to look at a private GP would highly recommend. When you're settled on a regime usually the private GP can write to NHS GP to get them to prescribe so you can pay with PPC)

I use Evorel Conti. I find that I have to apply them right after a shower, as soon as my skin is dry enough for it to stick. If ever I use one in an evening and I've showered in the morning then they don't stick well. Never re-adjust as they don't stick twice. I warm the patch with my hand after putting it on. I always put them on my bum cheeks, my knickers are silky microfiber things so glide over the patches.
No problems swimming.
If the patches wrinkle then sometimes the wrinkle will irritate my skin, so I just change it.

Can you see a different GP? You will probably find your box doesn't ladt as long as it should as they do come adrift every so often, so more are needed. Also some batches are better than others.

Thank you everybody, this is all really helpful. So kind of you all to try & help me!

I have to stick with the GP as I don't have the money to go private, I have seen 3 different ones over the years about this though, they always just said that I was too young for peri (apart from 2 blood tests)

When these patches are nearly gone, instead of asking for the same GP for the next appointment, when you do the online system, I'll just specify 'anybody' & maybe I will get lucky!

I got out of the shower today, glanced in the mirror & saw a wrinkle & thought yo myself 'Its fine!' but then I looked again & it was actually peeling up from the bottom.

So I touched it as little as possible & put the bottom back in place, I've put a dressing over it, you know those ones with a pad & the sticky round the edge (I got a load of packets of these when I had 2 blisters right next to each other, so I have lots left over)

So now I look like I have a huge wound on my arse... If the dressing comes off now then I'm giving up.

I didn't actually realise that these would make me have a bleed, I'm not sure how I feel about that after not having them for so long!

(I have a large, wrinkly tummy, I didn't want to put it on there as my kids still like to leap on me, spend a lot of time cuddling into the front of me so I thought that it might be more likely to get dislodged, there)

I second what a lot of others have said. Clean, dry skin, no lotions. I dry my skin with a hairdryer set to cool after towelling. Press on with a warm hand for a few minutes.
We have hard water but I can get peeling in soft water areas if I use soap or shampoo in the shower before I stick on a patch. I suppose the soap residue is harder to rinse off thoroughly.
If you end up with gluey skin you can buy medical adhesive remover spray or wipes, it works very well.

Yes, mine had stopped (probably due to the implant), and now I have erratic periods again (like I did on the mini pill). I say periods, it's more than spotting, but not what I'd call a proper period, other than the occasional more heavy day. Hurrah for period knickers really!

I sometimes have sticking issues. Mine are at the top of my thigh towards the front and I use micropore tape if they make a bid for freedom.

NoWordForFluffy I suppose what I'm worried about is the GPs keep saying that they won't take anything seriously until I've not had a bleed for a year, but having these patches is going to mess that up then?

& I'll be back to square one with just erratic periods rather than 'No period for over 6 months'.

If they know their stuff, they should realise it's a breakthrough bleed. But you may fight a losing battle.

NoWordForFluffy Yup, that's what I'm worried about. Do I have to tell them?

I've resorted to the tattoo aftercare patches over the top of them which seems to be working (I've got to be careful with stuff like tape because my skin can be quite allergic to some adhesives) - think I might need the dose tweaking of mine but I'm on month 2 of a 3 month trial so I'm trying to see it through to the end. The combi phase of them mentally is sending me a bit loopy so I think I need to explore that when I get to a review.

I tend to put them where my knickers cover my arse and alternate arse cheeks.

(God this is a glam convo to be having)

My patches always lifted off too, but I've started doing a few things which have totally sorted it:

First, I prep the area with rubbing alcohol, then let it dry. This removes any oils in the skin and helps the patch to stick. I use these wipes.

Second, I press the patch down for at least thirty seconds.

Finally, I cover the patch with a transparent film dressing (possibly overkill, but they're relatively cheap and it works!).

Haven't had a single patch lift off since I started doing this! And it's also stopped my patches from leaving any sticky residue, for some reason.

I find upper thigh best to be honest

Sadly, yes! 🙄🤣

Whyherewego I just want them hidden, under my knickers, I know it's silly & vain.

ThrowingPebblesAtTheMoon Thank you. See, I did have a quick wipe with a baby wipe but I definitely didn't hold it on for long or anything.

TorturedParentsDepartment It's very glamorous, isn't it!

Imagine, on those adverts where they are like 'Just go & see your GP' if they showed the reality, women being fobbed off with 'It won't be Peri, you are too young' for 4 years, then women standing there half naked, using various wipes, hairdryers, tattoo covers, plasters, just to get the damn patch to stay on. That might not even work after trying all of this.

The only time mine has come off was swimming on holiday, and once when it got stuck on my underwear. If it gets a wrinkle I just leave it but if it does come off then I just use another one, but stick to the schedule of changing them. I get loads in a pack and they are on repeat prescription so it doesn’t matter if occasionally I get through a few more.
to get the residue off I use Nudi spray, I should be on commission as I recommend so often but it’s really great and it lasts for ages.

https://nudispray.com

I couldn’t cope with the combi patch and had to separate oestrogen (spray in my case) and oral progesterone. I still feel …not great during the two-week Utrogestan tablet time. I’m hoping as I’ve been on this regime for years, I can soon talk to the GP about switching to continuous progesterone to avoid the spikes and hopefully be more stable.

Thank you CalypsoCuckoo Maybe I've just got a non sticky batch, or non stickable skin!

I didn't really want to change it too early as it will throw the others off won't it, when you get 2 different kinds in a pack & have to use one after the other, it makes it a bit complicated!

Its a bit sore & pulling on my skin, but I expect (hope) that's the dressing I put on this morning, & not the patch itself.

I'm busy all day tomorrow so I'll see how I get on.

SoScarletItWas Did you just feel horrible? When it wasn't working, Or just not right?

I put mine on my lower belly alternating sides and as yet haven't lost one, just been on holiday and swam/sweated daily plus showers every day and they still stayed firmly put. On my thigh that were useless so maybe it's the same for your bum.

Groggy, a bit spaced, headaches, felt sick, bloated tummy and swollen ankles.

Better on oral progesterone (my legs don’t swell up) but I hate those two weeks.

Thank you SoScarletItWas, I'm sorry that you've had a rough time.

Maybe, Howdoesithappenlikethis, I might try my stomach if I keep having issues.

I take it out of the packet, stick it down my bra for a bit to warm it up and then stick it on to a very dry rump. Don't take it off to adjust. I've never had one that comes off but they do wrinkle a bit as the days go on.

gamerchick Yes I think where I went wrong is I just took it out of the packet & stuck it on. I'm still distressed by the wrinkling though, as I sound like I'm carrying around a plastic bag! Although it's not made a noise since I covered it with the dressing.