Oestrogel side effects

[EscapedtotheHighlands]

I started on Oestrogel 2 pumps and Utrogestan 100 on Saturday, so I’m only 3 days in. I’ve got the most awful nausea, intermittent headaches and some bloating.
Whilst I note these are all expected side effects the nausea is particularly frustrating and I’m wondering how long the side effects have lasted for others, plus when I might start to feel the positive effects.
I know we are all different but be good to have a rough idea 😊

Sorry - I switched to these from the pill form and can’t remember any specific side effects. If just starting hrt I’d say it took a few weeks to notice any benefit. But I had mild symptoms, mainly around insomnia, and was on the hrt just to protect bones and heart as I had early meno. I only really realised the insomnia was hormonal when it went away with the hrt. Hope you feel better soon.

It's really worth using a lower dose of gel for a while so your body adjusts.
I was advised to start on just half a pump, by my consultant, and work upwards over a few weeks.

I also found that 2 pumps gave me nausea, so I managed this by applying 1 pump am and another pm (just before bed.) That works fine for me.

The other issue is that even post meno you have a choice to carry on with a cyclical regimen - so using progesterone (200mgs) for half the month only. This is worth trying if you continue to feel odd on it.

It's also a way to get the estrogen dose right- use just estrogen for 2 weeks and see how that feels.

This is so helpful. Thank you very much for taking the time to write this down.
I think I’ll do one pump tomorrow and build up gradually.

I only use one pump. That’s made my (relatively few) menopause symptoms better so I don’t need 2 pumps. I’ve had two or three instances of nausea in the 6 months I’ve been on it.

About a week or 10 days. I dropped the dose right down and built up to two pumps slowly. Now have one dose am one pm. Use the bottle cap to rub it in, saves getting it on your hands!
changed the progesterone to 25 of 28 days as I feel so much better when I’m taking it, with GP approval.

@user9064385631

Sorry if this is a silly question but what is wrong with getting it on your hands? Is that more absorption?

Nothing - but you’d end up washing it off your hands, if it all goes on your leg it’s best chance of being absorbed.

The amount left on your hands is miniscule. Not enough to make a difference.

@JinglingSpringbells my GP works privately as a menopause specialist. She made a big deal of telling me not to touch my kids or husband with the gel on my hands, so obviously still best to wash your hands, but if you don’t get it on your hands in the first place…even better surely?
The cap works really well as a rubbing in device!

@user9064385631

I am not trying to be deliberately thick but can you explain further? Why cant you touch your kids or husband?

If I put my gel on my thighs in the evening and then get in bed naked with my partner, what would happen then?

Are you saying that the gel is transferable?

What would the difference be between my thighs and my hands?

I think you've moved the goalposts too far!

The guidance with gel is all in the leaflet in the carton. It says what she's told you.

It says - 1) wash your hands and 2) no skin to skin contact with anyone with the areas of skin where it's been applied, for one hour.

@HelpMeUnpickThis Once it's on your skin, you shouldn't have skin to skin contact for an hour with anyone else, or shower, or swim etc as it takes an hour to be absorbed.

This is relevant for if you're cuddling your children or your partner and have just applied it to your shoulders or inner thighs and your skin is not covered with clothes.

If you want to use the plastic cap, that's your choice but it's not necessary.
By the time I've applied it to my skin my hands are almost free of it anyway.

I'd be a bit concerned about using the cap simply because the gel has to be spread thinly.

There used to be a guide in the leaflet years ago showing the area it should be spread over (but it's not there now).

Don't you find it takes ages to apply with something as small as the cap?
But it's your choice, obviously.

@JinglingSpringbells thank you so much for this explanation. It’s really helpful.