I know in theory patches are meant to be more easily absorbed than pills, but for some people, is this not the case?
Several months ago I switched from a 2 mg birth control pill to 100 mcg patches as I wanted to use a more natural /safer route, but still suppress ovulation (I get terrible fluctuations and therefore feel best when I don't ovulate).
The high dose patches didn't affect me emotionally, but I did get a lot of physical symptoms - aches, shooting pains etc. which I assumed was just settling in to higher estrogen.
I know Prof Studd, who recommends suppressing ovulation in peri menopause, says 100 mcg patches should suppress ovulation and cause average estriadol blood plasma levels of 500 pmol.
I was therefore surprised to see my estrogen was measured as 128 pmol, even on the 'high' dose patches.(FSH still normal apparently).
What I am wondering is does this suggest I am still ovulating/having a cycle? Do some people just not absorb patches as well?