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[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

I wonder if anyone can help me please? The chemists label on the Oestrogel box says the gel should be applied over an area twice that of the template provided. Er, what template ? I can't find anything in the box or on the patient information leaflet. Is it possible to spread the gel too thinly do you think?

Any comments would be gratefully received as ever!

Wishing you all well.

K.

[Dancinggirl]

Don't panic - I apply it to my inner thighs - I squirt the dose onto my palm and wipe it in a circular motion across about 6-9 inches of my inner thigh - you don't need to rub it in - I then give the area 10mins to allow it to dry before dressing or covering. I often wipe any excess on my upper arm.
The important thing is to apply it to clean, dry skin that hasn't got any moisturiser on it - avoid even moisturising shower gels and bath foams. DG x

[saffy123]

Hi, just as a useful note, if you are using 2 or more pumps a day try and vary the sites as the area can become very saturated and the gel then not so effective. Nobody ever mentioned this to me and I found that after 8 mths I was getting limited benefit (to the point where I actually thought it was no longer working for me). I did goggle this and found that there are other areas that can be used including inner arms, back of knees, wrists and bum cheeks.
I did mention this to a GP specialist a little while ago and she was surprised that my GP had not mentioned this saturation problem when prescribed. Its probably something that can effect some people and not others.
Hope this may be of some help xx

[Liz]

Thank you for that info.   I tend to just alternate inner thighs each day, but will try what you've suggested.  I was always told not to apply above the waist though??

[saffy123]

Hi Liz, the actual information leaflet that comes with the gel says it can be applied to the arm and shoulder, so I have no idea who would have said 'not above the waist' very strange. It must never be applied to the breast area though, so perhaps there has been some confusion. 
Hope that helps xx

[Hurdity]

I've just posted on another thread today that estrogel is the only transdermal oestrogen that suggest upper arms and shoulders to apply as well as lower trunk. Sandrena gel and all the patches say on the lower half of the body, as does tesosterone gel (well the patches that were for women did and I was told to). I just presume that this minimises the chance of any being transported close to the breasts but as I said on the other thread if it says it's OK for estrogel then it must be!

Kathleen there was a study that showed absorption was reduced when estrogel was spread as thinly as possible ie the largest possible area - and I presume this is because it dries too quickly before it can be absorbed. However there was no difference in absorption in the other two sized areas they studied. Sorry don't have the paper to hand! I haven't used estrogel although I do use testosterone gel - but only a small amount.

As I also mentioned on the other thread saturation is fine (according to another paper I read) as the oestrogen builds up in the skin and provides a reservoir to transport it - into the blood stream. For example Sandrena gel says simply alternate between right and left inner thigh  - but estrogel says nothing about the same or different sites or rotating it.

I think the main thing is to find a way of applying it that works for you and relieves your symptoms and then stick to it - so you get less variation in oestrogen levels? Floundering a bit here!

Hope it works anyway

Hurdity x

[Tempest]

In the tear off leaflet I got from the menopause clinic, it said apply to an area about the size of an A5 piece of paper, if that helps!

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

Thank you all for your responses.

I was concerned that I was spreading the gel too thinly but it seems my method was okay after all which is very reassuring.

I will continue with my new system and report on anything of interest.

Wishing everyone well.

K.