Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Cally]

Hi everyone. I hope that you are all good. I have been on Estrogel 4 pumps and before that, 100 patch since November 2019. My blood test levels have been:

March 2021
Estrogen 240 pmol/L  day 12
Estrogen 408 pmol/L  day 21
Progesterone 158 nmol/L

November 2022:
Estrogen 247 pmol/L day 12

I don’t feel good and have seen that some women have levels of 800 on four pumps so am I not absorbing?

Also, why would my day 21 estrogen be higher than my day 12? Does the progesterone help to increase it.

I am on 100 Utrogestan, vaginally but I do find it difficult to tolerate and sometimes have to come off it early as it gives me PMDD symptoms.

I have read that estrogen needs to be higher to be able to tolerate progesterone fully? Has anyone found this?

I have in the past gone up to 5 pumps and felt great but have had to go back to 4 pumps as it is NHS prescribed and they only prescribe 4 pumps maximum.

Any thoughts how to feel better? I have no energy, low mood, anxiety and I am unable to sleep at all. I do not have any hot flashes- they disappeared and did not come back as yet.

Thank you if you have any thoughts or advice.

[sheila99]

The nhs will provide more but it may need a specialist in an NHS menopause clinic to prescribe it. Often a long waiting list. The other option would be a private appointment but perhaps check if your gp will prescribec a higher dose based on their recommendation.
 I haven't found a higher dose of oestrogen counteracts the effects of utro.

[Cally]

Ok that is helpful. Thank you. 😊

[Turkish delight]

Hia,

I got my GP to prescribe more no problem.
I was on a phone appmnt about some other issue and said before you go can I please have more gel, I said I required more to control my symptoms, and to that he said....Most women need 4 pumps"
I said yes I know but I'm not most women and all women are not the same. That's all I said and he interrupted me and said "Of course, how much do you need?" I told him and he said "fine no problem." My GP has always been amazing but this also shows that GPS can increase the dose if they want to.
Give it a go. Obv you can't have unopposed estrogen so you have to have enough Progesterone for the higher dose of O gel.

TD

[Cally]

I didn’t think they would because of guidelines but that is good. It’s worth asking isn’t it? Did you know what your levels were or did you go on symptoms?

[Turkish delight]

Don't ask don't get !

Listen if a GP doesn't want the hassle and wants to pass the buck to a clinic they will, and its good practice, but waiting lists are looong. However, if they want to help you, my experience shows they have the wiggle room and remit to do that.

Never had levels done, told they are just a snapshot in time(in that moment)and told they are not worth doing.
I go by my symptoms, the main ones being insomnia, hot flushes, migraines, and extreme dry mouth.
If I control those everything else is covered too.

TD

[Pippa52]

I had to come of Oestrogel as I was not absorbing it at all and my blood level was only 53pmol which basically means I might as well not be on HRT at all.  I was on Oestrogel for over 20 years with no  problems but for some reason it just does not work for me now.  The formulation changed slightly and clearly sadly it did not suit me. I am now on Estradot patches so hoping they will work better.  Hope so much you get sorted something that works for you too x

[discogirl]

hi pippa52

sorry for jumping in on this thread but how long have you been on eatradot.

and apart from blood tests how did you know you werent absorbing the gel was it basically your symptoms hadn't gone?

thsnks so much xxx

[Pippa52]

Discogirl - it was both the symptoms (sweats, palpitations, high anxiety, insomnia) and also the confirmation of the blood test that proved I was not absorbing Oestrogel at all (53pmol) I started Estradot a month and a half ago.  I am definitely absorbing better but still the dose is not quite right (50 patch).  I am having another blood test this week to assess if I need to go up to the 75 patch or not. xx

[Gilla999]

Cally your Progesterone level is quite high here - I believe the top of the range for day 21 is around 70 nmol? Just pointing it out because too high Progesterone can downregulate Estrogen receptors and give off low E symptoms. I tried upping my dose once which took my level from the usual 40 nmol up to 70 nmol and suffered with horrendous night sweats and insomnia as a result (even though my E level remained unchanged).

It's quite a high level for only using 1 Utro vaginally - you must still be making a lot of your own Progesterone in that case?