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[Michelle46]

Hi ladies
I'm 52 and been on hrt for 6 years. I went on when I was perimenopausal. Now I use 2 pumps of oestriogel and utrogestan every night. I'm not sure if I've gone through menopause. My doctor ordered bloods for oestradiol and the level came back as 130 pmol/l. Is this too low?

[Joaniepat]

Yes, 130 pmol/l is quite low. Most specialists seem to aim for higher than that, for example, 250-350 for bone protection. However, estradiol can be titrated according to how you feel, so it depends if your symptoms are controlled on this dose.
JP x

[laszla]

That's really low Michelle, I had four wasted years of being on 2 pumps of estrogel which were nowhere near sufficient for me and I had similarly low levels.
With the guidance of the clinic I increased to 5 pumps - I should stress that this was done very gradually and sticking for 3 months with each additional pump.
As Joanipat says 300 essential for bone protection but some women need more depending on their particular problems (I've been recommended to go up to 600-800pmol).

[Michelle46]

Reading this I think I'll go up to 3 pumps over the next month. When I had the blood results through from my doctor it just said 'borderline' whatever that means. No advice from my doctor.

[Pippa52]

hiya - I saw the Meno Consultant this week and she told me they like blood levels to be between 150 to 300 (depending on symptom control achieved of course) for protection to be ok for bones etc and all round health. I have no ovaries or womb and at the moment am on 2 1/2 pumps of gel slowly building up to 3 which is what she recommended for me as my levels were way too low at 69 after all the chopping and changing of types of  HRT medication due to the shortages.  I will be having another blood test  in 3 months to see where my levels are at then.  Hope so much you get to the right level for you very soon x

[Michelle46]

Thankyou for your replies

[Bungo]

hiya - I saw the Meno Consultant this week and she told me they like blood levels to be between 150 to 300 (depending on symptom control achieved of course) for protection to be ok for bones etc and all round health. I have no ovaries or womb and at the moment am on 2 1/2 pumps of gel slowly building up to 3 which is what she recommended for me as my levels were way too low at 69 after all the chopping and changing of types of  HRT medication due to the shortages.  I will be having another blood test  in 3 months to see where my levels are at then.  Hope so much you get to the right level for you very soon x

Hi Pippa, when getting bloods done to test absorbtion,do you just not apply the gel that morning?

[Pippa52]

Bungo - I did ask that and was told to continue as normal.  I therefore applied the gel at 7.30 am and had the blood test at 1.30 pm.  xx

[Bungo]

Bungo - I did ask that and was told to continue as normal.  I therefore applied the gel at 7.30 am and had the blood test at 1.30 pm.  xx

Oh interesting..I got my bloods taken a few weeks ago and similar times so curious what they'll be. Want to ensure am absorbing the oestrogel as my joint pain is still there

[Kathleen]

Hello ladies.

I am with Newson Health and I was told to avoid using the gel before my blood test. As I was using two pumps at night and two in the morning I was advised to also miss the dose from the night before. I wasn't very happy with this but I did as instructed!

It's interesting that the Meno Consultant has different advice but my experience was a while ago so protocol may have changed 

 I now use one Sandrena sachet every morning but if I need another blood test with NH I will book it for early in the day so that my body isn't suddenly deprived of two loads of gel!

Take care ladies.

K.