Hi all,

So my doctor has agreed that I can try bi-weekly estrogen patches. I was on estrogen pills and spiro. I have been on them for 14months and my last blood test for estrogen was at 63. Not much has changed. I have more feminine face and hair. My breasts are growing but the rest of my body doesn't look feminine at all . I got fat in my stomach area and thighs. I have a little bit in my hips and butt.

Soo what are your experiences with estrogen patches? Did they work better for you?

Let me know what you think of my situation!

Thanks!
Alexis <3

I use pills but my tummy can only be controlled by how much I weigh. Unfortunately the family gene causes that to be the last place I lose weight. Both my father and my sister carried weigh there and if I weighed a bit more, so would I. As for below the waist, that was one of the last places I developed a feminine shape. My rear is still flat as a pancake so leggings are out unless I wear something long enough to cover my lack of a behind.

Hi Saki,

I have been on estrogen patches for a few months, and I am now up to four two-per-week patches a week (in other words, I put them on two at a time.)

My last blood test showed my E2 level at 70 pg/mL.  My skin is smoother, and less oily, I have gained weight, but no significant transfer from the midsection to thighs/buttocks, and I have some breast development. My face does look a little rounder, and my body hair has significantly decreased.

You don't say how old you are, so I am not sure if this helps at all.  I am 58.

With kindness,

Terri

Was on implants but have been on patches 2 a week for the last year. They have been excellent!

Oh I use nail polish remover to remove the glue stuff from the old ones.

Quote from: Maybebaby56 on April 23, 2016, 05:37:05 PM
Hi Saki,

I have been on estrogen patches for a few months, and I am now up to four two-per-week patches a week (in other words, I put them on two at a time.)

My last blood test showed my E2 level at 70 pg/mL.  My skin is smoother, and less oily, I have gained weight, but no significant transfer from the midsection to thighs/buttocks, and I have some breast development. My face does look a little rounder, and my body hair has significantly decreased.

You don't say how old you are, so I am not sure if this helps at all.  I am 58.

With kindness,

Terri

Terri,

I am 25. I'm taking 2 patches at a time bi weekly also. I tried to get them to do injections but the VA doesn't have them apparently

Quote from: Saki on April 23, 2016, 04:11:41 PM
So my doctor has agreed that I can try bi-weekly estrogen patches. I was on estrogen pills and spiro. I have been on them for 14months and my last blood test for estrogen was at 63. Not much has changed. I have more feminine face and hair. My breasts are growing but the rest of my body doesn't look feminine at all . I got fat in my stomach area and thighs. I have a little bit in my hips and butt.

I used estrogen patches, no anti-androgen, for years with very poor results (which was good at the time). My blood levels were similar to yours. My endo said some people don't absorb estrogen well via patches. My current levels with implants are likely above 300 pg/mL, which is quite high by most doctors standards, and I love it. Big difference.

You can see what's normal here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Estradiol_during_menstrual_cycle.png

I don't like patches for practical reasons. They tend to get itchy or fall of. 

A PITA, a  rash & constantly falling off. Some people love them though

I've been using patches (Vivelledot, changed 2 times a week) at low and then medium dose for nearly 8 months. I was also taking dutasteride at very low dose but I stopped taking it 1 month ago. E is at 170 pg/ml, T is at 0.6 ng/ml.
It sounds like patches work quite well for me. They don't fall off. I also use nail polish remover (or pure acetone) for removing the glue from the skin.

Quote from: Maybebaby56 on April 23, 2016, 05:37:05 PM
but no significant transfer from the midsection to thighs/buttocks

There is no transfer but rather over time, adipose cells in response to a different hormonal environment tend to decrease/increase more in size in certain areas vs. others.

Quote from: Lucie on April 24, 2016, 08:05:09 AM
I've been using patches (Vivelledot, changed 2 times a week) at low and then medium dose for nearly 8 months. I was also taking dutasteride at very low dose but I stopped taking it 1 month ago. E is at 170 pg/ml, T is at 0.6 ng/ml.
It sounds like patches work quite well for me.

Yay! So happy for you. No need for anti-androgen, it seems.

Quote from: KayXo on April 24, 2016, 09:09:07 AM
Yay! So happy for you. No need for anti-androgen, it seems.

Thank you. I just hope that further increasing œstradiol dosage will be enough for lowering testosterone level which is still a bit high.

Quote from: AnonyMs on April 24, 2016, 01:38:27 AM
I used estrogen patches, no anti-androgen, for years with very poor results (which was good at the time). My blood levels were similar to yours. My endo said some people don't absorb estrogen well via patches. My current levels with implants are likely above 300 pg/mL, which is quite high by most doctors standards, and I love it. Big difference.

You can see what's normal here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Estradiol_during_menstrual_cycle.png

I don't like patches for practical reasons. They tend to get itchy or fall of.

How did you get implants? How much did it cost? I would have to pay for them if I go with a non-VA doctor

Quote from: Lucie on April 24, 2016, 08:05:09 AM
I've been using patches (Vivelledot, changed 2 times a week) at low and then medium dose for nearly 8 months. I was also taking dutasteride at very low dose but I stopped taking it 1 month ago. E is at 170 pg/ml, T is at 0.6 ng/ml.
It sounds like patches work quite well for me. They don't fall off. I also use nail polish remover (or pure acetone) for removing the glue from the skin.

Thats good! Hopefully i will have similar results. My T from last test was at 1.6.

Quote from: Lucie on April 24, 2016, 09:16:37 AM
I just hope that further increasing œstradiol dosage will be enough for lowering testosterone level which is still a bit high.

Why does doctor consider this high? It is within normal female range.

Quote from: KayXo on April 24, 2016, 10:58:20 AM
Why does doctor consider this high? It is within normal female range.

I think (perhaps wrongly) that T is still too high as regards BPH. I'll try to discuss that point with my endo next week.

Quote from: KayXo on April 24, 2016, 09:09:07 AM
There is no transfer but rather over time, adipose cells in response to a different hormonal environment tend to decrease/increase more in size in certain areas vs. others.

Sorry, I was not implying the fat cells actually move.  I was trying to say that the distribution of fat cells has not changed.

~Terri

 Only downside is I sometimes get minor irritation, it looks like I survived an attack by a kraken.   I have been using patches since last June I have no experience with other delivery methods, very satisfied with my results so far.

I have been on the patch for over three years and prefer the vivelle dot.  I also recommend Coviden's Kendall "adhesive remover"  It contains deobase, citrus extract and aloe extract.  I have experienced better results than anticipated for this old girl.

Care for a patch joke?  A couple is driving and drinking (not funny) and are pulled over by the cops.  One lush suggests to the other that she remove the beer bottle label and fix it to her forehead.  The cop leans in the window smells the reeking occupants and says " I can smell the beer, have you two been drinking."  "No" says the driver, "we're on the patch."