Switching to transdermal patches

[Tills]

Another couple of apparent advantages of Oestrogel over Sandrena are that:

- you can apply it to your lower abdomen and therefore
- because it dries so quickly

... it means if you're out with friends you should be able to nip to the loo, lift up your top, put it on, and 3 minutes later come back out.

This may seem a minor thing but I did find it really awkward trying to apply my afternoon dose of Sandrena when I was out with people. I find Sandrena can take anything up to 45-60 minutes to dry, even with rubbing it in. And because the patient leaflet says to apply it only to your lower body or thighs it's a problem if you're out.

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1048.pdf 🔗

Oestrogel can be applied to arms or thighs

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.353.pdf 🔗

https://practice365.co.uk/uploads/sites/1213/2020/05/Oestrogel-A5-tear-off-leaflet-1.pdf 🔗

According to my Gender clinic letter (pasted above) it can also be applied to the lower abdomen e.g. tummy area below the navel but above the genitals.

[Tills]

And finally ... Lenzetto spray.

There are some unverified and anecdotal comments that it delivers a variable amount of estrogen. I really don't know how true these are but my clinic did not take up my suggestion for prescribing it to me. This Dr Louise Newson states that, 'Many women find that the absorption of estradiol from Lenzetto spray is unreliable so dosing can be hard to be optimised':

https://www.drlouisenewson.co.uk/knowledge/oestrogen-only-gel-and-spray-what-you-need-to-know 🔗

It would have been good to know her sources for such a comment. Presumably her own prescribing patients?

[Courtney G]

For those reading along, I'll state what I stated earlier in this thread somewhere: adhesive residue from patches can be easily removed using a 3M Tegaderm, which is applied and left on for about 10 minutes, then removed along with the adhesive from the patches. It took me over 3 years before I'd figured this out.

Having said that, Tills, I'm sorry patches weren't getting your levels to where you needed them. I had the same issue.

[Tills]

I switched to gels a week ago, initially back on the Sandrena whilst I await my new prescription of Oestrogel.

Well I can tell my oestradiol level is rising again because ... my nipples are tingly. Always happens 😀

xx

[Courtney G]

My boobs are sore for two to three days after my weekly estradiol shot. It's an affirming feeling.

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

Thats intersting as mine stopped being tingly months ago. But my E is in range. Very odd. Maybe my body just  doesn't like E!

[Tills]

Thats intersting as mine stopped being tingly months ago. But my E is in range. Very odd. Maybe my body just  doesn't like E!

Hi Charlotte,

I don't think it's that hon. Don't worry on that score.

I think it's more likely to do with the rising E level. Mine will probably stop tingling too in a few weeks once my body has adjusted to the new level again.

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

I've always been strangely curious to throw my E level into lower pregnancy levels, get my prolactin up and see what happens. I'm guessing it's risky but still don't stop me wondering!

Charlotte 😻

[Tills]

I've always been strangely curious to throw my E level into lower pregnancy levels, get my prolactin up and see what happens. I'm guessing it's risky but still don't stop me wondering!

Charlotte 😻

It has happened a couple of times to me Charlotte. When I was taking a slightly higher microdose of testosterone my body converted it into estrogen and my level soared.

The other time was when I was on a very very slightly higher dose of estrogen than now and it went really high: over 1000 pmol/L. I kind-of knew. The main side-effect for me was 'morning sickness,' which I had often in the evenings. 

My medics think I'm estrogen sensitive, which might paradoxically explain why the patches didn't work for me: that I went into a quick peak then big drop.

I've lactated before now too but I'm not sure I'd recommend going to those sort of levels. The NHS transgender guideline is broadly speaking to be in therapeutic range of 400-600 pmol/L although that does seem to vary slightly across regions.

xx

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

It has happened a couple of times to me Charlotte. When I was taking a slightly higher microdose of testosterone my body converted it into estrogen and my level soared.

The other time was when I was on a very very slightly higher dose of estrogen than now and it went really high: over 1000 pmol/L. I kind-of knew. The main side-effect for me was 'morning sickness,' which I had often in the evenings. 

My medics think I'm estrogen sensitive, which might paradoxically explain why the patches didn't work for me: that I went into a quick peak then big drop.

I've lactated before now too but I'm not sure I'd recommend going to those sort of levels. The NHS transgender guideline is broadly speaking to be in therapeutic range of 400-600 pmol/L although that does seem to vary slightly across regions.

xx

Thats quite intersting and only at over 1000pmol/l. I think I'll wait until a few years so i know I'm fully feminised before trying it, as need that to complete first. Risk doesn't bother me too much, I actually enjoy rolling the dice on my life!

Charlotte 😻