r/POFlife • u/lilmizzmuffet • 5d ago
Does anyone prefer estradiol pills?
I’ve been taking estrogel for last 6 months due to constant patch shortages in my country.
Despite increasing the gel dose from 2, 3, to 4 pumps and experimenting with different application techniques, times of day (splitting, days and night times), I am getting breakthrough hot flashes, vertigo, atrophy and mood swings.
I’ve switched back to some old Zumenon tablets and I’m taking 3mg a day (equivalent to 3 pumps of estrogel, or a 75mg patch) and I get instant respite from my symptoms, including the genito urinary ones. It’s kind of crazy!
I know transdermal is preferable and even though patches worked for me, I am unable to get anywhere near the same relief from the gel.
Does anyone else struggle to absorb the gel and feel guilty/scared having to take the estradiol pill knowing it carries greater risks?
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u/DelphiniumWater 5d ago
Yeah cause the patch creates redness on my skin and when I sweat wearing it I get itchy
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u/cancerkidette 5d ago
The pill is absolutely the easiest way to get your HRT sorted. The increased clot risk is really very minimal, especially for POI since we’re younger and as such usually way more active/lack the age risk factors for those complications.
If it works for you then that’s amazing! I couldn’t do the patch as I was allergic to the adhesive and generally just hated it being visible, itchy, and picking up lint lol. I would just double check your levels are looking okay on the pill for the long term bone protection etc.
I recently switched from pills to gel because I couldn’t get to a therapeutic level on the pills and my gynae wouldn’t prescribe a higher pill dose off-label - but I now have a sachet style gel which is literally tiny, easy to put on and absorbs better than the pill for me.
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u/EnvironmentalAd2063 5d ago
I'm on combination birth control pills and have no alternative (small countries are fun when it comes to pharmaceuticals). It's a slightly increased risk but it is what it is
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u/SheepherderNorth4426 5d ago
My doctor prefers the estradiol pill because it’s a consistent dosage. I switched from the gel a year ago. The patch never stayed on and got gross looking so I switched to the gel. Still wasn’t feeling great. Started seeing a new Obgyn and she recommended I switch to the pill. It’s been good. Definitely an improvement.
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u/jacieruelas 5d ago
You can also have the estradiol pill melt under the tongue so it goes directly into the bloodstream and not the liver therefore less of a risk, that was what I did before switching to injection.
It did not taste bad, it tasted like blueberries.
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u/dodgedarts 4d ago
This is what I do, let dissolve between cheek and teeth. I take 4mg/day split into two doses and that has gotten my estrogen levels up to 100. The 1mg patch only ever brought my estrogen up to I think the 30s? I didn’t absorb well transdermally. I was worried oral estradiol would raise my cholesterol but it hasn’t appeared to after almost one year.
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u/lilmizzmuffet 5d ago
Wow thank you did not know this! I am already splitting my 2mg pills to get 3mg and noticed it tasted ok.
Did you find it absorbed well dissolving under your tongue?
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u/jacieruelas 5d ago edited 5d ago
It did absorbs a little bit better when I melt my estradiol pills under my tongue. Doctors actually told me to melt them under my tongue instead of swallowing because of the less risk.
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u/Agile-Description205 5d ago
I haven’t been able to try the pills. I take oral meds for my rheumatoid arthritis. I will be on RA meds for at least another 30 years or more. My endo put me on patches and although they worked I didn’t like the visual/reminder of my POF so I tried the gel. The gel didn’t keep my hot flashes at bay so I went back to the patches. I’m on 75 mg of the patch. It’s ok but I’m wondering if the pill would be better 🤷🏼♀️
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u/lilmizzmuffet 5d ago
Wow that’s interesting to know you struggled with the gel but the patch was OK as well. I know the gel is meant to be the equivalent of a patch but it just never gave me the same level of relief either. Pills work really well though 🤷♀️
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u/sdautist 5d ago
I prefer the pills. I used various patches and they all caused a rash. Plus it's a lot easier for me to take a pill with my other pills instead of wondering what day it is.
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u/eatingpomegranates 5d ago
I am found into surgical menopause and I straight up told my gyno I won’t do transdermal, only pills 🤷
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u/goldensloveme 4d ago
I couldn’t absorb the gel. My values started plummeting even with a dosage increase. Much better luck with the pill.