Switching from HRT patches to gel

I began my “MTF HRT” 27 months ago – and I’ve had some pretty good results. However, estradiol patches are a right royal pain in the ass, so I’ve switched to gel. I wish I’d done it years ago!

I started taking estrogen via a patch back in May 2018. I can still remember exactly how I felt when I applied that first tiny 50mcg patch to my left thigh.

Since then, I’ve increased the dose, going all the way up to 175mcg, which involved using two larger patches (75mcg) and one tiny one (25mcg).

Oestrodose

The patches have worked well. I have boobs, I have beautiful soft skin and everything else that comes with HRT as a trans person. I have absolutely zero regrets and, while I still have some way to go, my body’s finally looking how I’ve always wanted it to.

I have to take my estradiol transdermally (via the skin) because of my DVT history. But there have been issues. Let me list them:

1. The patches become unstuck. Despite applying them to clean, dry skin, the adhesive is terrible. It wasn’t so much of an issue on Evorel patches but, since these are now in short supply and I’d been using Estraderm patches the past few months, this had become a major issue. Initially, applying surgical tape around the edges of the patches worked. Of late, the patches wouldn’t last 24 hours – they’re supposed to last three-and-a-half days.
2. Because the patches don’t stick properly, I wasn’t getting a proper, metered dose. Sometimes the dose would stop because they’d become unstuck. And if I was changing them every 24 hours, as in recent weeks, the dose would probably be too high – dangerous.
3. They look an absolute mess! It wasn’t so bad when I started – one small patch. But three patches – all of them with tape around the edge? It looked terrible! There’s no way you could go swimming because:
   • Who wants to go swimming with a thigh covered in loads of plastic?
   • The pool water would remove them faster than you could say “It’s alright when you’re in”.
4. Finally, they’re not exactly friendly to the skin. The idea is that you swap sides (thighs in my case) so that the skin can heal for a few days while the patch is on the other side. But sometimes that wasn’t long enough. The skin would be red and blotchy – sometimes bleeding. Again, not pretty!

Estraderm patches after 24 hours – completely unstuck despite using surgical tape to stick down the edges. What a mess!

I could handle most of these issues, but the fact that they were peeling off and I had to change them daily was becoming a chore. Not only dangerous in terms of the dose, but really expensive, too.

So, when I requested my latest repeat prescription, I also sent a letter to my GP, explaining what was happening and asking if I could try estrogen in gel form.

Sure enough, a couple of days later, my GP telephoned and answered my prayers – time to try gel. Hoorah!

And so, for the past few days, I’ve been using gel called OEstrodose – 150mcg, so a slightly lower dose but hopefully that will be enough now I’m not using patches that don’t stick anymore (I was on 175mcg).

I’ve got to give it a couple of weeks before I go for a blood test to check my levels, but so far so good. All you need to do is get two “squirts” of gel from the bottle and rub it into your skin.

You can either rub it into your shoulders or your inner thighs – I do my thighs as I’ve been told it works better there (the muscle beneath the skin is larger).

OK, it means taking a dose daily instead of (theoretically) twice a week, but it’s no biggie – I just rub it in at the same time as I take my pills for other stuff at night.

It takes about five minutes to fully absorb, but I’m in bed by that point anyway. It feels so good to look at my hips and not see either an angry red patch on one and a load of plastic on the other – and I no longer need to worry about the bloody things becoming unstuck!

I am a convert to gel – it doesn’t leave any stickiness behind and the only time it hurt a little was the one time I’d just shaved my legs and applied the gel straight after – but even that was only a minor sting, and there was no redness or similar. It soon subsided.

Finally, apologies, dear reader for not updating my blog for months! So much has happened over the past few months, some of it negative but most of it positive. The only reason I stopped writing was because I can be a right lazy git! Shall try to post more updates from now on.

Have you tried gel? Do you prefer it to patches, or vice versa? I’d love to hear how you’ve done – please leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Andie xxx

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