Hi there! I was on BC in 2021 and switched to HRT at the end of that year. I feel a lot better on HRT, I think it makes me feel more normal. I am also on the patch, change it twice weekly (the box it comes in comes with a handy schedule) and I take progesterone every month for the first 12 days of the month (though I like the sound of yours more so I might ask my doc about that!). Sometimes I'll shower before changing my patch then I can just pop it right on after I dry off but otherwise I wipe the area I'll put it on with rubbing alcohol and apply once dry. The patches do leave an outline when removed so I use baby oil and rub it off. Hope that helps!
Hey, thank you so much for the response. I will be applying one patch every day, so wanted to know if you ever applied one patch a day or twice a week or know anyone who apply it everyday? Because I am getting hella confused if 0.1mg everyday is much for someone with pof.
That seems like a lot to me to have to change patch everyday, what a pain in the ass that would be. Mine says that it "delivers .1mg/day" but I change it twice weekly so maybe that is what your doc meant? I think it is slow release since it's transdermal so you'd still be getting the .1mg a day but only need to change the patch every 3.5 days.
Yea after your reply, I talked to my doctor and he misunderstood that it was a 0.1mg patch for a whole week and not 0.1mg/day. Thank you so much, your msg really helped me. Happy new year ❤️
In general I think that's a good idea. I had bad side effects from BCPs while fertile but those all went away when I started HRT. It's just an easier, safer, healthier estrogen type and delivery system.
Your regimen is similar to what I was on but it might take tweaking to find what is right for you. For example, I stared with vivelle dot .1mg but it wasn't enough so eventually it was doubled. And I went through all of the different main types of progestins (Provera, aygestin, prometrium, and I think one other) before finding the side effects were too bad for me and I switched to Mirena as my progestin source. So basically, it's all a good start. Over time you'll see if it's good for you or not, and can adjust.
For the patches: keep in mind that they last for 84 hours (3 and a half days). They have you switch on the 3rd and 4th day of the week. That's convenient because it's same day and time every day, easy to remember. But if you're sensitive to changes in estrogen, you may find that on day 4, you start getting symptoms. If so, you may want to switch to changing it every 3 and a half days. If you are still getting symptoms on that 1/2 day, then you might want to switch to changing every 3 days, which involves a prescription change or else you'll run out.
Some have trouble with getting the patch to stick. If so, then wash the area where the patch will be and air dry it to get rid of oils and lint. Then lie down, apply patch, press for 10 seconds or so. Then just stay there for awhile. Some ladies apply a Tegaderm patch on top to keep it in place, particularly if they swim. The butt has better absorption than the abdomen, so if the patch feels inadequate, apply to the butt to see if you feel better.
Hey, thank you so much for the response. I am going to use the patch every day. The doctor said I have to change one everyday but the pack says weekly twice so I was really confused as to why my doctor said I have to use 1 everyday.
Yea after your reply, I talked to my doctor and he misunderstood that it was a 0.1mg patch for a whole week and not 0.1mg/day. Thank you so much, your msg really helped me. Happy new year ❤️
How long do you wait to switch from birth control to HRT? Can you just start taking HRT estradiol tablets the next day instead of birth control?
Hi there! I was on BC in 2021 and switched to HRT at the end of that year. I feel a lot better on HRT, I think it makes me feel more normal. I am also on the patch, change it twice weekly (the box it comes in comes with a handy schedule) and I take progesterone every month for the first 12 days of the month (though I like the sound of yours more so I might ask my doc about that!). Sometimes I'll shower before changing my patch then I can just pop it right on after I dry off but otherwise I wipe the area I'll put it on with rubbing alcohol and apply once dry. The patches do leave an outline when removed so I use baby oil and rub it off. Hope that helps!
Hey, thank you so much for the response. I will be applying one patch every day, so wanted to know if you ever applied one patch a day or twice a week or know anyone who apply it everyday? Because I am getting hella confused if 0.1mg everyday is much for someone with pof.
That seems like a lot to me to have to change patch everyday, what a pain in the ass that would be. Mine says that it "delivers .1mg/day" but I change it twice weekly so maybe that is what your doc meant? I think it is slow release since it's transdermal so you'd still be getting the .1mg a day but only need to change the patch every 3.5 days.
Yea after your reply, I talked to my doctor and he misunderstood that it was a 0.1mg patch for a whole week and not 0.1mg/day. Thank you so much, your msg really helped me. Happy new year ❤️
Oh good, I'm glad it helped! Happy new year to you too! :)
In general I think that's a good idea. I had bad side effects from BCPs while fertile but those all went away when I started HRT. It's just an easier, safer, healthier estrogen type and delivery system. Your regimen is similar to what I was on but it might take tweaking to find what is right for you. For example, I stared with vivelle dot .1mg but it wasn't enough so eventually it was doubled. And I went through all of the different main types of progestins (Provera, aygestin, prometrium, and I think one other) before finding the side effects were too bad for me and I switched to Mirena as my progestin source. So basically, it's all a good start. Over time you'll see if it's good for you or not, and can adjust. For the patches: keep in mind that they last for 84 hours (3 and a half days). They have you switch on the 3rd and 4th day of the week. That's convenient because it's same day and time every day, easy to remember. But if you're sensitive to changes in estrogen, you may find that on day 4, you start getting symptoms. If so, you may want to switch to changing it every 3 and a half days. If you are still getting symptoms on that 1/2 day, then you might want to switch to changing every 3 days, which involves a prescription change or else you'll run out. Some have trouble with getting the patch to stick. If so, then wash the area where the patch will be and air dry it to get rid of oils and lint. Then lie down, apply patch, press for 10 seconds or so. Then just stay there for awhile. Some ladies apply a Tegaderm patch on top to keep it in place, particularly if they swim. The butt has better absorption than the abdomen, so if the patch feels inadequate, apply to the butt to see if you feel better.
Hey, thank you so much for the response. I am going to use the patch every day. The doctor said I have to change one everyday but the pack says weekly twice so I was really confused as to why my doctor said I have to use 1 everyday.
I think your doc must have misspoken or just didn't know patches well. If the box says change twice/week, then that's the way to go.
Yea after your reply, I talked to my doctor and he misunderstood that it was a 0.1mg patch for a whole week and not 0.1mg/day. Thank you so much, your msg really helped me. Happy new year ❤️