There is no secret that there is a shortage of estrogen patches. Which is a whole other BS issue because to my knowledge there’s never been a shortage on viagra or mens testosterone. But, I digress.
I cannot tell you how many women in facebook groups who I can tell are working with incompetent (at best) HRT practitioners because they’re saying “My provider said my pharmacy is out of HRT patches what else can I do”
Disrespectfully (yet again), if you’re asking facebook groups for options you’re seeing a sub par provider. THEY should be telling you what your options are— not me on facebook. But take that as your sign to stop seeing your shitty practitioner and see me instead 💃
And then you have the group of practitioners saying that estrogen patches are shit. I get why women are so confused. Because we have dogmatic practitioners who are beholden to only one type of hormone therapy and another camp who just don’t know other options exist.
Here’s the deal. There are a lot of ways we can take estrogen and what is right for YOU depends on YOUR life, YOUR risk factors and YOUR preferences. Allow me to break it down a little for you.
Estradiol Patch: comes in doses of .025, .0375, .05, .075 + .1 mg/day dosing. can be giving in twice a week or once a week patch. Buy tattoo tape on amazon to throw over top of it to keep it on. You’re welcomed.
Estradiol Gel (divigel): Gel that you rub on topically. 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25 MG (0.1%) mg/gm doses. One packet daily. Reaches peak concentration after about 12 days.
Estradiol Cream: Compounded specifically for you at varying doses.
Vaginal Ring (Systemic): KNown as the Fem Ring. .05mg/24 hours or .2mg/24 hours. Goes in the vagina but has SYSTEMIC ABSORPTION. Lasts 90 days. Great for women who are post menopausal or cycling so infrequently it doesn’t matter. I would NOT use this in someone who was still cycling regularly.
Oral Estradiol: .5, 1 or 2mg dosing. SLIGHT— SLIGHT I’ll say it again SLIGHT increased risk of clot. Would I give this to someone with a clotting disorder, probs not. Would I give it to an average risk woman who prefers oral route with proper informed consent? Sure would.
Estradiol Injections. 10mg/ml vials. Typical starting range is around 2-4mg over divided doses for a more leveled out feel. Women are REALLY loving these. These are giving via subQ injection (teeny tiny insulin needle) best results in my opinion come from 2-3 doses through the week.
A quick note on systemic vs. low dose vaginal estrogen (because this really fucking matters)
I cannot say this enough you can 100000% be on vaginal and systemic estrogen therapies. Systemic estrogen will not always improve vaginal symptoms and vaginal low dose estrogen sure as shit is not fixing systemic issues.
Looking to work with someone who knows more about HRT besides “heres a patch see you in six months”
That’s literally what I do! Book a call with me below and lets fucking go.
If your brain is like FUCK YES I’ve been looking for you. Sign up for a Hormone Strategy Session Here.
If you want to know more you can always book a consultation call so you have the clarity + understanding you need (and yes again, with me— not a sales person or a bot :)
Disclaimer: The information on this blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It should not replace personalized medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your medications, supplements, diet, or treatment plan.
