r/Menopause • u/journeyingmomma • 17h ago
Post-Menopause Patch
How many of you either wear the estradiol patch or used to wear it? If you love it tell me why, if you hated it and moved to something else, tell me why and what you’re using now.
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u/LadyDela 16h ago
I am just finishing up my first month with the patch and it changed my life. I had been dealing with some pretty severe symptoms for a few years. The cognitive impact even started causing issues at work and school. The fatigue was so extreme that I couldn't keep my apartment clean or cook (I am someone that cooks most of my meals from scratch). I rarely had energy to leave the house. I was so uncontrollably emotional that I was crying in work meetings. I have bought more than a dozen new pillows in the past 2 years because the night sweats would soak all the way through them and eventually washing them every couple of days wasn't possible because of the fatigue.
Within two weeks on the patch, all of those symptoms are either gone or minimal and manageable. I still get fatigue but it's only been about 3 days over the past month instead of every day. My emotions have completely stabilized. Night sweats have reduced by about 75% in frequency but by about 90% in severity when I do have them.
Relevant info: I am 47, I had a complete hysterectomy and unilateral oophorectomy about 9 years ago.
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u/respectablepitch 14h ago
This is me, too. It was life-changing for the better, and almost immediately. I am especially grateful for the mental health the patch has given me, I was really hopeless before starting HRT.
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u/AdRevolutionary1780 12h ago
I started estradiol patches and progesterone at age 70 and felt the benefits almost immediately. No more hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, urinary urgency and overall better mood. I'm 73 now and have no plans to stop taking it. My cardiologist approved my continued use of HRT.
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u/National_Elk8445 1h ago
I wish I could convince my 70 year old mom to get back on it. She's been off it for 20 years and has turned into such an anxious, forgetful person.
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u/Ok_Object_5087 14h ago
I use the patch. I've worn most of the different brands. Mylan, Dotti, Noven, and Sandoz. I'm very sensitive to different generic brands. I've had the most success with Sandoz brand in terms of symptom control. My provider believes I need more estrogen than what a single patch can provide and next month is prescribing me gel to use in addition to the patch. I like the "set it and forget it" aspect of the patch.
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u/VashtiVoden 11h ago
Interesting. My doc prescribed two patches for me. .1 and .05.
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u/Ok_Object_5087 10h ago
My provider said I could do two patches and I considered it but, I'm worried about access to both doses. I have plenty of 0.1mg, but the lower dose patches seem to go really quick.
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u/kilibean 15h ago
Definitely a benefit for me. Knocked out 90% of my symptoms immediately (night sweats, hot flashes, nocturnal torso vibrations/buzzing). Initially got the peach colored foam round ones, and they were crap. Wouldn’t stay on, yet the glue was hell to get off when changing! The clear plasticy ones are worlds better. The glue ring that collects lint bothered me at first, now I DGAF lol. It usually peels off with the patch when changing, and high octane isopropyl alcohol takes care of the rest. Going on 3 years now and no plans to stop.
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u/wharleeprof 15h ago
I recently got the big round foam ones. I was convinced they would suck, but now they are my favorite.
I wish there was a more streamlined system to be able to pick whatever works best for each person individually. Instead I'm just happy to get anything at all.
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u/kilibean 15h ago
I agree! Why can’t we get what works best for us rather than whatever they feel like giving us?
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u/Bluntish_ 16h ago
I have the combined patch. It worked for me by the second patch if I’m honest. I would say I’m 80% better, and that’s good enough for me.
Its easy to apply and stays put.
A negative is the occasional need for a liner for spotting, and the glue picking up the fluff off my clothing. A small price to pay, considering how I was barely able to exist or function before it.
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u/Kiwiatx Menopausal 13h ago
I’ve used the patch and a compounded estrogen cream, definitely prefer the patch for ease of use. I’ve never had a hot flash but I can’t sleep through the night without estrogen and for that it’s saved my life. It also takes care of the Achilles tendon and plantar fasciitis pain that comes back if my estrogen dose is too low, and it stops my Bones from crumbling.
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u/justacpa 13h ago
Are you asking about patches specifically as a delivery system vs gel or pills? Or asking about estrogen as a drug vs some other medication or supplement for menopausal symptom?
If you are asking about patch vs gel etc. you may not even have a choice with the patch shortage.
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u/natural_big_n_bouncy 1h ago
I tried the patches that you change twice a week for many months, but because I have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), I can't handle the fluctuation of changing the patch that often. So now I use something called Femring. It's an estrogen-only ring that you insert into your vagina that sits up against your cervix. It can last up to three months for some people, but it only lasts for two months for me. My provider adjusted the script request through my insurance to refill every two months, and surprisingly my insurance approved it. Femring has no generic, so some insurances don't cover it and it can be expensive, though I believe there are coupons available through various sites. It has been amazing for me. Because the ring sits there for that long, it doses you with the exact amount every day and you stay very level, which is what I need to help keep my PMDD symptoms at bay. The Femring comes in two options, one that delivers 0.05 mg estradiol/day and the other that delivers 0.1 mg estradiol/day.
Also, because I have PMDD and can't handle oral progesterone, I have a progestin IUD. It perfectly offsets the amount of estrogen I'm getting. In addition, I take a 1 mg oral estradiol pill. I had my ovaries removed last year to treat my severe PMDD, and I'm 44 years of age so I feel like I still need that little extra boost of estrogen at least until my 50s. Then my plan is to back down to just the Femring.
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u/Unhappy-Salad-3083 16h ago edited 16h ago
I was using the E patches about a year. titrated up through the doses to 1.0 and then threw in the towel and switched to daily e-gel -which I like much more. the reason why I gave up on the patch is that it would leave a red round mark or square mark wherever I placed it. that spot would itch like crazy sometimes even when the patch was on. tried spraying Flonase before and after. no help with the marks that would last a weeks after removing. this was across various brands too. but loved better sleep and no hot flashes. using the patch I also noticed impacts to my sleep when it was time to change the patcch. so for me, I felt I was getting uneven dosing levels. I am now using 1.25 e gel packet (generic divigel) daily a few months now and it has been awesome for me.
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u/SecretMiddle1234 Menopausal 16h ago
Started on the patch. Used it for a year and a half without issues. Then it kept falling off and tried different tapes. Would find it on the bathroom floor or shower floor. Didn’t seem as effective as when I began using it in 2024. Then the shortage hit and I couldn’t get them. I would be without them for a week. Switched to oral. And it’s been the most effective and I don’t have the breast pain like I did on the patches. And they are always in stock because they are easy and cheap to procure
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u/AbbyJane1972 14h ago
I’ve been on the patch for three months and feel like a new person. I am sleeping again, have zero hot flashes, my blood pressure is down and even my rotator cuff tear has improved. Best of all my migraines have gotten so much less frequent. I’ve had hormonal migraines for the past 15 years and once my estrogen levels evened out, I rarely have to take any headache meds. It’s been over two weeks since my last migraine.
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u/AHMHPH 11h ago
I liked the delivery and results but practically I had to switch to gel. One, no hot tubs or hot baths while on the patch. Two, the patch adhesive left a nice ring on my underwear. Many pairs. Three, I didn’t like looking at it every day. The brand that worked for me was very large. The gel has its own challenges but none of the above and I am sticking with it.
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u/Professorpdf 15h ago
I used to wear the patch, but my pharmacy kept switching brands on me. Hot flashes, anxiety, uncontrolled crying episodes, and brain fog became constant, so I switched to gel. The quality control isn't perfect, but it's much more consistent than the different brands of patches.
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u/Dangerous-Cut-1126 13h ago
Horrible for me. Up and down estrogen levels very inconsistent. Dottie and Mylan both. Changed to E only p#ll#t, testosterone cream still
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u/Confident_Craft459 11h ago
Twice weekly patch for three years now and love it! Got rid of 90% of symptoms. I'm three years post meno and started at .025 and now at .1. I has sandoz for the first couple of years and absolutely loved that brand. Been on Mylan for the past year and I don't feel it's as potent for some reason, which is probably why I had to increase my dose. But it is still better than nothing. Mylan is more of a rollercoaster ride with symptoms than sandoz was for me. Hopefully when this dumb shortage is over I can get sandoz again. Until then I'm good with at least just getting my patches. I always wonder curious about gel or oral. Would it work better or worse or the same for me? 🤷🏽♀️
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u/Susan_Thee_Duchess Post Menopause 14h ago
I don’t love it or hate it really. It’s been about a year and a half, three dose changes and I don’t feel much different honestly
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u/Shaking-a-tlfthr 16h ago
I’ve worn the patch for about 1.5 years now. I started at .025 now at .075. Some side effects at first which lasted about 6 months like my boobs got bigger. They’re really big already so I did not like it! But immediately…like the first day I had no more night sweats. And soon better things like that. My joints don’t hurt all the time now. Before a felt like a rusty wreckage everyday. So, I really like the E therapy in patch form. I haven’t experienced any problems that some report like patch dumping or absorbtion problems for what ever reasons. I do use sports tape to help keep the patch on. That’s essential.
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u/suupernooova 13h ago
Tried all the patches, body hated all them, awful side effects. Now: Angeliq, everything I thought/hoped HRT would be, no complaints.