Peel off the backing from the patch and apply the patch to a clean, dry, and hair-free area of the lower stomach or upper buttock area. This area must be free of powder, oil, or lotion for the patch to stick on to your skin. Press the patch firmly in place with your hand for about 10 seconds.
You should apply estradiol patches to clean, dry, cool skin in the lower stomach area, below your waistline. Some brands of patches may also be applied to the upper buttocks.
The patch may be placed on the skin of the lower abdomen or the buttocks. Some women tend to have more reactions when it is placed on the lower abdomen. The skin of the buttocks is slightly thicker, and reactions are less common here.
How long does it take for an estrogen patch to start working? You might notice some improvement in your menopausal symptoms after 2 weeks of treatment with an estrogen patch. But this can vary from person to person, and the specific patch you use may also make a difference.
How Estrogen Replacement Therapy Can Help with Belly Fat During Menopause. Recent studies show that menopausal women on hormone therapy tend to have less body fat, especially visceral belly fat. Because estrogen affects how your body distributes fat, low estrogen levels can contribute to gaining fat in your belly area.
Dr Newson says “Many women are concerned that they will put on weight when they begin taking HRT. However, having oestrogen through the skin as a gel or patch with micronised progesterone does not usually lead to weight gain.
Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Blood clot—pain, swelling, or warmth in the leg, shortness of breath, chest pain. Breast tissue changes, new lumps, redness, pain, or discharge from the nipple. Gallbladder problems—severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever.
Avoid applying the patch on the waistline or other places where tight clothing may rub it off. Wear the patch at all times until it is time to put on a new patch. Do not expose it to the sun for long periods of time.
Estrogen may impact the look of your skin in many ways. Researchers are still studying the reasons why estrogen may prevent some signs of skin aging. Estrogen may affect skin cell production, collagen production, hydration, and thickness of your skin. All these factors can affect the appearance of your skin.
Use bandaids or medical tape to help hold it down: If the patch starts to peel off or lose its stick at the edge before it's due to be changed, then medical tape can be used to tape the patch back in place.
The patch must be applied to an area of skin that is BELOW the waist. Ideal areas are the thigh or bottom. Make sure you choose a different area of skin whenever you change the patch. Make sure your skin is clean and dry before applying the patch.
You have estrogen receptors in cells throughout your entire body, so when levels fluctuate and fall, this can trigger wide-ranging and varying symptoms including low mood, anxiety, memory problems, poor sleep, joint aches and pains, brain fog, hot flushes and vaginal dryness.
Another reason why HRT should be applied below the waist is because the hormones are absorbed better by fatty tissue, such as the lower abdomen, thighs, and buttocks.
Most women are instructed to apply the gel to inner thighs or upper outer arms.
While you may start feeling a difference within a few days or weeks, it usually takes longer for HRT to achieve its full effects. Three to six months is a reasonable trial period for systemic HRT, which includes pills, patches, sprays and gels. If you haven't seen an improvement by this point, speak to your doctor.
Avoid smoking. It can greatly increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack while using estradiol. Grapefruit may interact with estradiol and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.
Some women may stay on hormones for two or three years, while others will need five to seven years, or maybe longer. The goal is to be on the lowest dose that will treat and manage your symptoms in such a way that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Oral estrogen-only use riskier than patch or vaginal cream for menopausal women, study says. People who use estrogen-only pills during menopause were more likely to be diagnosed with high blood pressure than those using patches or creams, a new study found.
If you're taking HRT, try to do everything you can to minimize your breast cancer risk. Talk to your doctor about using estrogen-only HRT, which increases breast cancer risk less than combination HRT. Take HRT for the shortest time possible. Consider not drinking alcohol while on HRT.
One of the most common reasons given by women for not starting Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is concern that it will make them gain weight. However, evidence and scientific studies says that this isn't true.
A recent study of postmenopausal women, ages 50 to 80, found that those who took hormones had significantly lower levels of belly fat than women who did not take hormones.
HRT is also known to help women maintain softer, smoother skin, resulting in a younger look. In addition to—and, often, as a result of—these physical changes, HRT often changes how you see yourself. In very real ways, using HRT to address symptoms of hormonal change can help you feel younger.