I feel like they'd be more convenient for me because I am so forgetful that it's now been over a month since I've taken my HRT, and my prescription lapsed with 5 months worth of refills remaining.

What should I be aware of, other than the cost difference?

  • Findom_DeLuise [she/her, they/them]
    ·
    1 year ago

    They fall off at the slightest provocation. Sweat, showering, bathing... You're lucky if the damn thing stays on afterwards.

    If you slap a couple of 3M Tegaderm dressings over it (minimum of two of the 2 3/8" x 2 3/4" ones, P/N 1624W, available in bulk via Amazon), it will stay put, but the Tegaderm dressings may start to roll up around the edges a bit. Once they start getting lint in them, it's a race until you're due for your next patch to see if everything stays in place until then.

    You also can't do monotherapy with the Climara patches; the dose isn't high enough, even with the 25 cm2/7.6 mg ones. Bica works pretty well with them.

    Skin irritation is also a possible concern.

    Edit: My regimen for getting the best patch+dressing adhesion is as follows:

    1. Shower and shave the area about an hour beforehand. Rinse extremely well; any lotions, oils, or sweat will stop both the patch and the dressings from sticking.
    2. When you're ready to apply the patch and dressings, put an ice pack (or very cold, wet washcloth) over the area where you're going to put the patch. Keep it there for a minute or so, and blot dry afterwards.
    3. Use an alcohol prep pad on the area before applying the patch and dressings to get any other residual oils out. Waft it dry.
    4. If you're feeling froggy, you can stick the patch in the middle of a Tegaderm dressing before you put it on. If you go this route, you'll need three dressings total to ensure enough edge overlap on the sides.
      • Otherwise, you can get away with two dressings, with the edges overlapping over the patch.

    I'm probably doing it wrong.

    Also, they're more effective than oral estradiol on account of the estradiol not getting metabolized in your liver. But it suuuuucks when you ruin a 1-week patch on day 3 and have to slap on the next week's. Keep gel as a backup -- the homebrew stuff from Otokonoko is supposed to be really good and fast-drying, but I haven't tried it yet.