Transdermal HRT

@gravity3 I am finishing the first month of Combipatch 0,05/0.25 DIS (NV)#8. My cost was $135. I have BC/BS insurance. I have asked on this site how to get it for less. So far, my side effects are redness from the patch glue and breast tenderness. All tolerable.

@seapen just my two cents but I was on HRT and experienced breast tenderness and within a year I had a callback from my mammogram. The estrogen had stimulated abnormal excessive growth in my mammary ducts. I had a biopsy and subsequent lumpectomy to get rid of tve area of abnormal growth. Known as Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia (ADH) and can become a precursor to breast cancer. The breast tenderness is an effect of the estrogen and may indicate the dosage is too strong. Check with your doctor.

@gravity3 I am finishing the first month of Combipatch 0,05/0.25 DIS (NV)#8. My cost was $135. I have BC/BS insurance. I have asked on this site how to get it for less. So far, my side effects are redness from the patch glue and breast tenderness. All tolerable.

First let me mention that I am a retired librarian. 😊. I started HRT prior to the big study, back when you were encouraged to take hormones, especially with early menopause. After the study, both my primary care and my gynecologist (both women) said that the results were not definitive and we probably would not know for sure during our lifetime. My gynecologist said she planned to stay on hormone replacement her whole life. In recent years, as I mentioned, a liver enzyme started creeping up and my triglycerides took a sudden climb and both doctors said it’s the hormones. I did some research (librarians can’t resist) and learned that oral delivery was likely the problem and I convinced my doctor to let me give transdermal a shot. I think she was so impressed with the rather dramatic improvement in both labs that she is unlikely to suggest I stop HRT. Also, the reduction in the likelihood of blood clots with transdermal helped influence her. One more thing, I did experience some very slight bleeding for a few days the first few months on CombiPatch. I went through the whole diagnostic procedure with pelvic ultrasound and uterine biopsy and all was normal and the bleeding stopped. It was just my body adjusting to the change in delivery methods. So don’t be discouraged if that happens to you. Good luck.

@gravity3 I am finishing the first month of Combipatch 0,05/0.25 DIS (NV)#8. My cost was $135. I have BC/BS insurance. I have asked on this site how to get it for less. So far, my side effects are redness from the patch glue and breast tenderness. All tolerable.

I asked the rheumatologist (who's prescribing my osteoporosis med) about transdermal estrogen, and she told me she didn't deal with hormones and I'd have to make an appointment with a gyn. This surprised me -- the rheumatologist is my osteoporosis doc and I figured she'd know about all possible treatments. My gynecologist is not going to manage my osteoporosis. My question: would an endocrinologist manage the osteoporosis AND be able to deal with the hormone questions and possible treatment?