Estradot

What is Estradot?

Estradot is a HRT medication, or more specifically, a continuous form of HRT. That means it’s a patch that you wear every day (replacing the patch with a new one twice a week), so that the hormone in it is released into the body continuously.

Estradot is just one brand of one type of HRT, with various dosages available. This allows treatments for every phase of the menopause, as well as different strengths of medication that are prescribed depending on severity of your symptoms.

In other words, there’s a treatment for almost everyone going through the menopause.

What is Estradot prescribed to treat?

Estradot is prescribed to control hormone levels when you’re going through the postmenopause. The menopause is a time of life when your hormones begin to fluctuate, signalling the end of menstruation and fertility. It’s a natural process but it can have a significant effect on your life and wellbeing.

The postmenopause describes the time after your period has stopped, while the perimenopause describes symptoms experienced while you still have bleeding.

How does Estradot work?

Menopause symptoms are caused by a drop in the hormone oestrogen. This causes symptoms such as night sweats, hot flushing and brain fog. Estradot contains estradiol hemihydrate, a synthetic version of oestrogen. The increase in oestrogen helps ease the symptoms, making them more manageable.

How to apply Estradot

Tear open the patch and peel off one side of the protective backing. Without touching the sticky side, apply half of the patch on your lower abdomen. Fold the patch and remove the other half of the backing. Press the patch firmly on your skin and hold it down for about 10 seconds.

For detailed instructions, check the patient leaflet.

What to do when you start using Estradot

Instructions at the start of a treatment for Estradot will depend on a number of things. If you’re:

• currently using continuous or combined HRT (containing two hormones), you can start using Estradot whenever you want.
• changing from sequential HRT (where progesterone is taken for about 12 days), you should start Estradot after completing your previous cycle.

If you’re not sure what type of HRT you’ve been using, speak with your clinician, who will be able to advise you.

Where to apply Estradot patches

Estradot patches should be applied to the lower part of your body and never to your breasts. The area of skin should be hairless and should not be placed on an area where you might wear elastic, such as your waist or lower legs. When replacing your patch, you should avoid using the same patch of skin.

After use, fold the patch onto itself (so the sticky side is completely covered) and throw it in the bin. You should never flush your HRT patch down the toilet.

When to change your Estradot patch

Estradot should be replaced two times a week, every three to four days. You should try to stick to the same days each week, for example, every monday and thursday.

For other days, follow the same pattern. For instance: Wednesday – Saturday – Wednesday. You can write the day the patch will be used on with the calendar checklist that comes with Estradot to keep track of your use.

What should I do if you forget to change the patch?

If you forget to change your patch on the scheduled day, simply change it as soon as you remember and go back to the normal schedule after this, no matter how short the time you’ll be using it.

So, for example, if you forget to take the patch on Monday and remember on Wednesday, use the new patch for one day and go back to the Thursday – Monday – Thursday schedule.