Oestrogel

Oestrogel is prescribed to treat symptoms of the menopause. The menopause describes a natural change that occurs in all women at some time in their lives. It’s where hormone levels change, leading to the end of the menstrual cycle and the ability to get pregnant.

It usually starts between the mid 40s and mid 50s and it can last for a few years. Some women can get premature menopause. This is quite rare but it can occur in women as young as their 20s, with one in 100 women noticing symptoms before the age of 40.

Symptoms of the menopause include hot flushes, insomnia, vaginal dryness, anxiety, foggy headedness and low sex drive. Oestrogel contains oestrogen, which helps manage hormone levels and deal with these symptoms.

Oestrogel is a highly effective way of managing your menopausal symptoms. ^[1] Oestrogel is different from many menopause treatments because it’s a gel that’s applied to the skin, rather than a patch or tablet.

That means all you have to do is remember to rub it on the skin at regular intervals. This is particularly good if you have any difficulties swallowing tablets.

The active ingredient in Oestrogel is a synthetic form of oestrogen, a naturally occurring hormone. So what does oestrogen do to help manage the symptoms of the menopause? During the menopause, oestrogen levels slowly start to fall, leading to the symptoms described above. By replacing these hormones, Oestrogel helps to relieve menopausal symptoms.

If you’ve had a hysterectomy then you can use oestrogel on its own. If you’ve still got your womb then you’ll need an additional progesterone. You can get this from a Mirena coil (or similar) if you have one fitted, or from a gel or tablet that you take for several days each month.

Combined HRT is likely to be better for you if you haven’t had a hysterectomy.

Oestrogel should be used as instructed by our clinician.

When you’re using the pump pack for the first time, you’ll need to press the plunger down a few times for the gel to come out. The first gel that comes out should not be used, simply discard it.

Two pumps of the device used at the same time every day is the typical starting dosage. The pack will last for four weeks if two measures are prescribed and two weeks if four measures are needed.

Pump the gel onto your hand and rub it into a patch of skin that’s dry, clean and unbroken (not on cuts or grazes). You should wash the area you’re going to apply the gel and dry it before use.

The shoulder, upper arms or legs are the best places to apply the gel. Never apply it to your breasts or genitals. You should also make sure that you rub the gel fully into the skin across the largest area possible for each dose.

Leave the gel to dry for five minutes before covering your skin with clothing, and wash your hands thoroughly after use.

If you forget to use Oestrogel, and it’s less than 12 hours after the scheduled dose, you should apply it as soon as you remember. If it’s 12 hours after the scheduled dose, skip it and carry on as usual.
Never take double the dose to make up for a missed one. Not only is there no advantage to doing this but you can greatly increase your chances of experiencing side effects.

Oestrogel 0.06% is the standard dosage strength, but it can be increased by using more than the usual two pumps, once daily. At the start of treatment, it’s likely you’ll begin with the lowest dose. If it doesn’t work as it should for you, our clinician can increase the dose. You shouldn’t make any adjustments to your treatment yourself without having had a chat with our clinician first.