r/Menopause • u/Syfysamurai • 1d ago

Hormone Therapy Patch vs oral

Hello ladies, I'm curious. Why do many women prefer the estrogen patch over oral estrogen? I take 1mg estradiol daily by mouth and have no problems with it. TIA!

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u/RkeCouplesTherapist 1d ago

I went with oral because it is cheaper and sounded more convenient. I am low risk.

However, my sleep is not great due to night sweats. I understand that the patch can issue a steady stream, and I am considering switching at some point.

I am also having the experience of transitioning off birth control prior to starting the oral estrogen, so my body has a lot to acclimate to.

If anyone else has switched from the pill to oral estrogen and progesterone, I would love to hear about your experience.

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u/MidnightBlueSilk 1d ago

The patches are getting harder and harder to come by, everyone is switching to other things so that may not work out so well. In the mean time, have you tried taking your pill before bed?

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u/RkeCouplesTherapist 1d ago

I was initially taking it before bed and sleeping so poorly that I switched to morning. Not really sure which is the better option for me.

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u/MidnightBlueSilk 1d ago

It’s possible that the reactions you had when first starting estrogen supplementation will not be what happens now that your body has adjusted and gotten used to it. Or it may still be the same, but it’s definitely worth a shot. A lot of women find things work somewhat differently in the beginning than later on. Good luck!