Estrogen patch vs pill

AandDM2014 · January 2016

Hey ladies!

I tried searching through previous posts about this topic, but couldn't find what I was looking for.

I'm wondering if any of you have experience with taking estrogen pills versus the patch. I've done pills every time, and so far no BFP. I'm wondering if on my next cycle I should ask my RE about switching over to the patch.

Thanks and baby dust to all!

halips · January 2016

Hi, so sorry about the BFN. When you have bloodwork, is your estrogen low while on the pills? Or are you worried about the method of administration? Just trying to clarify what you hope the switch would fix. During my last cycle, I was on both the pills (vaginally) and the patches. But I have issues with producing enough estrogen on my own, hence the 2 forms. With using both my estrogen levels were excellent, just didn't have the luck of an embaby sticking.

Have you asked your RE about endometrial scratching? My RE has suggested it since I have had a failed cycle. I've seen many other women on the boards that have also had it done after failed cycles.

Fx for you!

AandDM2014 · January 2016

Thanks for the reply @halips! I am wondering because I ended up having to delay my FET by almost a week because my lining wasn't growing. During the last 3 u/s, every other day, my lining went from something like 7.1 to 7.5 to 7.9. It should grow by 1-2mm every day, and I had less than 1 over the course of 7 days. My estrogen pills ended up going from 3 orally to 4 orally and 2 vaginally, all in one day, because my lining was being uncooperative. My nurses don't usually tell me what my numbers are unless I specifically remember to ask.

halips · January 2016

Oh yeah, then I would definitely ask about some changes! My RE only gives the pills vaginally, says the absorption is better. Maybe consider asking for a mix of both pills and patches like I had! Good luck!

Piperella · January 2016

I asked my RE when he put me on estrace (orally) and he said that for him, he doesn't believe that patches give the full amount of medication for each person. People absorb trans-dermal medications at different rates. He felt it was much more predictable to do orally or vaginally. He also said some people have skin reactions to all the patches. I'd definitely ask if there was other methods of getting estrogen or thickening the lining. Good luck!

AandDM2014 · January 2016

Thanks for the advice @halips and @Piperella! I'll definitely be asking him about mixing up the orals and maybe doing more vaginals sooner, or increase the meds quicker.

mtpbadger · January 2016

Keep us updated bc I have had lining issues in the past as well with my IUIs and this was a concern I brought up to my RE with moving to IVF and doing a fresh transfer.

I was on estrace 2xday vaginally with little to no response and on my third IUI my RE even started it earlier to see if that helped and it basically stopped my follicle growth completely due to the interaction with Clomid. Every monitoring appt the nurses questioned if I had started it yet due to the such slow response of my lining.

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Estrogen patch vs pill

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