Hello Hormones with Dr. Carrie Jones

Not Loving Your Hormone Therapy? 5 Things to Change So It Actually Works

6 snips
Jul 29, 2025
Feeling off with your hormone therapy? Discover why it might not be working as expected. Explore five key reasons, from starting with the wrong hormone to dosing mistakes. Learn about the impact of delivery methods like patches and gels, and how application sites can affect absorption. Dive into the debate of bioidentical versus synthetic hormones. It's the troubleshooting guide every woman needs to ensure hormone therapy delivers real results.
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INSIGHT

Estrogen Absorption Varies Widely

  • Estrogen absorption varies widely among women even on the same dose of patches or gels.
  • Blood test levels can be sub-therapeutic despite high-dose treatment or sufficient at low-dose due to individual differences.
ADVICE

Test Levels & Change Application Site

  • Test estradiol blood levels to ensure doses prevent bone loss (target 60-150 pg/mL).
  • Experiment with application site since skin location and blood flow affect estrogen absorption.
ADVICE

Avoid Washing Off Gel Early

  • Avoid washing off estrogen gel within an hour after application to prevent up to 22% serum level reduction.
  • Be consistent in hormone use before blood testing for accurate hormone levels.
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