Oestrogen gel and spray
Applied to the skin once a day. Easy to adjust, and no patch to stick on.
How gel and spray work
Oestrogen is absorbed through the skin from a measured daily dose. Like patches, oestrogen through the skin does not raise the risk of blood clots above your baseline at standard doses.
Who they suit
Gel and spray suit women who want flexibility with their dose, or who react to patch adhesive. That flexibility is why gel is often where we start when building an HRT plan around your symptoms: the dose can be nudged up or down between reviews without changing product. They need a daily routine, so they work best if a morning or evening habit is easy for you.
Possible side effects
Breast tenderness, bloating and headaches can happen early on and often settle within a few weeks. Skin irritation is less common than with patches. The risks and benefits of HRT as a whole are the same whichever skin preparation you use.
