Hi ladies,

I recently had blook work done and my estradiol level was 20. The range was 19-528. So I guess I am low? I also took the saliva test and it said that my level was 2.0 pg/ml and the range was 10.0 - 50.0 pg/ml. Hmmmmm. I don't know how much estradiol I should be taking to get my levels up. I am currently taking biest 20/80 (20 percent estriol and 80 percent estradiol). I am taking 1 mg. per mL. syringe form/gel delivery. If I go back to ESTROGEL is one pump .75 mg. enough? just curious. thanks ladies

The estrogel will only get your blood levels up to a maximum of .60 (please check my other posts for the link to mfg website) 20 is way too low for you to be getting full absorbtion from the compounded biest you're currently on. Research says most women feel better and obtain health benefits closer to 90 mg in blood. But how do you feel now? Still flashing and other symptoms? Saliva testing is not as reliable as blood. Both blood testing AND symtoms are key in finding the optimal hrt for your particular body chemistry. Regards, JZZ

Hi Jzz,

thanks so much for responding!! Thank you thank you thank you!! Lets see--my biggest symptom is insomnia--waking up all night long. It is so strange. Plus I feel warm a lot. Actually--I tested 20 on estradiol before I started taking the Estrogel. So--I don't know what it is now. Perhaps I need another blood test. At the time I got it tested I was on estriol vaginal cream every (little dab) every other night. It Estrogel doesn't get one up to 90 mg. of estradiol in the blood what is a better alternative.....Estrace in pill formula. I thought that the transdermal creams were a better delivery system and that the pills have to go through the liver first which reduces the amount you actually get. --Sorry--this is all so complicated. My GYN does whatever I want though she does say that if I don't take the P then I have to have an ultrasound every six months. But--she told me to take whatever I want--compounded or not--it's up to me. I just don't know enough to make an educated decision. I just want to sleep and not feel so darn hot while trying. LOL. Thanks

It all goes through the liver, but I think it's all about the dosing when it comes to oral vs transdermal vs vaginal.

I use 2 pumps of the Estrogel daily and my levels are quite low still also. I am at about 42. I have a difficult time with the progesterone, do you also? I see you don't use it. I started out on 1 pump of estrogel and ended up having to increase it.

Hey there,

What are the symptoms you have that you're trying to treat? I think that might be a better question. In my humble opinion I think it's best to go by symptom relief, so if one pump (.75 mgs.) of Estrogel give you relief of symptoms throughout the whole day and night then that could be a good dose for you. If not, then you need more.
Also, some days you may feel more stressed or down and may need more. Some days, one pump will be enough.

I find that when I exercise strenuously in the morning (after I've already used some E), I definitely need more mid day.

How are you feeling?

Yes, I do have a difficult time with the progesterone. This month my gyn switched me back to the bi-est 20/80 but I think I did better on the Estrogel. SO--once again I think I am going to switch back to that. I started out by using half a pump a day. Sometimes I suppressed the pump all the way down--other days half way down. I also think I have a problem with estriol. Since being on the 80/20--1 mg. per ml. I have been experiencing headaches--I was taking up to .75 mg. with the estrogel--so I think I am having estriol issues. I wonder if there are others out there too that have estriol issues? Avalina

Hello..........my biggest complaint with menopause has been insomnia.....waking up all night long...unable to achieve deep REM sleep--plus always being Warm. Last night I woke up every hour. Yestday I took .48 mg. of bi-est. 80 percent estradiol and 20 percent estriol. I am at my wits end. Ready to go on narcotics!!!!!!! Perhaps I just need more estradiol!