Sandrena gel applications tips and questions.

[Christina87]

Hi 👋

 

I recently started using Sandrena  *mg saches again. I use*** saches a day, morning and night in combination with my Progynova and Spironolactone. I rotate every day in three areas, the thigh left and right also stomach belly area.

My question is, what's the best way to get the MOST benefit from the transdermal gel (Sandrena)

 

I have a few questions. Please feel free to answer all or any of the below.

 

1) Is it true that the inner thigh is actually more effective than the top or outer thigh as an application site?

 

2) Is it true that you can apply the gel to other areas of the body,(other than only the lower trunk as advised in the information leaflet), such as forearm and upper arm. And if so, is it the same effectiveness.

 

3) Is it true that spreading it in a smaller area on the skin than the recommended two hands size area is more concentrated and potent, potentially more strongly absorbed (estrogens) and thus more effective. 

 

4) Is regular exfoliating of the application site a good or useful way to get the most benefit from Sandrena.

 

5) Is it ok to get dressed after 5 minutes, 10 minutes or longer? 

 

6) Is it possible to add a third sache (midday) in addition to the morning and evening dose to boost the overall effectiveness and are there doctors/endos that prescribe this dose.

 

Also I'd love to hear any positive things or reviews about Sandrena, and any tips/advice.

 

Thankyou in advance.

 

[Charlize]

I would suggest most of your questions are best answered by your doctor.   

I use a topical E and clean the area well before application.  I also try to leave as much time as possible before dressing.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Christina87]

Thankyou for your response. Would you say 10 minutes is sufficient if drying it with a wind fan to speed it up a bit?

The problem is, my doctor only has limited knowledge on hormones and not an endocrinologist. The endos here take 9 months to get an appointment. Lol.

[Tilly]

Hi Christina,

 

Great questions and post!

 

I've been using Sandrena gel for a few years, morning and evening. I've learned quite a bit about it along the way but Charlize is right that some or all of your questions are best answered by your doctor. That's particularly true for question 6) about dosing. So anything I put here should please be treated as non-medical and anecdotal. However, here goes.

 

I really like the sandrena gel. I like the steady state estrogen it gives me and I feel very adjusted to it. I mention this because I had serious fluctuation issues with injections and I am very glad I'm no longer taking pills because of liver concern (I know you're also taking progynova) and clotting. The gel seems to be a very safe method.

 

Personally I haven't noticed much difference as to where it's applied, with the exception of the abdomen. If you put it on there, which the leaflet says to do sometimes, then I am not convinced it does absorb so well because of the fat. I may be wrong about that so it's just my experience but my levels dropped when I applied it there. Otherwise I doubt inner or outer makes a lot of difference if you've got good circulation and you're fit. I expect the inner thigh is proposed firstly because that's where your femoral artery runs and secondly because you're less likely to rub onto someone else or something else. I am due blood tests a month from now so I can update on that but my levels have been good with outer thigh.

 

So ... I apply morning to the outer thigh and then in the evening I apply to the arm on the opposite side of my body. This is partly for practicality: in the morning I'm sitting up in bed for half an hour or so with a coffee so it's ideal. In the evening I may be anywhere, and applying to the arm is easy.

 

I always exfoliate, or rather, I have a lady razor in my shower and almost daily run this over some part of my body or other. It's not that I'm hairy, I just like smooth skin. And natal females do also use razors   I've not encountered any issues with this. So basically I shower first thing and then apply the morning gel. I have two showers a day because I always have a workout in the middle of the day.

 

Whatever the leaflet says, I do spread it a over good open hand width (two small closed hands) - so a reasonable area. I guess maybe 4" x 10". I don't think I'm allowed to tell you the dose (am I?) but it's not just one sachet in the morning.

 

I do slightly rub it in. I was advised to do this, whatever the leaflet says, and  it undoubtedly helps it to dry more quickly. When I say 'slightly' I mean just enough to stop it looking like I've lathered myself in turkey fat but it's still a thin film or sheen, and still very tacky.

 

I have to say that although occasionally I've had to put clothes over the top after 10 minutes, and the leaflet says this is fine, I try not to. Usually I don't cover it for half an hour, especially in the morning. And I don't shower or bath again for at least six hours.

 

I hope some of this helps?

 

xx

 

 

 

[Christina87]

Hi Tilly and thankyou so much for your response. Sorry for the slow reply.

Your information was very helpful and very thorough! I like Sandrena too and that's why I went back on it after a few years. I feel somehow it's right for me at the moment. After nearly 2 weeks back on it my breasts feel slightly sore and are perky around the nipple area. Hopefully if all goes well I'll have a little more breast growth but if not I'll feminize up again slightly now that I'm back on a higher dose. 

Thanks.   

Please feel free to msg me back. I'm a little nervous. Thanks.

[AllieJ]

Christina, I have also used Sandrena for some time, and can pass on my experiences rather than qualified medical advice. My doctor admits when he doesn't know things, and has used me as a sort of test subject at times. We tried different application techniques, and then did blood tests to see if there were differences. I was applying day and night, and used different locations each time. We tried the places recommended in the literature, and some other spots with thinner skin and more blood supply, but the blood levels were the same for each. The instructions say to spread over an area equivalent to 2 palms, and leave to dry, but I found this to be time lost waiting to dry, so we tried rubbing it in until it was almost all absorbed and only needing a couple of minutes to dry, and the blood tests results were the same.

 

We had read of higher rates of absorption from thinner skin areas, but concluded this just meant that there would be more of an initial spike in levels, but overall, not more effective. The sites recommended will absorb it all, but maybe a bit slower, which can be better as it is more even. Some people have difficulty with transdermal absorption, and need to use another cream in preparation to facilitate absorption, but I never did this so can't comment. 

 

I liked Sandrena, but needed a high dose to get the target levels, and it was a chore to apply to multiple places morning and night, so a couple of years ago we switched to implanted pellets, which I really like. (I preferred this option to injections). I am also near Melbourne, my doctor is in Geelong, and specialises in trans medicine, but admits the available knowledge is poor, so he is open to learning. 

 

Hugs,

 

Allie

 

[Ivy]

I'm curious about the implants.

[AllieJ]

5 hours ago, Ivy said:

I'm curious about the implants.

Ivy, I have a tiny pellet about 3 mm dia, and maybe 10mm long made up at a compounding pharmacy under prescription from my doctor. He then make a small incision in my lower abdomen, and places the pellet(s) in my fat layer. It takes a couple of weeks for it to become fully active, but then it delivers estrogen at my target range for up to 15 months, and I don’t have to do anything but blood tests every 8 to 10 weeks. 

 

It is not a mass produced drug here in Australia, and not on the subsidised health system, so is a little more expensive, but the convenience of not having to worry about hormones for mor than a year is well worth it, and I do get higher E levels. I have read of women in the US getting pellets through compounding pharmacies also.

 

Hugs,

 

Allie

[Susan R]

9 minutes ago, AllieJ said:

I have read of women in the US getting pellets through compounding pharmacies also.

This is new information for me. I am aware of HRT implants placed in the arm but not in the abdomen. The procedure in the arm lasts up to a few years and is much larger. I wonder if the placement and smaller size is less invasive than in the arm in regards to scarring and issues?. This sounds very promising. The more options available, the better.

[Ivy]

4 hours ago, Susan R said:

This sounds very promising. The more options available, the better.

Yeah.  I would certainly be interested is it was available to me.

For one thing, it would make it harder for the forced detransition crowd.

[Tilly]

On 6/18/2023 at 2:12 PM, AllieJ said:

Christina, I have also used Sandrena for some time, and can pass on my experiences rather than qualified medical advice. My doctor admits when he doesn't know things, and has used me as a sort of test subject at times. We tried different application techniques, and then did blood tests to see if there were differences. I was applying day and night, and used different locations each time. We tried the places recommended in the literature, and some other spots with thinner skin and more blood supply, but the blood levels were the same for each. The instructions say to spread over an area equivalent to 2 palms, and leave to dry, but I found this to be time lost waiting to dry, so we tried rubbing it in until it was almost all absorbed and only needing a couple of minutes to dry, and the blood tests results were the same.

 

We had read of higher rates of absorption from thinner skin areas, but concluded this just meant that there would be more of an initial spike in levels, but overall, not more effective. The sites recommended will absorb it all, but maybe a bit slower, which can be better as it is more even. Some people have difficulty with transdermal absorption, and need to use another cream in preparation to facilitate absorption, but I never did this so can't comment. 

 

I liked Sandrena, but needed a high dose to get the target levels, and it was a chore to apply to multiple places morning and night, so a couple of years ago we switched to implanted pellets, which I really like. (I preferred this option to injections). I am also near Melbourne, my doctor is in Geelong, and specialises in trans medicine, but admits the available knowledge is poor, so he is open to learning. 

 

Hugs,

 

Allie

 

This whole discussion has been so interesting. Everyone's contributions are adding so much. I found what you've posted here Allie really valuable.

 

A few months back my endo had to increase my Sandrena dose because my estradiol levels had dropped below the right range for some reason. I have blood tests in a few weeks so we'll see what happens. I agree that there would come a point where I'd want to look for an alternative. The pellets sound great.

[AllieJ]

29 minutes ago, Tilly said:

This whole discussion has been so interesting. Everyone's contributions are adding so much. I found what you've posted here Allie really valuable.

 

A few months back my endo had to increase my Sandrena dose because my estradiol levels had dropped below the right range for some reason. I have blood tests in a few weeks so we'll see what happens. I agree that there would come a point where I'd want to look for an alternative. The pellets sound great.

Thanks Tilly, sometimes estrogen receptors for some reason become less active, so the same dose will yield a lower blood reading. We found that pills for a short time can wake up receptors and even when stopped, the gels uptake is better. This varies for different people, but I have read many accounts of it working.

 

I'm on a UK pellet forum and the pellets there seem to only last 3 months or even less whereas my pellets have lasted 15 months on average. It must just be a difference in the pharmacy methods.

 

Hugs,

 

Allie