Where works best for HRT Patch placement?

[Diane Maple]

Please stay on topic and only answer if you use a patch and are on hrt. Thanks.

So, I started HRT yesterday. After my first shower the thing fell off. I used a new one and placed it on my back right hip instead of the front right hip where it seemed to get moved too much.

Where has worked best for you?

Thanks.

Yes, I read the other posts that it doesn't matter where... I'm asking where it stays on the best for others.

[Frances]

I put mine on my love handles. I alternate between sides. I put them on after a shower and I use alcohol to remove any soap residue. They stay on.

[Badtranny]

Hey congratulations! Welcome to the club.

I put them on my hips and butt. Your skin needs to be clean and warm for max adhesion. Then leave your hand on it for 30 seconds or so to let you hand warm up the adhesive. That should do the trick.

[Starling]

Also, try not to touch the adhesive surface or move the patch once you've placed it.

:) Lallie

[sandra-leigh]

The best place I have found is quite close to my hip bones, just far enough back that the patch is covered by my panties. Further back around on my butt sticks fairly decently as well, but do watch out in case they become visible when you crouch / kneel down.

There is a workable zone on the front center of my legs, about 3 or so inches down from the fold when you are sitting, provided that I put them on "across" instead of vertical. Further down on the inside front of the leg the patches tend to bunch up and pull at the skin as they do, and there gets to be a ratchet effect as more and more of the patch folds on itself and sticks to itself; the end result is a bunch of red marks from the pulling on the skin. On the outside front, the patches are, in my experience, more likely to work their way off rather than giving you the hickey.

Down on the outside of the hip, for me the patches just come off quite quickly.... within half an hour or so.

If the edge of your patch is right near the edge of your underwear, then the rubbing of the underwear as it moves around is likely to start lifting the edge of the patch.

One place that did not work for me was the small of the back. I had thought that should work well, but a couple of hours later the patch just fell off as a whole. That might have been related to the fact that it was quite hot and humid that day, but I think that placement just doesn't work well.

Moving the patch... I've only once been able to do that. If the patch doesn't go on flat or if it folds over on itself as you are placing it, my experience is that chances are good that you will need to change to a new patch in short order. When it happens to half fold on itself (if you are not flexing it the right direction to keep it stiff as you put it on) then it becomes junk I find (though I have never tried to trim out the folded part and use the partial patch.)

[Sandra1746]

I don't know what brand you are using but I'm on CLIMARA so weigh my comments accordingly.

I have found good adhesion on either my abdomen or buttocks but I wipe the area with alchol before applying the patch, that seems to help. Never touch the patch adhesive before application. Avoid any areas where elastic from panties or hose falls; that will loosen the patch. I've had a couple loosen and found I could reapply them and put a BIG bandaid over the patch as protection. This solution has worked for the entire week-life of a patch.

Also, from the information sheets you will find that application to the buttocks gives higher blood levels of estradiol. Maybe not important but interesting.

Good luck and best wishes,
Sandra1746

[Tammy V]

I use Vivelle Dot and they do well on my butt, hips or upper thighs. I have had some come off if they were placed right on my panty line but even then I think I didnt take the time to really press them good for a minute or so. Sometimes, but very rarely, they try to peel off in the shower.

[Diane Maple]

So, the whole coming off in the shower thing...

Do you cover it with something or take a quick shower or?

I always love taking a long hot shower... it sounds like that may need to end. :-(

Oh, and I am on Climara brand patches.

Thank you all for your responses :-)

[sandra-leigh]

I have never had one come off or even loosen in the shower. I also take hot baths (40C / 104F) with direct immersion and nothing happens. I have, though, had some come off due to the oils from a massage. I have not tried swimming (i.e., pool chemicals)

For what it is worth, the brand I am using is Sandoz.

[Nigella]

Mine are placed on the thigh and I alternate the leg on each change. Front left, front right, side left then side right, that means that my patches are always on clean, dry patch each time. A quick wipe on removal with baby oil to remove residue works fine. Never lost one yet :)

[Sandra1746]

I have never had a patch losen in the shower. I try not to scrub it hard but don't go out of my way to protect it. Rubbing by clothing is the main problem I've found.

Also, the instructions advise pressing the patch with the hand for 30 seconds to promote adhesion. I've been doing this and it may help. I think the clean and dry area rule is most important. This goes back to wiping the area with alcohol and then letting it dry completely.

Good luck,
Sandra1746

[Michelle.M]

I have used 4 different types with varying results. I'm a patient with the VA so I get issued whatever they have in the inventory, and it can be a real crap shoot.

I will say that all of these have roughly the same quality of adhesive, but that's where the similarity ends.

First, they gave me the Alon patch. It is HUGE! About the size of my hand, and kept falling off (more on that in a minute)

Then they gave me the Climara, which is about half as big. I have a problem with those staying on as well.

The reason these both seem to come off so easily is because they're so big, and unless you can find some skin that doesn't flex a lot your skin movement will wrinkle the patch, and when you shower the water seeps in and they'll fall off. I couldn't find a big enough place without too much flex for the Alon, and with the Climara the small of my back just above the panty line seems to work well.

Then they gave me the Mylan. It's about 3 inches in diameter and reminds me of a bicycle inner tube repair patch. It is NOT transparent (not wearing this one with a bikini) but it's so adhesive it'll stick to the outside of a rocket. Really, I have to use alcohol to get it off, and I can stick it anywhere.

I finally found a doctor who would prescribe me what I was using before, the Vivelle. It's small and transparent and sticks well. But the real reason it stays on is because it's small and doesn't get those wacky wrinkles in it when i move. I can put it anywhere at all, and I wear it at the front of my hip just under the space where my panties cross my hip bone. No problems at all.

[Traci Elizabeth]

I use two Climara patches at a time. I place both on one butt cheek more or less in the center of my butt cheek below the top waist band of my panties and above the where the bottom of the legs bands are even when wearing hi-rise panties or bikini panties. I never touch the inside of the patch. I remove the bottom plastic first and apply and hole for 10 seconds. Then I carefully remove the top plastic and hold for 10 mote seconds the entire patch then repeat the same process for the 2nd patch on the same butt cheek. I have never had one come off. I also take looooong hot showers and it never has been a problem.

If you have any hair on your butt, you have to shave it off because patches can not be placed over hair. That might be your problem. Also make sure you put your patches on over a pre-washed butt as patches do not do well over oily skin. I normally shower first and dry my butt really well then go about drying my hair and any other personal hygiene things I need to do then I apply the patches. By that time any moisture that was still on the skin of my butt has gone.

Good luck.

[Katelyn B]

I stick 'em where I was told to, on my tummy :), alternating sides each time I change them, and they seem to stay on fine. I use two Estradot patches at a time, peel one half of the backing off and stick that to myself, then roll the other half onto me avoiding touching the underside completely. Never lost one though on the third day after a bath I do sometimes see parts of it lifting up, but they seem to reattach once I dry out and as they'll be changed the following morning I don't let it worry me. I have found they will not stick to damp skin and that trying to ruins the patch.

[Mistybtm]

Hello Diane.
when I was using the patch I would put it near the upper center of my but cheeks under neath the belt line or on the thigh. I recently switched to the jell, I find it much easier to use and you don't get the dark ring around where the patch is. Put the Jell on wait about 5 min for it to absorb in and you are done.