Dosage Comparison: Weekly Transdermal Estradiol
You are getting 33% more estradiol by switching from 0.075 mg weekly to 0.05 mg twice weekly (0.1 mg total weekly).
Simple Calculation
The dosage difference is straightforward arithmetic:
- Original regimen: 0.075 mg once weekly = 0.075 mg total per week 1
- New regimen: 0.05 mg twice weekly = 0.1 mg total per week 1
- Difference: 0.1 mg - 0.075 mg = 0.025 mg additional per week
- Percentage increase: (0.025 ÷ 0.075) × 100 = 33.3% increase 1
Clinical Context for Transdermal Estradiol Dosing
Standard adult maintenance doses for transdermal estradiol patches range from 50-200 mcg/day (0.05-0.2 mg/day), which translates to 0.35-1.4 mg per week for twice-weekly application schedules 1, 2. Your new total weekly dose of 0.1 mg (100 mcg) falls well within the lower end of recommended adult dosing ranges 1.
The twice-weekly application schedule is standard for most transdermal estradiol patches, as they are designed to deliver consistent hormone levels over 3-4 days 3. This avoids the first-pass hepatic metabolism seen with oral formulations and maintains more physiologic estradiol levels 3.
Important Considerations
For women with an intact uterus, progestin must be added (typically 100-200 mg micronized progesterone daily for 12-14 days every 28 days) to reduce endometrial cancer risk 1, 2.
The actual delivered dose depends on proper patch application and adherence to the twice-weekly schedule 4. Local skin irritation is the most common adverse effect with transdermal preparations 3.