Ep 577 – Transdermal Transference: "I Have a Client Who . . ." Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner

A massage therapist notices that more clients are reporting their use of topical hormone medications. Somehow, this never came up in massage school. Is the massage therapist at risk for being dosed? It's possible, but it's nuanced. Listen for more information!

Resources:

Commissioner, O. of the (2021) Investigation of skin-to-skin transfer risks of topically applied transdermal hormonal drugs, FDA. FDA. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/science-research/fda-stem-outreach-education-and-engagement/investigation-skin-skin-transfer-risks-topically-applied-transdermal-hormonal-drugs (Accessed: June 3, 2026).

Could Testosterone Gel Exposure Pose Risk to Close Contacts? (2025) Medscape. Available at: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/could-accidental-exposure-testosterone-gel-risk-your-close-2025a1000qpg (Accessed: June 3, 2026).

Estradiol Gel: Uses & Side Effects (no date) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20075-estradiol-topical-gel (Accessed: June 4, 2026).

Hariri, L. and Rehman, A. (2026) "Estradiol," StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549797/ (Accessed: June 4, 2026).

Khan, S. and Sharman, T. (2026) "Transdermal Medications," StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556035/ (Accessed: June 3, 2026).

Medication Patches and Implications for Massage Therapy | ABMP (no date). Available at: https://www.abmp.com/Massage-and-Bodywork-Magazine/Issues/julyaugust-2024/medication-patches-and-implications-massage-therapy (Accessed: June 3, 2026).

Should I be worried about secondary transfer risk with testosterone gels? (no date). Available at: https://www.trted.org/articles/should-i-be-worried-about-secondary-transfer-of-my-testosterone-gel (Accessed: June 4, 2026).

Sjöström, K. et al. (2022) "A review of adverse events in animals and children after secondary exposure to transdermal hormone‐containing medicinal products," Veterinary Record Open, 9(1), p. e48. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/vro2.48.

Types of Estrogen Hormone Therapy (no date). Available at: https://www.webmd.com/menopause/which-type-of-estrogen-hormone-therapy-is-right-for-you (Accessed: June 4, 2026).

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