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). Host Bio:               Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner's books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.c