I went through menopause at age 50 and developed debilitating hot flashes which left me unable to sleep more than 4 hours a night. The hot flashes also made me hyper-vigilant and anxious. My doctor finally suggested compounded bio-identical hormones after I took a medical test to determine my hormone levels (extremely low). Within 2 days, my sleep returned to normal and I felt like a new person. Several years later, I moved and a new doctor put me on traditional HRT rather than compounded hormones. My hot flashes returned and I again felt anxious with compromised sleep -- my system did not respond well to traditional HRT. After a few weeks, I changed physicians and the new doctor returned me to the compounded bio-identical hormones. Like the first time, I felt immense relief within a few days. I would not be alive if it weren't for this compounded medicine. Early on, when I was so sleep-deprived, I became suicidal. My doctor's intervention with the compounded bio-identical hormones literally saved my life. 

In 1992 I had a hysterectomy which took all of my hormones out of the picture, I was only 46....then I went on estrogen pill Premarin therapy. The doctor put me on it immediately and then I started reading up on what side effects it had and I was so upset that I had signed up for that! My mom was also on the therapy and she had most of the problems listed in the small print including Uterine Cancer and breast issues and blood clots. I had to do something to save myself from blood clots, heart problems, and cancer. I was able to find a Naturopathic physician who prescribed taking bio-identical estrogen cream which combines estrogen/progesterone and is applied on the skin. The compounding of this and DHEA cream has saved me from becoming a grumpy, dried up, foggy, muscle-less, wrinkled mess and now I am 75 and feeling great still. Please don't take away the meds we women need that don't cause me any side effects at all just the happiness that we deserve after giving up our ovaries. I still ride a bike, walk, work out, and keep my weight down.

My DEXA scans revealed 13% bone loss in a 2 year period. I chose not to take bone medications because of their numerous side effects. I found out about compounded hormones and after taking BHRT, my next DEXA scan showed no bone loss. My scans had remained the same, meaning that I had stabilized.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. I was in chemo-induced menopause within the first month. This caused numerous, miserable mental, emotional and physical side effects. I asked 2 oncologists, my gynecologist, and a Menopause Specialist for help balancing my hormones with bio-identicals. I feel that I have the right to the best medicine available to me, and there are plenty of research studies to support the safe and effective use of bio-identical hormones for numerous issues, but especially in menopause. If the FDA removes access to the compounded hormones for millions of American women, I will consider it to be not only sexist but dangerous. Compounded hormones are proven to protect women's brains, bones and hearts as they age, and they may also prevent breast cancer. My sisters are also in menopause and use bio-identical hormones (one in Indiana and one in Texas.) I have 3 daughters, and I am concerned for their future welfare in a country that does not preserve options for women to balance hormones safely through compounding.

I depend on the compounded hormones my doctor prescribes to live a normal life, due to the results of a complete hysterectomy caused by uterine cancer when I was 29.

I have used compounded bio-identical hormones since 2010, after much research and debilitating side effects from synthetic prescription hormones that I am allergic to.

Before finding the bio-identical hormones my doctor wrote me prescriptions for high cholesterol, insulin for diabetes, high blood pressure medication, anti-depression medication and pain pills.

These were all side effects of unregulated hormone balances. Cannot leave out the other side effects; hair loss, substantial weight gain, heart palpitations, brain fog, migraines, and bladder dysfunction.

Later in life, I developed Fibromyalgia and other spine/muscular issues. Again, my doctor wanted to prescribe more medications that took any quality of life away. I could not stand what was happening to me and my family as a result. I stopped all of my prescriptions and went towards a more natural route. I met with my compounding doctor and discovered as long as my hormones are balanced by checking my blood levels regularly, I can live a very normal, happy, healthy life.

I use to have very regular menstrual cycles. Like clockwork, I knew when my cycles would start. Had 2 babies and after that, my body changed. I was very moody, felt sluggish, gained weight, and found that my cycle was not on point like it use to be. I had trouble becoming pregnant due to my unpredictable cycle. My family life started to suffer due to my attitude and inability to be ME. I began taking compounded hormones that were tailored for me and it was like night and day! I was able to get pregnant again and still play with my children (and NOT snap at them over every minor thing). My husband has his wife back and our children have their mom back. I am not the only one who has experienced life-changing moments like this due to the use of compounded hormones, I'm just one of the thousands. I'm sure millions just don't know how unique they are and that standard commercially available hormones don't and can't fit everyone's needs. Please don't take this away from those of us who have had success with compounded hormones. Please don't take this option away from those who have not been able to utilize them if they need it. 

It happened very quickly. All of a sudden the hot flashes started. I couldn't sleep therefore everything else started to suffer - my work, my family, my marriage. My doctor prescribed bio-identical hormones from a compounding pharmacy and within a few days, I was my old self again. I can't imagine living without them. It took a few tries to get the dose exactly right, which we were able to do because we were working with the compounding pharmacy. If I had to buy an "off-the-shelf" product, it would not have been individualized for me.

My hysterectomy was on December 19, 2000. After that, I had constant migraines, spending 3 days each week in bed unable to function. My mental ability began to slowly decline due to brain fog and I could no longer work. I struggled to keep up with taking care of myself. Neurological symptoms of light and sound sensitivity kept me from leaving my house for anything other than essentials. After about 10 years of misery, I found a doctor and then a pharmacist who told me that cBHT was what I needed. I cautiously tried a prescription of first progesterone and then later added estradiol. I am doing well, except for the days each month when I must be off hormones. On those days I notice that all the miserable debilitating symptoms begin to return. If I can no longer get cBHT I will end up in a memory care home very quickly. Please do not allow this option to be removed.

I went through menopause naturally at 40. (My mom was 37.) Not all doctors believe you can go through menopause so early. A fellow pharmacist who was a BHRT specialist put me on BHRT. It made such a huge difference in my life, that I became a BHRT dosing expert myself and traveled the country learning from the best. I have helped thousands and thousands of patients. I know firsthand what a difference compounded hormones make for these men and women. Taking it away would be a complete travesty.

I had a hysterectomy at an early age. I was on a synthetic hormone pill for years. I always felt like it really did not do much for me. I still had hot flashes, and mood swings, and was tired all the time. I had three children and a husband that would ask me if I had taken my medication that day because I truly felt out of control at times (almost on a daily basis). I found out my sister had triple-negative breast cancer then within six months later my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I spoke with my gynecologist and he suggested I go to my local compounding pharmacy and speak with someone about the hormone cream. I made that appointment and now my family does not ask if I took my medication today because I am much happier, I feel so much better on a daily basis. This has really changed my life. Please do not take this away from people who truly rely on this medication to just get them through each day.

"The use of cBHT over the last year or so has been absolutely invaluable to me. I suffered from a traumatic experience that over time wreaked havoc on my body and hormones. I lost an ovary in 2019, which complicated my symptoms. I am extremely sensitive to medications but cBHT helped get my life and my health back on track. It is unbelievable that again our legislative system is trying to tell me how to best care for my body. This is the land of the free but because of congress dictating how people need to address sickness and disease while missing the big picture of what they can control (food system) I have lost my job and now my well-being is threatened yet again, not by an abusive person or illness but by the abusive overreach of congress."

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis 4 years ago after having my first DEXA scan. My estrogen level was 5 when it should be at least 45-50. My provider started me on compounded hormones and 2 years later, my DEXA scan showed that I no longer had osteoporosis, it had gotten better. If I had not started taking the compounded hormones, my estrogen levels would not have improved and I would still be at a greater risk of breaking bones due to osteoporosis. Compounded hormones are very important in helping women battle osteoporosis.

Prior to BHRT, I felt like a shell of my former self. Not only did I desperately need hormones, but my energy suffered greatly. Within a few short weeks of beginning therapy, my world began to change for the better. I no longer napped during the day. I became more active. The fog began to lift. Today I feel wonderful in every way. My husband is amazed at the transformation thus far. I don't know how I could live without BHRT. I feel happy and healthy, no longer dreading my 60s and beyond.

I have been using natural hormones since I was 48 years old...I'm now 76. My blood work is always excellent, as well as my health. I take no pharmaceutical drugs, I only take natural thyroid and natural hormones. When I have been asked why I look so young, I say: I eat healthily and exercise, but the number one thing is I take natural hormones. When I see all the drugs advertised on TV with all their dreadful side effects, why would I want to take unnatural pharmaceutical hormones? 

At age 40, I was diagnosed with PMDD and Perimenopause. I was prescribed generic birth control. When it was discontinued, I could not get my prescription filled and went several months without it. During that time, my body started breaking down. Joint pain, brain fog, and fatigue were just a few of my problems. I felt twice my age!! I, fortunately, found a fantastic gynecologist who advocates for bio-identicals that are compounded specifically to my body's needs. It has been a life-saver for me!! I feel like my transition through menopause has been more natural and less devastating to my body and mind. Women deserve the option of more natural medicines for their bodies during an already difficult life change.

I started going through menopause at age 39. After years of research and discussions with my primary care physician and specialists about what type of HRT to use along with the pros and cons, I elected to go with bio-identical hormones years later in 2004. I chose this method of Hormone Replacement Therapy because I felt they were the safest for my body and gave me what my body ACTUALLY NEEDED, vs. taking a generic pill prescribed by my doctor that wouldn't have exactly what my body needed. Since then my quality of life has improved greatly and that's why I continue to use them and hope to do this throughout the remainder of my years here on earth!

Many Doctors feel that HRT is only needed while you are "symptomatic" for a season of time for something obvious like hot flashes, which is what my primary care physician told me.

However, properly prescribed HRT should be an option for people as an ongoing benefit throughout the aging process as men and women find a decline in these hormones as we age. HRT benefits memory, poor sleep, sexual desire, etc. When our hormones are in balance, we feel better, and shouldn't that be our goal to live as healthy of a life as is possible for as long as we can?

I'm grateful for the opportunity to use compounded hormones!

Menopause has a lot of awful symptoms. After hormone therapy, my hot flashes disappeared. Both my headaches and dry eyes left. I have had no adverse effects at all while taking hormones. They have only improved my health and well-being.

Compounded hormones keep me balanced both mentally and physically. They improve my sleep, prevent brain fog, and help with overall vitality. I’m sure there are days that I couldn’t function at work without the compounded hormones. These hormones are prepared for me by a compounding pharmacy with my physician’s prescriptions, based on my individual hormone levels. I have no need for one size fits all from the pharmaceutical companies.

The prescription dosage on both my bio-identical estrogen and testosterone creams prescribed to me by my doctor are only available through a compounding pharmacist.
To take anything else would be detrimental to my health. I trust my doctor and my compounding pharmacist. I do not want to take any additional dosage that is not necessary and therefore compounding pharmacists are VITAL.