I'm very disappointed to hear that once again, the FDA is signaling that it may consider new restrictions on compounded hormones.
I have been using bio-identical hormones for around 16 years, following a complete hysterectomy that brought on Menopause. Until I started using the compounded hormones, my quality of life was terrible. The hot flashes I suffered, as well as the night sweats, lack of sleep, and brain fog were things I wouldn't wish on anyone.
AND I'm a breast cancer, estrogen dominant, survivor, of 18 years. Studies have found that natural progesterone inhibits estrogen-stimulated breast epithelial cells and downregulates estrogen alpha receptors in breast tissue. It may even arrest human cancer cells.
I use bi-est, progesterone, testosterone. The compounds are the closest thing to the hormones created in my own body.
Without these bio-identicals, as an aging woman, I would have a crappy quality of life. And the last thing I'd want to take would be estrogen made from the urine of mares, that the pharmaceutical companies manufacture, which has been found to cause all kinds of problems for women.
The fact that for all of the years that bio-identical hormones have been made available by compounding pharmacies, the FDA has been fighting this, and as a result insurance companies refuse to cover the expenses, leads me to believe the FDA is taking money from Pharmaceutical companies. They stand to benefit if compounding pharmacies no longer exist... and the health of millions of women --- and men, as well as the livelihood of the pharmacists and their employees at the compounding pharmacies, will be at severe risk.
PLEASE, don't take compounding pharmacies or my bio-identical hormones away. The FDA should stop citing reports from NASEM that they asked to be skewed for their benefit.
Sincerely,
Andrea