I am 48 years old. At age 20, I developed Vulvodynia. Specif...

04.13.2021

Washington Seattle 98296

“I am 48 years old. At age 20, I developed Vulvodynia. Specif...”

I am 48 years old. At age 20, I developed Vulvodynia. Specifically, Vestibulodynia. It took me 16 years to get an accurate diagnosis. I suffered for years. Terrible, horrible, daily 24/7 pain. I took birth control pills on and off for over 10 years. These FDA approved pills is what led to the vulvar pain, and my doctor never told me this could be caused by using them. They can block estrogen and testosterone receptors in the vulvar skin. Although I stopped taking the pill, that was not enough to help the severe pain. I needed estrogen and testosterone applied topically on the vulvar skin, in order for it to heal and to unblock those hormone receptors. The only way to get the correct balance is through using compounded estrogen and testosterone in a soothing gel base, so as not to further irritate the skin. There is currently nothing on the market for those of us with Vulvodynia. We need tailored, individual dialing in of hormones to be relieved of excruciating pain. Restricting, or discontinuing the ability for patients like me to receive prescriptions for specifically tailored hormones would be detrimental. I spent years seeking help for pain, pain that is now under control by using my topical, compounded estrogen and testosterone. If I were to stop using the compounded medications, the pain would return. Restricting compounded medications would cause many people to suffer, myself included. Please do not take a patients right to receive individualized care.

Hear their stories. Protect their own words. Protect their access to compounded medicines.

On this page, we can only touch on the data that demonstrates the importance of compounded medicines to the lives of millions of people in this country. While the decision to take this vital therapy from patients and physicians might be profitable for big pharmaceutical companies, it will be disastrous for the millions of patients that those same pharmaceutical companies cannot serve!

We encourage the appropriate committees in both the House and Senate to hold hearings on this critical issue.

Explore our interactive map that demonstrates the importance of compounded medicines to patients all across the country. Filter these first-hand accounts by state to see just how vital compounded medicines are.