I began taking birth control pills at about age 35 because m...

04.13.2021

California Huntington Beach

“I began taking birth control pills at about age 35 because m...”

I began taking birth control pills at about age 35 because my natural menstrual cycles were emotionally awful from ovulation to menstruation. After a total hysterectomy and oophorectomy at age 50 (for fibroid tumors and excessive bleeding) I decided to change from oral to topical estrogen to reduce my risk for complications associated with oral estrogen. My husband was an endocrinologist and I am a nurse practitioner. Since the only source of non-oral estrogen is injection or oral, I chose oral. The only source of topical estrogen is compounding pharmacies. I cannot use vaginal creams because of allergic reactions to every cream or suppository I tried. I must use vaginal estrogen cream because the surgical mesh used for my pelvic repair came through the vaginal mucous membranes when I reduced the dose of estrogen cream. I am now 87 years old. Unlike my similarly aged friends who do not take estrogen, my back is straight, my joints do not hurt, and I walk on my treadmill at least 10 miles a week. I hope that my compounded estrogen cream remains available for me.

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.