I am 70 years of age and have been using compounded hormones for seven years. This has lifted my mild depression, increased agility, and ability to keep excess weight off are the top health benefits I have achieved in addition to all the other adjunctive benefits I receive. I had tried FDA-approved hormone therapy and my body could not tolerate it, I had bloating, an inability to keep weight off, and was mainly just tired all the time.
As I move through my senior years I would most definitely say these compounded hormones have allowed me to exercise daily and enjoy my life with vigor and vitality.

I had been struggling for years. So many doctors, NP’s, you name it… nobody really knew how to help appropriately. After searching for yet another practitioner last year, I stumbled across a fantastic NP. Not only did she address my hormone issues, she knew so much more about how the body processes these hormones in other ways. Testosterone cream and progesterone capsules from a compound pharmacy has changed my existence. I feel amazing, I sleep better, I have a better attitude. All this happened with compounded hormones. Natural is always my go to and I trust it. I would encourage all ladies who struggle to seek out a good practitioner and get on the bio-identical hormone train. A game changer.

The story goes back to giving birth to my second and last child in 1977. Oh my goodness. I’m just now wondering if this is the cause for my son's low self esteem since age 5. Will leave this part of the story here and focus on my hormone treatment replacement (HRT). If this is the story you are looking for. I received treatment for a bad case of PMS. My OBGYN doctor in the 80s started prescribing compounded hormones and stopped when he retired in 2018. The medication did more than treat my hormone imbalance. I looked younger and had yet to suffer from the need for treatment of other organs breaking down or health issues. Yes, a rare case of staying young looking until now I’m falling apart physically yet still have no organ ailments, looking older, and suffering mental abuse for my extraordinary energy. Sudden loss of weight now exasperated by homelessness since April 2022. This is my dilemma and predicament caused by, I am sure, missing my HRT.

Last April, I began working with a functional medicine doctor for the treatment of my hypothyroidism and related health issues. She prescribed a compounded cream, to be applied to my arm or face containing estradiol, estriol, and progesterone. It has dramatically benefitted my memory, overall cognitive function, and mood. It's essential for my health and professional success to continue using this medicine. Severely restricting access to compounded medication would be an outrageous, corrupt, and anti-scientific development! We must stop the NASEM panel's biased judgment to hold sway, depriving millions of the medicines they need to be well.

As a mother of 6 children, I felt our family wasn’t complete. After months of trying to get pregnant and regulating my hormones to have a healthy cycle by compound hormones we conceived! We were overjoyed! For several years I worked with my doctor to decrease PMS symptoms and lengthen my luteal phase. Finally, both occurred and positive HCG appeared. Shortly after I started spotting. Knowing my low progesterone during cycles we suspected the same during pregnancy. This was confirmed by a blood test. I immediately started my compound progesterone. After no monthly blood test and many scripts of compounded progesterone, I made it to 40 weeks. Healthy mom and baby. I’m so grateful my doctor had this option for me and my child. Please reconsider removing this vital option for women’s care.

In 2004, I was having serious anxiety and other menopausal issues, I could barely function at work and in other daily activities. I thought I was going crazy! Then I found my wonderful doctor who prescribed cBHT and over time I felt human again! (I am still on cBHT 18 years later) If this medical option is taken it would be devastating! It's our right to choose don't take that away from us!!!

Hormones have changed my life for the better. When I went into menopause my whole life tipped upside down. I had weight gain, depression, hot flashes, fatigue, brain fog, and decreased libido which was not good for my marriage, and no productivity at work. Within just a few months of therapy, my symptoms were gone. My medication is dosed specifically to me and my symptoms. Due to what I went through I got involved with hormone therapy. I have so many men and women that hormones have changed their life drastically. Removing compounded hormones would be disastrous to our patients. This should not be allowed to occur. PATIENTS should have a choice to where they get their medications from. 

I started cBHT over 25 years ago. I was on synthetic estrogen (Estratest). My body could not adjust to this medication. It was either too much or not enough. Too much caused me to have extremely oily skin which cause large oil cyst on my forehead to the point I had to have them removed surgically . I became estrogen dominant, which causes many health issues.
So I began my quest to find something that was more healthy for me. I read and searched for over 2 years and educated myself about the Bio-Identical Hormones. Found a good Doctor who worked with me too get the right dosage and I have been healthy ever since.
I am now 78 years old and I look 50 years old.
I do a suppository each night that has exactly what I need to keep me feeling young and healthy. Do not deprive me of this.

I honestly don’t know where our lives would be without hormone therapy. Unbalanced hormones caused problems for both myself and my husband. People just want to feel good and look good…….what is wrong with that? Once my hormones got so messed up, it caused serious depression, and I never want to experience that again if I can help it. Hormones equal LIFE, without balanced hormones, we both would be lost.

I have been on Bio-Identical Hormones for the past 20 years and feel GREAT! I see other women tolerating the night sweats, weight gain, and other related symptoms of menopause and am glad I found these. I would (and do) recommend this to all my friends. I thank our compounding pharmacies for their knowledge and expertise in this area.

Last summer I experienced severe depression, was tested, and found out I was hypothyroid. My doctor prescribed WP Thyroid (bovine-derived), and I was completely back to normal in just a month, with NO side effects, except for finally feeling normal. Recently, my bloodwork indicated low thyroid again, and I was told that WP is no longer available!!! I panicked but found NP Thyroid which is also a bovine source. I feel it's really important to have natural sources/help for the thyroid, given the numerous stories I hear from my friends who are taking synthroid -- each one of them experiencing extreme frustration because consistent levels are almost impossible to achieve. Medicine is an art, and patients should have a variety of ALL options!

This will be the short version since the story involved the better part of a decade. The first ten years after having my thyroid ablated was sheer hell! Somewhere around the ten-year mark, I learned that there was something called compounded slow-release liothyronine sodium..as opposed to the fast-release liothyronine sodium known mainly as Cytomel. Even the combination brands such as Armour Thyroid, which contains both T4 and T3 of a porcine origin, did not work for me due to the high T3 to T4 ratio in it. Multi-dosing, as often suggested, did not help, not with Armour, nor with any other T3 or T4/T3 med. When I started off on just 3 micrograms of slow-release Liothyronine Sodium (T3), within 24 to 48 hours, I felt I miraculously was given my life back!! I can not be without the addition of the slow-release pure powder Liothyronine sodium. I am extremely sensitive to it and even after an additional decade, I only need 6 micrograms every 12 hours or twice daily to maintain health and quality of life. Not 5 mcg, and not 7 mcg, but precisely six micrograms. I even tried using Cytomel thru one insurance company because it was free of charge, only to become totally off track after a few short weeks which took me months to undo and get back into a steady state after going back onto my one source of Liothyronine that actually works for me. If this were taken away, it would be nothing short of catastrophic for me!

I seriously cannot be without my hormones. I was losing hair, having more migraines, and fatigue was so bad I was more depressed than not.
I feel so much better on a dose that is made just for me and not on a one size fits all prescription.
Please leave our compound pharmacies alone and let them and our personal doctors personalize our medications.
It's the right thing to do.

10 years ago my gynecologist prescribed a compounded bio-identical hormone cream to relieve my raging menopause symptoms. No more hot flashes, waking up in the middle of the night, not to mention mood swings, and all that goes with that. My pharmacist compounds this into a cream and it is safe and effective. Please don’t let the government take this away

6 years ago I went to a gynecologist who prescribed me the bio-identical hormones. It took a year to get the right mix and I had labs checked every 3 months. I was feeling so much better, no more hot flashes or insomnia last year, that he recommended I take a break and reevaluate

I have been having constant night sweats again insomnia and brain fog I am now 66 I have returned to these hormones they are my only choice
Synthetic hormones are where studies show cancer
I do not want cancer and I need my life back

Depression, hot flashes, lost sleep, and anxiety were part of my struggle. Blood work uncovered how off the charts my hormones were. Within 6 weeks, and my doctor's prescription accuracy, the compound turned my life and level of happiness around. It is infuriating that something so beneficial is under threat by our government. I have an idea.....redirect the time, energy, and resources to the opiate epidemic

I am a trauma survivor. I spent many years recovering from catastrophic events that happened in my adolescence and young adulthood. In the past, I had been diagnosed as having severe PTSD and anxiety disorder. You would not know it to speak with me. Over the years I worked through my issues and developed coping skills and am now successful in my field and have developed rewarding healthy relationships. Menopause threatened to take that away from me. When I was 50 I began to experience anxiety again. Insomnia, which is a trigger for me, became a common occurrence. When this began to affect my quality of life, depression set in. I began to lose my ability to cope with small daily upsets. Working with my GYN office, I tried multiple prescription preparations. The side effects of the FDA-approved medications made it impossible for me to take them. Patches caused migraines, anxiety, and heart palpitations - even at the lowest dose. Oral estrogen caused nausea, insomnia, and extremely sore breasts. Estrogen gel also caused migraines and rapid uncontrolled thoughts. During this period of trial and error, I became depressed and somewhat suicidal. Events of the past that I had worked hard to 'reframe' began resurfacing in a negative light. This was a frightening time for me. I am unable to take antidepressants and have tried many in the course of my life. Best case they were ineffective, worst case the side effects were intolerable. I also did not want to spend my life in a chemical straight jacket experiencing the usual side effects such as loss of sex drive and weight gain. Developing copy skills over time and managing symptoms through counseling and group therapy gave me the relief I needed and the tools necessary to live a rewarding life. Menopause threatened to take this away from me. All my usual methods to deal with stress and past events were no longer working.

I'd like to add at this point that I was initially frightened of compounded hormones. For financial reasons, it made sense to try HRT which would be covered under insurance. When none of the medications worked, out of desperation I tried hormone pellets and other compounded hormones. I was given what is considered a low-dose pellet of estrogen. Within two weeks I began to feel normal. At the end of two months, the depression lifted and I was able to regain the perspective I had lost. It has not been a particularly easy road. I am also unable to take oral progesterone. How this is considered 'safer' by the FDA is beyond me. It's my understanding that this medication causes extreme drowsiness in many women and is unavailable at lower doses. I am currently using compounded progesterone suppositories to protect my uterus. Since testosterone pellets don't come in a small enough dose for me, I use compounded testosterone that keeps my levels within normal range. I have labs drawn multiple times a year.

I am by my own admission a sensitive person. The one size fits all format of allopathic medicine did not work for me. I have no doubt that if these hormones are removed from the market I will face the same suicidal feelings. In essence, this would be akin to being 'victimized' a second time. I will be unable to work and do the things I enjoy in life.

It's truly terrifying to me that this is being considered. Please consider all sides before making your decision. This may mean life or death to many individuals. Our quality of life and our literal lives are in your hands.

Prior to starting my HRT journey with compounded hormones, I was a mess mentally and physically. My doctor started me on my current regimen provided by a compounding pharmacy, and I haven’t felt this good in a long dang time. Please don’t take this away from us.

My estrogen mix has eliminated hot flashes and aids in lubrication. The progesterone gives me a good night's sleep, aids in energy, and better moods without anxiety.