I am a person living with MS. Synthetic medications have caused me great complications; including numbness, stiffness in my joints, migraines, headaches, muscle weakness, nausea, swelling, increased fatigue, and brain fog. Upon the use of compounded hormone prescriptions, the brain fog, nausea, and migraines immediately went away. I no longer suffer from constant nausea and migraines. The numbness in my feet is improving daily and the swelling in my ankles has decreased and continues to improve daily. I feel more mobility in my joints on a daily basis, and it is no longer painful for me to take steps. I am able to walk unassisted and feel that I am finally leading a normal life.

I tried the synthetic hormones and I had a bad reaction when I did. To me, the bio-identical hormone issue is a matter of life or death. My life would be miserable without bio-identical hormones!

I have a rare disease. One aspect of my disease is Prolific Lipoma Growth, they have roots, that grow into the nerves, and the pain can be excruciating. With already existing pain of Fibrocystic Breast problems all my life, these natural hormones help the lipoma pain in my breasts

I had a hysterectomy when I was 13 due to sepsis. They left one ovary that wasn't infected; back then healthcare professionals felt that was enough to provide me with the hormones I needed. Unfortunately, my ovary stopped doing its thing in my late teens/my early twenties, catapulting me into a roller-coaster of physical and emotional turmoil. Doctors tried giving me birth control pills, synthetic estrogen, etc. and the side effects were even worse than without them.

I finally saw a naturopath who did a full blood panel, diagnosed me with early menopause, and put me on bio-identical hormones. After several weeks, the difference was profound. My mood improved, I had energy, and overall felt balanced again (or maybe for the first time!).

I have taken bio-identical hormones now for about 20 years, and my health has never been better. I don't know why this treatment is under siege, but I implore lawmakers to consider the impact of losing this therapy on many patients who rely on compounded hormones to feel good and live a normal, healthy life.

My symptoms started when I went into menopause 7 years ago... when I lost my hormones, I also lost my ability to sleep. It was very serious, I was becoming diabetic despite eating well, not consuming sugar, limiting carbohydrates, and exercising. My cholesterol shot up to over 300. I was gaining weight for the first time in my life. I was only sleeping about 3 hours a night even though I was in the bed for 9 hours. I started taking bio-identical hormones last May and I am now sleeping about 7 hours of good quality sleep a night and all my body functions are steadily improving. I can also say that if it weren't for the bio-identical hormones I don't think I would have lived much longer, and surely not in good health.

I am a (retired) physician and a patient, with experience on both ends of the prescribing encounter. As a patient, my need for hormone therapy surfaced about 18 years ago when symptoms of Androgen Deficiency Syndrome (ADS) became evident. (This was probably caused by chemotherapy for B-cell lymphoma in 1992, therapy which affected my reproductive system along with other side effects). Initially, I was started on a prescription for a major drug company's T-gel, but its expense was excessive and obtaining insurance coverage full of hoops and barriers. After a few months, my physician gave me a prescription for a compounded hormone product, which, although uncovered by insurance, was many times more accessible and much more reasonable in cost, even when paying full price out-of-pocket. It has proven to be every bit as effective clinically: my daily experience of symptom relief from ADS and my measured testosterone levels attest to the success I've had with compounded testosterone products over the last ~18 years. The loss of the ability to continue with this successful therapeutic regimen would impose a new and significant health and financial burdens on me.
The oversight and guidance of the FDA are necessary and appropriate in many cases, but my experience strongly suggests that this is not one of them. If the FDA decides to restrict hormone compounding, I will be the one to suffer the negative consequences.
Please do not interfere with my long-standing successful therapy!

When I started to go through perimenopause my gynecologist offered a commercial contraceptive that caused my symptoms to worsen. When on the synthetic progestins and combo estrogens I had panic attacks, hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia. My doctor prescribed me bio-identical progesterone cream that they were able to tailor for me. My symptoms improved 100% after taking it. I needed what was considered "low dose" compared to what is commercially available. Commercial forms of these meds are all high doses and if you are like me with a COMT gene polymorphism then the high dose of hormones causes severe panic attacks and makes the symptoms of perimenopause worse. I hope that whoever is reading this can understand that we need options that are not ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL. Some of us need an option that can be tailored down. Please consider this when evaluating the need for alternatives vs. commercial hormones.

I have suffered from hot flashes and night sweats since the onset of menopause. After a year and a half of sleepless nights and exhausting work days, I decided to no longer struggle to "adjust" to life with a hormone deficiency. Since most physicians warn against the use of synthetic hormones (cancer risks), I chose compounded bio-identical hormone therapy. It has improved my sleep, my energy, and my life. After seven years on cBHT, I am healthy and active. I really cannot and would not want to lose the benefits of this medication.

In my early 30's, I began to experience a radical decline in all health variables (cognitive, emotional, and physical health). With the assistance of bio-identical hormones, I was able to restore my ability to function at an acceptable level, both in my private home life and my career.

As mental health therapist, I've collaboratively assisted numerous clients to seek appropriate physician guidance for bio-identical hormonal support and clinically witnessed their significant health progress as a result.

I am astounded at the mere idea of removing this immense quality of life-giving medicine, as the sheer volume of Americans it would affect negatively in doing so, is tragic to consider.

Until we've adequately addressed and resolved the causal issues creating the decline in natural hormone functions, it is significantly negligent to consider removing the only tool we currently have to achieve hormonal balance as we age.

I went into menopause at age 39. The synthetic hormone replacement therapy pills my doctor prescribed to me were not helping. Then a friend told me about the bio-identical pellets that she was using and I tried them. After several weeks, I felt like myself again and the swings between lack of energy, depression, and volatility of my emotions were gone. The cBhT is all-natural and plant-based, so it's naturally healthy for our bodies and should continue to be offered. In my opinion, it should be the primary source for HRT, since it is all-natural. Please save cBhT compounding pharmacies. Thank you.

I got my thyroid prescriptions filled at the regular pharmacy. Within a few days, I decided to look up the ingredients in them. I was horrified at the list of ingredients in them and the known side effects they cause. It's disgusting what unnecessary ingredients they put into medications. I quickly stopped taking them and contacted my doctor to tell him I needed another prescription that didn’t have all the harmful ingredients in them. He quickly called in another prescription to the compounding pharmacy this time. When I picked them up the ingredients were listed on the inserts. Wow, what a difference. Only about 3-4 ingredients in each prescription versus 10-12 from the pharmaceutical pharmacy. I love my compounding pharmacy. Medications without the extra ingredients that cause us harm. I will never take pharmaceutical medications, ever….

I have experienced positive results using compounded hormones. They are easy to use, agree with my body, and have not caused negative side effects. When I tried other hormone prescription medications from my primary care physician, I had issues, and the estradiol cream that is inserted vaginally caused my fibroid cysts to grow larger.
Since using the compounds, I have not experienced vaginal dryness, mood swings, hot flashes, and menopausal symptoms so severely. It has made the transition much easier. I have used both cream and Lozenge or troche. The cream works best.

After spending the first half of my career in a conventional retail pharmacy and seeing the vicious cycle of "take one prescription drug for this condition then take another prescription drug because drug one caused side effects," I was blown away when I heard the first woman tell me after starting compounded hormones, "Thank you for giving me my life back." In 18 years, I have heard that so many times, and it just reaffirms my decision to become a pharmacist and help people get well, something I didn't truly see in the conventional pharmacy setting. We have helped tens of thousands of men and women get their lives back through the use of compounded BHRT. You cannot and you must not take access to compounded hormones away from them!

I started taking bio-identical hormonal replacement in menopause secondary to muscle wasting, cognitive issues, genitourinary problems, and sleep disturbances. It has improved my daily life considerably. As a patient/consumer, I should have the right to choose what I want to put in my body. I have worked closely with my compounding pharmacist who is meticulous and adjusts based on my personal symptoms and lab results.

I am a user of compounded pharmaceuticals and it has saved my life and my career. I was falling asleep at my desk at work before finally hearing of compounding for my own body's needs. I found a competent physician and had my blood work done and found out what I was missing. Within months I was back to myself again. I can't imagine living without them.

There is no way one general script can be used on all patients. Sometimes you need a specific compounding for your specific needs.

I am an advocate for compounding. These compounds mean everything to my life.

I have suffered from hormone imbalance since perimenopause for about 18 years. My menopausal symptoms were so severe that I had been taking estrogen pill supplements for many years. These supplements provided some relief to my symptoms, but it was not until my new doctor did extensive testing and prescribed compounded hormones that my symptoms significantly improved. My brain function has greatly improved, and I feel physically better. Compounded hormones are an ESSENTIAL therapy for me, and I am VERY concerned that my access to that therapy might be restricted or eliminated completely. That is how essential I believe this therapy is to me, and how much I want to retain normal health.

Exhaustion, sleepless nights, sweats, and mood swings are all a thing of the past since I started using compounded hormones. The thought of not having compounded pharmaceuticals brings fear!

Compounded bio-identical hormones have saved my life. They regulated my period and helped my ovarian cysts, as well as helped me improve my overall energy. My bloodwork has never been better! Don't take these away-- traditional medications only worsen my life. Bio-Identical hormones saved me!

As a pharmacist, as well as being a patient myself, I have seen so many lives completely changed by compounded hormone replacement therapy. Our patients get their lives back.