I have relied on compounded hormones for many years approved by my gynecologist. They keep me at an even level helping my sleep pattern, mood swings, and overall well-being with no side effects. Having had a hysterectomy at an early age hormones can be thrown into a tailspin.

When talking with my former GP about symptoms and how much my life had changed for the worse she always began her response with, "A woman your age......." and ended with, "Not much we can do for you." The best she could offer was birth control or synthetic hormone replacement, with terrible side effects and scary outcomes! Imagine how life-changing it was when I found the Happy Hormone Cottage which actually listened to me and offered extensive testing for hormone levels before prescribing the compounded hormone creams I have been using for almost 2 years now. I feel normal again, despite being a "woman my age"! I could not imagine a life without the compounded hormone creams and the physicians who prescribe them! Live savers!

I’ve been on compounded hormones for 13 years and they have been life-changing. I had terrible menopausal symptoms that started around age 50. I was unable to sleep and unable to function as a result. Within three days of starting Bioidentical Hormones, my symptoms improved. I continued taking BHRT for the next 12 years. I felt human again! At age 62 I thought I would stop BHRT and see what life would be like without it. Within about 10 months I had complete vaginal atrophy that was painful. I no longer felt like myself with extreme fatigue and little zest for life. Two months ago I contacted my prior provider and went back on BHRT. What a difference! Once again I feel alive! I can’t imagine going through the rest of my life without the BHRT! In my case, it was a lifesaver. I am so grateful that bio-identical hormones are available to all who need them. We must keep it this way!

April 2022
As an overall vibrant young wife and mother of 2, in 1994 at the age of 40, I had to undergo a complete hysterectomy. I was not aware of what my body was going to need from that point on, no longer having ovaries. My gynecologist put me on some type of synthetic birth control pills that needed to be changed and/or adjusted over several years due to intolerance. It was during that time, that medical news was being broadcast that women could have an increase of cancer using estrogen and medical doctors reacted. My gynecologist dialed my birth control pill dosage way back and of course, I had no idea what physical consequences would lie ahead for me. Slowly over time, I began to get mood changes and depression. I noticed my skin began to change and show signs of a much older woman...and I was only 49. My own mother had hormonal difficulties, but her generation didn't understand to get proper treatment.
I decided a good beginning course of action would be to have a comprehensive medical exam with a female Internal MD and a discussion of the adverse symptoms and physical changes taking place in me. These awful symptoms were affecting my home-life relationships and making work more difficult. As I said, I was a healthy woman who took good care of myself and ate healthily, and the only thing this doctor did for me is hand me a prescription for Xanax, which made no sense since I was a calm person who rarely even took pain relievers let alone something so foreign as Xanax. The first thing that came to my thoughts was...."that RX was only a bandaid and would offer no improvement for what I went to her for in the first place". I walked out and drove home with lost faith & trust in the standard medical community for this particular problem needed to be properly diagnosed and treated. I was intelligent to know Xanax would have NO positive effect and I ripped it up and into the trash it went.
I began to do some of my own extensive research using what I was dealing with, and at that time more was known about the importance and need to balance progesterone along with estrogen. Finally, in 2006 I was given the name of a pharmacist friend of a doctor who left her medical practice to begin an alternative holistic care practice. She had furthered her schooling and had a vast understanding of hormones and nutrition. She started with cortisol and bloodwork testing to determine what was going on with me. Lab results revealed I was severely imbalanced and deprived of basic necessary hormones a woman needed and my body was not able to produce them. It was the reason why over several years the severe symptoms I was dealing with became unbearable for me and my body was prematurely showing signs of aging.
She believed the best and most effective way to treat was not with synthetics, but with a natural compounded progesterone & estradiol using a lunar calendar schedule to be applied transdermally. Beginning a treatment protocol of natural compounded hormones gave me back a new balance and healthier life. My husband and family are witnesses to how I got my active productive life back with them and others.
YOU NEED to walk in someone else's shoes with the same debilitations....and then find out how something as simple as compounded hormones, or other compounded meds needed by others, can change health without any addictive dangerous medications or narcotics. It has been 16 years since I started compounded hormone replacement treatment. I am tested regularly to verify my levels stay in a healthy range. My dear husband and I just celebrated our 49th anniversary and I am a healthy happy 69 years young!
My normal life depends on compounded hormones....and so do hundreds of others. My story and voice count!!!

The hormone prescribed by my doctor was expensive. Even with Medicare and a supplement, the co-pays were higher than I could afford for prolonged care. I tried to compensate by taking the hormone less often with predictable results - it didn't work well and my symptoms worsened.

My urologist then referred me to a compounding pharmacy which has filled the prescription at a lower cost so that I can afford to take it as directed and my health has improved significantly. Prescriptions have been filled accurately and promptly. I am grateful.

Well, I have had Lyme disease for 11 years, and it has changed my life in so many ways. About six years ago I had a Hysterectomy because I was so worn out when I'd get my period. My periods were so painful. Before that happened I was taking a lot of prescriptions for Lyme disease and had two miscarriages. Now I take hormone replacements from the Apothecary here in Sartell Minnesota. I feel so much better, I'm way more balanced. I take a compound prescription also for inflammation which has helped me a ton because I have so many allergies to pain meds my body can't handle them. Plus when I have taken them I can't go to the bathroom. I also have all of my large intestines on my left side and have ended up in the ER several times because I can't get to the bathroom. I also have a thyroid condition. The Apothecary has helped me in so many ways, oh, and just an FYI this is not covered by insurance I pay for this out of pocket, and happy to do so to improve my quality of life...

I have been using compounded hormone therapy for two years. I’m going through menopause and the natural hormones have helped me a great deal with all of the hormone imbalances I’ve been going through. Prior to seeing my nurse practitioner who prescribed me the naturally compounded hormones, all of the OBGYN advice I ever got was to just go on the birth control pill. I never wanted to do that as I know they’re synthetic and act more as a band-aid masking the underlying problems I was having. I’m so grateful for these compounded hormones and I implore you not to put mandates that will close pharmacies that make and distribute them for people like me. Please!

My compounded HRT has made a massive difference in my life. It has prevented the osteoporosis in my family and kept my brain cells working well.
When I had knee surgery five years ago my Orthopaedic surgeon said I have among the strongest bones he's ever seen on a woman, let alone one my age. I was 58 at the time. He attributed that in large part to the compounded cream I've been using since menopause.
I do not want to lose access to that which keeps me healthy and strong!

I have been using compounded bioidentical hormones for over 10 years. They have done wonders for my health. I feel years younger. More importantly, my health is excellent for my age. These hormones have kept my bones strong and improved my mood and vaginal health. I have never had a bad reaction while using them. My practitioner evaluates me yearly to make sure the dosage is correct for my specific needs. Please do not take this valuable therapy away from women like me.

I need these hormones for post-menopausal therapy. The non-compounded options are five times as expensive, and my insurance does not cover any of them.

I had a hysterectomy in 1995 and had horrible arthritis as a result. I was advised to use Premarin but they made my throat close up. I was put on patches etc but they did not work. Finally, my GYN recommended compounded hormones. I've used them ever since. A few attempts at cutting back or stopping have resulted in inflammation and arthritis so bad that I could not walk. Why would you want to stop such a useful and well-researched medication?

It got to the point where they would happen every 20 minutes. My HMO dr wouldn't even test me for hormones because she told me the HRT just causes cancer. I was also tired all the time - they tested my thyroid and my TSH was 5.4 and they wouldn't even do anything about it. I went to a functional medicine doctor, started on troche hormones and my TSH went down to 3.4 and things started going better. PLEASE don't take this away from us!

The compounded hormones give the ability for a prescription to be made custom fit to just me and no one else. I believe this to be extremely important in maintaining optimal health. My practitioner and pharmacist worked on getting the right dosage just for me. That is not possible with non-compounded estrogen.

Having my thyroid compounded specifically to what my body needs are essential to the healthy function and balance of my hormones. It allows tweaking the different T3 and T4 when needed, whereas traditional pharmacies have limited options leaving me in an unbalanced state. For 20 years I have paid for my own compounding meds out of pocket and I resent the government intrusion into areas they have no business or expertise. It's my body, not yours. We vote you in to represent us the people not represent you, your pockets, and that of big Pharma lobbyists. The FDA had no trouble allowing the government to push and force people to take experimental gene therapy under the protection of the EUA, or lose their jobs. The FDA didn't approve, investigate or require reporting of adverse reactions for an experimental vaccine that we have no idea of the future repercussions, but all of a sudden they want to restrict critical hormone therapies that have worked for decades? Because 45% of the FDA's budget is paid for by pharmaceutical companies. And let's not forget that the NASEM has been known to receive money from Biotech companies making any of their reports biased as well as paid for as well. It's shameful for you to take away my rights and representation and then dictate my medical care based on the contributions and interests of rich and powerful corporations that crush the little people. Who will hear our voices?

Struggled with fibrocystic issues numerous breast lumps with constant checks for cancer. All of that plus menopause issues went away with bio-identical HRT. Providers warned of the flawed Women’s Health Study but I read the research and made my own choices. The outcome was a wonderful quality of a very active life!! We’ll find in the years to come that this is a men’s health issue too. They have aging hormone changes just like women. Do the studies, research, and interviews to find out why compounding and customization work!!! As a matter of fact, a cardiologist recently wrote an article about the protective value of HRT!

I've been using natural progesterone for years. It literally changes my monthly cycles and helps my low iron and my moods and so many other things. I like that they compound it for me and it is a natural product and can pick whatever strength I need and can be taken in a way that works best for me, rather than just a pill. Please let us choose how we want to control our Healthcare. It's a free country please keep medical a free choice. Thanks

I’ve been on bio-identical hormones since I was 23 years old. When I was 22 a medical doctor mixed my chart up with another (elderly) woman and prescribed me medication to alter my hormones and endocrine system (when I didn’t need them) and sent me into an almost year-long estrogen crisis. I couldn’t sleep, had panic attacks daily, and was nauseous all day every day. My life was miserable during that time. Finding a bio-identical hormone clinic helped stop all of those symptoms within 6 months of starting the hormones, and my overall health has continued to stabilize and improve in the years since then. People need access to these services because they fill a gap in the interventions offered by other doctors/providers.

I have Hashimotos Thyroiditis and I have to treat it with a combination of T4 & T3 therapy based on my test results. No mainstream doctor even knows how to diagnose these tests or how to prescribe for my condition.

It wasn't until I started doing hormone replacement therapy that I noticed a much-improved difference in my pre-menopause symptoms. For many millions of women, this is the only therapy that helps us live a normal life again and feel normal. Without these medications, I would not function.