I had a full hysterectomy 11 years ago (@ 38 y/o)...have been on hormones ever since. My surgeon put me on an estrogen pill and I just didn't feel good for over a year until I did some extensive research on hormones and options and discovered that YES I do need them and YES there is a safer option than big pharma. It took some time to find the best BHRT method and dosage for me, but since then, I honest to god can NOT fathom a life without them. I have several friends who also take them and could not go without either.
One thing I use is a weekly E patch. On day 6 I can feel it wearing off. I get hot, don't sleep as well, am anxious, get a bit fidgety, etc. When I slap that new patch on, my world becomes calm again.
I really believe, as women, we need added hormones for life, as our body depletes them naturally or if surgically induced, to help not only with mental health but also physical health (inflammation, heart health, arthritis, brain health, sexual side effects, etc etc). If at a young age our bodies are forced into thinking they are instantly "aged", the disease will most definitely set in...and why not curb that with something safer that mimics our body chemistry structure rather than a "foreign" chemical (again, big-pharma) that our body does not recognize...that's also when problems set in.
I'm just a huge fan and will do whatever I can to support and fight for our right to choose what goes in my body.

At 52 years old I had never really been sick a day in my life. One morning I was dizzy, started having ringing in my ears, and by nightfall was deaf in my right ear. Suddenly I found myself crying all the time. My back hurt, my legs were restless when I laid down and my anxiety was out the roof. I couldn't sleep a wink and I couldn't eat. I lost weight from 140 lbs, which is not that much for me as I am 5' 9", down to 115 lbs. I felt like I was dying. If they had not given me Ativan at the ER, to help me sleep, I might have died.

My OBGYN gave me estrogen, but no progesterone because I'd had my uterus removed. Nothing really helped but the Ativan. I was horrified I would become addicted and only took about half what was prescribed.

A doctor prescribed an SSRI and I was finally able to get on that and quit worrying about addiction. Although the SSRI helped and I was able after a year to go back to work somewhere, I was still not myself.

I had always been a health food fan and I went to this Naturopath that was also an MD to find out natural means that might help me. While I was there, I asked him if he could write me a refill for my estrogen. He said he could and he could also give me something that didn't cause heart attack, cancer, and stroke and could add progesterone to it, which could make it more calming. I was scared to death to do anything that might upset the applecart, but I did it and in one month I was off the SSRI I had been on for three years, which, by the way, was new and had caused liver problems and even death to one woman.

I have recommended the bioidentical hormones to many women that were going through similar circumstances and all have been helped.

Please don't take our bioidentical hormones away from us. Which is better, to spend the rest of my life on SSRIs, which only barely made me functional, or something natural that makes me feel like my old self again and has no side effects?

Thank you for your time.

Sheila Turney

I started taking CBHT about 8 months ago after miserable side effects from other hormone therapies. I am a 39-year-old female and had a full hysterectomy at 22 years old due to PCOS and other gynecological issues. Taking the CBHT was my last option to try for hormone replacement. This medication has given me back my youth and changed my life. I was having severe symptoms from early menopause that were making my life feel like I was living in a nightmare. I was not able to be active with my son or be intimate with my husband due to severe pain. I have a renewed life now because of this therapy. Not being able to take this would make my newfound youth fade away again. I feel that this therapy can be so beneficial for many women that are facing similar issues. I thank God each day for this blessing and I ask that it continue for not only me but other women.

Access to hormones has helped me through menopause.

There should be less regulation, not more. It should not be difficult or expensive to work with your doctor to prescribe treatments that are necessary for better health and quality of life.

Thank you,

Ann Annunziata

Compounded BIHR has spared me from having to have urogyn surgery with safe, personalized, minimal therapeutic dosing. BIHR should not be one size fits all.

I have had over 13 vaginal surgeries to correct bladder prolapse. My entire pelvic floor is mesh. I tried conventional Estrace (pregnant horse urine). We are not horses. I had a bad reaction and could not use it It is also NOT recommended for lifetime use. Bioidentical hormone therapy is highly recommended for the rest of my life by my surgeon (who is top in his field in Atlanta, Georgia and travels the world to teach), gynecologist, and urologist, so that my tissues do not atrophy and that I do not have life long infections. Without this medication, I feel I would be in a very bad place in life. Because of this medication, I have been able to live a normal life. Not everyone lives under the guidelines of conventional pharmaceuticals. I have had terrible reactions to most pharmaceuticals and I thank God for bioidentical hormone therapy! It is the only medication I take. Please take everyone into consideration. Natural bioidentical, (closest to the body's own natural hormones) is actually better for the body and I pray I will always be able to use my bioidentical hormones. It has been a long road for me. Without it, I do not know what I would do. In a world full of choices, we should ALL have the choice to use what we feel is best for us, and our bodies.  We have come too far for this.....

I am hypothyroid for 20 years. I was prescribed Synthroid, then Levothyroxine, and neither improved my symptoms. Then I was prescribed Armor Thyroid, then Natural Thyroid and my symptoms persisted. It wasn't until I was prescribed a compounded prescription of a balanced formula or T3 and T4 - the exact mcg that my body was missing - that my symptoms resolved. I pay a premium for this medication as commercial insurance and Medicare do not cover a clinical compound. But I am willing to pay for a prescription that actually works for me and relieves my hypothyroid symptoms. My Thyroid will not respond to pharmaceutical company artificial formulas.

At fifty years old experienced menopause by growing a benign tumor in my uterus the size of a four-month pregnancy. I had a hysterectomy. This was the same summer the report came out about hormones produced from horse urine becoming cancer-causing.
Avoiding that event, I had no hormones following my hysterectomy and no follow-up from my doctor on any other options. After 15 months of negative effects - never sleeping more than 1.5 hours at a time and having such a major brain fog that I relied on Post-it notes for many pieces of information vital to my career - a friend took me to a presentation with two presenters from Oregon Health Science University on endocrinology. It was enlightening to know there were options!
I visited a nurse practitioner who was aligned with the information I heard from the presentation. She gave me a saliva test to check hormone levels. The results were revealing. All of my hormone levels were fine with the exception of one. My testosterone number on the test should have been around 100. Mine was 11. My lost sleep and diminished brain function were the results of one missing hormone.
I was prescribed bio-identical hormones ( made from wild yams, not horse urine) and within twelve hours I was completely restored to my normal self.
I have remained on bio-identical hormones for 18 years. My nurse practitioner has retested and modified my prescription to fit my needs over the years.
I have worked with two compounding pharmacies over the 18 years and found my life enjoyable as a result of having this endocrine problem resolved.

When I was full-on into menopause I had much of the most talked-about symptoms such as hot flashes and insomnia.
But I also struggled with vaginal dryness. A hormonal disruption that is not talked about. My physical relationship with my husband became difficult and painful. I loved my husband but I began to dread our intimacy. He also was afraid that he would hurt me.

As I began to search for a solution I went to my physician and was prescribed hormone replacements. These replacements were pharmaceutic and need I say expensive too! I dished out the money and began to take the drugs as prescribed. Unfortunately, they had little to no effect.

Fed up with the expense and the lack of results I consulted my naturopath, who is also an MD, hoping that she would have another solution. She prescribed BI-EST/DHEA troche, which I have been taking for more than two years now.

This estrogen compound has been a blessing for my marriage. The effects have been off the chart better than the pharmaceuticals I was previously taking. My vaginal dryness has improved and my hot flashes are gone. I also sleep well through the night.

My naturopath is responsible and insists that she check my hormone levels with a blood test on a yearly basis. Monitoring me for safety.

When I heard that the FDA is considering restricting or even removing compounded hormones I felt dread. How can a government organization step in to remove a product that has been safe, effective, affordable, and monitored? As adding this cBHT has done wonders for my body and marriage and know that the removal will have consequences.

I hope and pray that the FDA will reconsider and know that removing cHDT's will have a negative effect on many otherwise healthy women.

I am a 73-year-old male. I've been on testosterone for over forty years due to a testicular torsion that led to the removal of one testicle. The other was not functioning due to repeated infections. I have tried: shots, pills, and creams. The only consistently dosed testosterone that has worked is compounded. Without it, I suffer depression, a total lack of energy, and a total absence of libido. If there were no compounded testosterone, I'd be suffering from the above conditions, thus reducing my quality of life.
Thank you for hearing this.

HI,
For me, using bio-identical hormones has been a Godsend! My hormones were very imbalanced and I was suffering the normal imbalances women go thru during menopause and now being menopausal. I am very disheartened, that this too, could be taken away from us. Why?? Why take something that is natural and helps the body away? I do NOT want to take drugs for my issue. We should have a choice and my choice is bio-identical hormones.
Thank you for your time.

I’ve been taking hormones in pills for 25 years and my hormones have never been right until taking compounded hormones. My body absorbs them better than taking hormones in pill form. I’m 70, healthy, and feel better than I’ve never felt better in my life because of the compounded hormones I’ve been on for the past two years!! Life-changing has been the word for my experience with compounded hormones. My bones are even stronger and show thicker on my bone density test!
Pam Martin

My use of compounded hormones started as I grappled with the beginning of menopause. I was aware the symptoms that I was experiencing were not unusual. They simply restricted me from living the full life that I desired. After only a few months I felt better, could concentrate on complex tasks, and had the energy that I had been used to living with. Over a couple of years, my bone density looked better.
I believe that a woman or man should have the opportunity to pursue the medical options of compounded hormones that they and their doctor believe will improve their quality of life.

The flawed NASEM report should not be allowed to change the availably of these therapies. These have been used for many years in this county and many others. This should not be allowed to change.

I have suffered from Fibromyalgia and anxiety ever since I went through menopause, my DR tried many things, when he put me on the compound hormones it has reduced my symptoms drastically. Please do not take this vital treatment away from me!

When the AGING process takes you down....
When you don't sleep.
When you lose hair in clumps.
When you lose muscle tone.
When you can't lose weight.
When other health - surgeries take away the natural forms created to keep you living a full life...
ALL THE ABOVE changes your day-to-day living and makes it a CHORE and frustrating to survive.

When a product/prescription comes along that can slow down the aging process it can HELP you move and help you SLEEP and keep some muscle that a 20-30year old takes for granted. I lost my natural hormones due to a complete Hysterectomy in 2009 which left me with EXTREME INSOMNIA, WEIGHT GAIN, HAIR LOSS, MUSCLE LOSS ETC. Imagine what it is like to sleep barely TWO hours a night? Then walk around in MAJOR FATIGUE MODE day after day. WATCH your body pack on FORTY POUNDS! You can't lose that and don't have the energy to exercise! You can't lift items you used to as the muscle isn't there anymore. THIS IS REAL!!
When I was told about COMPOUNDED HORMONE THERAPY... I didn't believe it could help me. I was desperate for sleep and help. I tried it... BEST thing in my life! I am not 100% better BUT I get at least 5-6 hours sleep a night!! My weight/health has improved so much since being prescribed HRT! Indeed other personal things improved in my marriage as well. I don't lose clumps of hair from my head!

I was diagnosed with Sheehan’s Syndrome many years after having a postpartum hemorrhage. It took years of trial and error of different medications and hormone replacement but I didn’t feel better until I started compounded hormone therapy. Nothing else worked. Trust me my insurance made me try everything and they don’t even pay for this, I pay out of pocket.

This is something I will need to be on most likely for the rest of my life as I have lost function of my pituitary.

This seems to be more of a woman’s issue than anything else. More women rely on cbht than men and I feel this is the government interfering where it shouldn’t.

Please do not let the FDA take away or restrict woman's compounded medicine that we have come to rely on. This is truly a matter too important to too many.

I am a 57-year-old very busy professional going through the most productive time of my career. I started having postmenopausal symptoms in 7/2016 following which the next 3 1/2 yrs were spent in a blur of sleeplessness and fatigue with mostly bad months as opposed to decent months. I started using bioidentical compounded hormone therapy prescribed by a wonderful gynecologist in 5/2019.
In a matter of 3 days, my life changed to where is started sleeping through the night instead of waking up 6-10 times per night. Since I have faithfully done my blood work and get regular monitoring of my hormone levels.
I cannot imagine living without this medication as long as I have postmenopausal symptoms. It will seriously affect my ability to function, let alone work efficiently if I have to forgo my compounded cream.
I request you to kindly not take away this life-changing treatment modality for which I am willing to pay cash even if not covered by my insurance.

Two and a half years ago at age 53, I had a radical hysterectomy and I was left feeling devastated with the side effects of no longer making any hormones on my own. I had horrible, debilitating hot flashes that made me completely miserable. Not to mention, they were completely unpredictable! I have always been physically fit (fitness instructor for 25 years) and all of a sudden, even though my exercise regime didn't change, I was losing my muscle and gaining so much mid-section weight. I was losing hair, my skin was aging rapidly, a good night's sleep was a thing of the past, I felt completely brain fogged and my mood was all over the place. My sex drive was zero and that was causing issues with my marriage. I thought to myself, "How can I possibly live this way the rest of my life?" I wasn't willing to accept that this was how it was going to be for me, and no one should ever have to accept that when there are people to help and compounded hormones to help. I feel so sad for people who just live with it and think that is how it has to be! It took some time to find the right help but I didn't give up! Approximately one year after my hysterectomy, I found a special lady who knows all about hormones. She has put many many hours into hormone education and knows how they work and just how NECESSARY they are to our overall HEALTH and quality of life. She has been a blessing in my life and helped with finding the compounded hormones that are made "just for me" and are exactly what my body needs and I love that! Hormones are not a one-size-fits-all as so many doctors think. Mine was prescribed to fit my needs based on very detailed blood tests. Today, exactly two and a half years since my hysterectomy, and one and a half years after beginning compounded bioidentical hormone replacement, I can honestly say that I feel amazing! I am now 55, almost 56 and I feel young and vibrant again. My hot flashes are 100% GONE! My midsection weight has slowly left and I am back to where I used to be prior to my hysterectomy. My brain fog is gone. I can think clearly! And, last but not least, my mood is stable and I am back to being the easy-going person that I used to be. I no longer feel angry, sad, flat... basically, all over the place, I am sleeping so good and my sex drive is back! I cannot live without my compounded hormones... the thought of it completely scares me to death. I love my life again!

I'm here to share my story about they hypothyroidism. I was diagnosed by my Naturopath. I had gone to my Primary Care Physician with my symptoms, and they wanted to prescribe all kinds of stimulants and suggested I speak with a counselor. They never once tested for a thyroid issue, they never even took a blood test for anything. My Naturopath did, and she diagnosed me with Hypothyroidism. She prescribe a naturally derived form of treatment, and I was started on it, it was absolutely amazing the significant difference in my overall health and energy levels. I was also low on Vitamin D and we addressed that as well. For a number of years, my health insurance covered this medication for me, then one day, they said it was no longer available. I went back to my Naturopath and she sent in a prescription to a local pharmacy, unfortunately, my insurance does not cover it because it isn't an in-house pharmacy. They changed me over to a standard, drug, Levothyroxine, the difference was subtle initially, but it got worse and worse as time went on, finally, I had to go back to my naturopath and get the natural version of NP Thyroid. Now I've learned that Big Pharma is trying to completely ban boi-identical hormones. Perhaps others are doing fine on the artificially made stuff, but I don't, and I know there are others who don't. Additionally, I prefer to go organic and holistic on everything I can that is ingested or used on my body. I am 65 years old, but you wouldn't know it to see me and how I work on my farm and with my small business. I have plenty of energy and no illnesses in years, knock on wood that continues. Don't let it happen!