I began hormone therapy by taking prescribed pills that I filled at the local CVS pharmacy. After a week or so, my stomach upset was unbearable. The only option for Progesterone was an orange pill, but I don't usually swallow anything with orange/red dye because it makes the skin around my eyes swell. (I have photos to document). So I called my gynecologist who suggested I use compounded hormones and visited with my local compounding pharmacist at The Apothecary Shop. Ms. Griggs is knowledgeable and easy to speak with. I have not had one ounce of trouble since starting the compounded formulas and feel so much better. DO NOT RESTRICT OR DENY ME MY LIFE-CHANGING COMPOUNDED DRUGS.

As I neared 50 and noticed pre-menopausal symptoms - hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, joint aches, mood swings, dry skin, etc. I looked for options. I began with Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone. Then in a few years, I added Thyroid NR. I supplement with vitamins including B12, K, D, and Glutamine. I feel 1000% better physically, mentally, socially. I have kept muscle mass, taken up golf, and slept 8 hours a night without interruption. My family notices a dramatic difference in my overall outlook. I am now 61 and don't plan to change my health routine. I have had no serious illness in more than a decade.

My vestibule area outside my vaginal opening was completely raw from lack of estrogen plus, unbeknownst to me, a secondary condition. Once I started using compounded hormones, my tissue plumped up enough to diagnose my lichen planus. Pleased do not limit compounded hormones!

I went through early menopause and was suffering from osteoporosis, weakness, loss of stamina. Started BHT is 47 yrs old. I'm now 54 yrs old. Lost 10 pounds, work out regularly, and had no more osteoporosis. I have the energy of a 30 yr old. Not taking any meds except for thyroid and acne. Never felt better!

It took me years to find a balance of my cognitive functions during pre and post-menopause. Between anti-anxiety meds and doctors not knowing much about female hormones' impact on the brain, I was losing the ability to remember who I just spoke to and find everyday words.
I've found great support from my compounded Rx. The ability to continue my job was most impaired before my compound was created for me. It is reviewed annually with my in-depth bloodwork. I've had friends ask if I was drunk when I forgot my compound the night before.
I am not interested in a change to my intake of HRT. It works so well for me when my experience with the healthcare system is so limited on this subject.

I am affected by Hypogonadism. HGC has erased so many negative effects of my condition, depressed mood, low libido, erectile dysfunction, poor sleep, low energy, and fatigue.

For me, HGC is critical to leading a healthy and balanced life.

I can't understand why the government is trying to take it away.

My autoimmune disease causes my body to attack my thyroid, which then has difficulty producing the hormones my body needs. With Synthroid & levothyroxine, I did not have the control that my compounded T3/T4 medication provides. The Synthroid only addresses one piece of the thyroid puzzle. My compounded medication helps me address the whole picture. I have more energy now for everything. I wasn't getting that with Synthroid.

I choose bio identical hormones years ago when I started into menopause. At that time my choice was PREMARIN (Pregnant Mare Urine) or bio identical HRT.

Once I was aware of the process of collecting and manufacturing PREMARIN, I knew I’d never use some that put catheterized mares into stocks 24/7 and then forced them to have a foal that was immediately removed, and usually killed.

Bio identical HRT (BIHRT) has been easily compounded and made available locally. The dosage of the different hormones can be changed after hormone monitoring so that dosages can be accurately maintained.

Dosages are lower amounts and much less likely to cause issues.

Don’t take BIHRT away as a proven and legitimate way of maintaining the comfort and emotional life of aging women.

I am a 76-year-old woman. I have been using bio-identical hormone replacement therapy since 1996. Without it, my estrogen level is far below the minimum for functionality. If I take the prescription Estrogen, I don't get the 2 estrogens I need without the third estrogen, which I test very high for. Every year I am tested to see the exact amount of each of the estrogens, progesterone, and if needed testosterone, that my body requires. My vagina is starting to atrophy, and the only solution that is purely what I need and nothing else is a compounded estrogen gel to use twice a week. No patch or prescription can individualize the hormones I need to avoid depression, brain fog, sexual dysfunction, or good quality of life. Thanks for reading my story.

I have never been able to use regular pharmaceutical hormones and finding bioidenticals was a lifesaver. I have been using it for13 years. My insurance covers most of the cost.

I think I’ve been taking bio-identical hormones for at least ten years. I had osteopenia that progressed to osteoporosis. I wanted to take a more natural form of treatment than the standard drugs that could have extreme side effects. After taking bio-identical hormone therapy for about 18 months, I had a bone scan and I was improving. I had another bone scan about a year after that and the osteoporosis was gone. GONE! I’ve been so thankful for years of not having to worry about it. I am Norwegian, and prone to these issues. I have a history of having bad reactions to drugs so this has been such a gift. Please! This has been a wonderful treatment with absolutely no negative side effects!! I know there must be so many people who have experienced similar benefits. Thanks so much for your consideration.
Suzanne C

A few years back, I had an electrical injury to my brain. It totally affected my interaction with prescription medications, making me hypersensitive to some, and oblivious to others. The compounded HRT is the only medication for my endocrine problems that works for me. The synthetic progesterone nearly sent me into a psychotic event. Every single body is different. Pharma drugs are "one size fits all," at best and for me, deadly at worst. I have a series of health maladies you would not wish on your worst enemy, and I fight with all the tools I have to stay alive. Please don't take my compounded medication away from me and put me into greater suffering than I already am.

Could not find a balance when my thyroid died and my primary western doctor provided prescriptions for synthroid or levothroid. I struggled for years until I met and went under the care of a naturopath. She tested my thyroid levels and said she could do much better with bio-identical hormones compounded at a specialty pharmacy. She offered a 3-way call with the pharmacist and herself so that they could explain to me what to watch out for as they slowly increased my thyroid amount to give my body a chance to experience a very narrow range of "normal". I now have enough energy and feel completely normal again, in every activity that I do, every day.

I have been on HRT 3 times over the last 15 years. Each time I have found a huge amount of relief as I have PCOS and now perimenopausal. My body does not produce the proper amount of hormones, sometimes I have too many of one or multiple, and other times I do not have enough. The emotional stress that puts on me is exhausting as I never know if I am going to be able to function or need to sleep. HRT has been a huge help in especially stressful times of my life

When I began experiencing symptoms of menopause my doctor prescribed compounded hormones. I have been using the cream for a while now, and I love it. It eliminates my symptoms totally. They are specifically designed for my body and there is nothing better. Also, they are natural, not synthetic. I don't know what I would have done without it.

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 in to 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 were prescribed to fit my needs based from very detailed blood tests. Today, exactly two and a half years since my hysterectomy, and one and ahalf 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 had to have both of my ovaries and my removed surgically when I was only 35. After months of trying the "traditional" prescription medications, nothing was working and my surgeon gave up on me.

I became severely depressed, considered suicide, couldn't work or drive. My therapist told me about compounded bio-identical hormone therapy. Within 24 hours after my first dose, my brain started coming back.

I would not be alive today without this medication.

I was experiencing weakness and weight loss prior to using testosterone and DHEA treatments. Since then I have been able to achieve more while working and my disposition has also improved.

During perimenopause, I began having hot flashes and extreme mood swings. After entering menopause, the mood swings became even worse and my libido completely disappeared. Intercourse became painful due to thinning tissue and erogenous zones were gone. I did some research and asked my GYN if she could prescribe Bioidentical HRT for me. She worked with a local compounding pharmacy to prescribe capsules for me, based on a blood test. It took some tweaking to find what worked best and eventually we added a vaginal cream as well. The capsules and cream have been working for me since 2007. Without them, I would be a sweaty, bipolar nun! Please don't take away my cBHT!