I was 24 when I had a partial hysterectomy. In 2008 I had my ovaries removed. I was put on a synthetic pill to help with my symptoms & it was horrible. A nurse practitioner put me on bioidentical torches & they have saved me. They have been able to customize my amounts with my labs & symptoms over the years. I pay out of pocket because insurance never covers but it is worth it. It’s a lot cheaper & easier than doing the pellet form.

I became anemic and unable to function normally from several fist-sized fibroid tumors in my uterus, requiring an urgent full hysterectomy. Part of my recovery was to be placed on bio-identical hormone replacement. I am not a candidate for synthetic hormone replacement, as, breast cancer runs in my family and I needed to be careful with hormone replacement therapy. My Mother passed away at the young age of 56 from breast cancer.
To this day, twelve years later, I am still taking my bio-identical hormones. They have helped to keep me healthy, physically and mentally, as I give back and care for others in life. I am thankful for my essential hormone therapy, without it, I could not be me.

I'm severely ill and disabled. I've been sick for years with no answers and recently learned that the illness was a result of a rare disease that causes me to be hyper reactive especially to food items. I've reacted to everything that's not bio-idetical. I take make bio-identical items. Here's the story behind one. I have hashimoto's. Half of my thyroid is dead because doctors missed the thyroid problem for so long. I need thyroid hormone to live. Without it, I nearly went into a coma and died. But every thyroid med EXCEPT THE BIO-IDENTICAL has caused violent allergic reactions. I need bio-identical medication! I cannot live without it! I repeat: I will die without this medication. The other medications are simply not an option! Please do not eliminate this much needed option for people like me who have so few things we can use. If you do, you'll be doing a huge disservice to the sick and disabled community. In a free country, we should have options! Do not take away resources from people who already have to fight for the treatment they need.

I needed hormone replacement therapy at age 42. I tried a few regular prescription options but they did not relieve my symptoms. My doctor suggested compounded pharmacy and it made ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

It is evidenced by blood tests and relief of symptoms.

Please don't take this option away from those of us who need it!

My doctor prescribed my compound to me about 8 years ago … it is a hormone replacement, I had a hysterectomy at age 32 because of endometriosis I had tried several hormone pills and nothing was working I had terrible mood swings, extremely agitated, and just all around felt horrible. When I started my compound I felt a huge change in all of that it took about 4 months but I started feeling better inside and out… when I had my gallbladder removed it was very hard for me to digest pills I was so happy to have a compound…

... therapy for almost a year and it's changed my life! Postmenopause, I was experiencing heavy monthly bleeding. My OB/GYN performed a D&C to remove a uterine cyst. It helped for only one month and then the bleeding started again. She suggests a hysterectomy! That seemed like a big (and expensive) leap, so I consulted with a nurse practitioner who suggest bio-identicals. What a huge change in my life! The bleeding stopped ... and so did my depression, lack of energy, and brain fog. Please don't take away compounds - they help SO MANY PEOPLE.

Thank you,
Laura Pfeifauf

Maintaining libido by regular optimization of hormone balances while under the direct supervision of a qualified physician has improved my quality of life

For years, I suffered from terrible migraines with my monthly cycle. Every month the headache would start and last for 7-10 days. They were relentless and affected my quality of life. We knew the headaches were hormone-related, so I tried commercially available estrogen patches. The headaches would always get worse. Come to find out, estrogen was not the hormone I needed more of, it was Progesterone. I saw an integrative medicine provider who suggested I try a compounded Progesterone, in a dose personalized for my body. I began compounded Progesterone and immediately, the headaches got better. Compounded Progesterone decreased my monthly migraines, and my productivity at work, and my mood returned to normal. I was able to stop several other medications because I no longer experienced weeklong headaches every month. Progesterone balanced my hormones and I got my life back! Please do not take this valuable form of medicine away from American women. We need Compounding Pharmacists to be able to continue to compound hormones for us. We will fight to keep our hormones personalized for us as commercial hormones do not offer women the doses their bodies need.

About 20 years ago, I was going from internist to endocrinologist to homeopath to massage therapist trying to determine why everything in my body hurt. It felt like tissue, joints, tendons—you name it—were inflamed and stiffening.

Finally, an internist recommended that I get tested for hormone levels. I had a bunch of lab work done, and she wrote a prescription for compounded hormones that I've been on ever since. She also put me on thyroid medication.

My pain went away and has never come back, except for the times when my general-practice doctor has encouraged me to get off HRT and I've tried for more than a month. Each time I do, the pain recurs.

I have been on these hormones for about 20 years. They have been a godsend. I have never detected any side effects. I am now 69 years old and plan to stay on them forever, God willing they aren't restricted.

Barbara Scott

I spoke to my PCP about my thyroid. I knew I had hypothyroidism, all the signs, and symptoms. But my tests came back within the norm but very low. I asked to try hormone therapy she declined. I sought the help of a women’s health specialist in naturopathic care. She tested my Throid and prescribed bio-identical hormones and my life changed! I could wake up in the morning, my energy increased and I felt alive again. Please don’t regulate or restrict access to this life-giving treatment!

Compounded hormones help me focus and even out my mood. Also helps with my energy level. I would not be able to function without this medication. Please continue to approve this.

Before bioidentical hormones, I would have horrendous hot flashes every 15 minutes causing my clothes to become soaking wet. I got very little sleep as I was throwing the covers off and on throughout the night. I became extremely anxious and was placed on anti-anxiety medication. I eventually quit my job because of the anxiety I was experiencing. Bioidentical hormones have given me back my life. Although I still have hot flashes, they are fewer and not as intense. My anxiety is gone and I am able to work again and live a "normal" life.

I have used compounding hormonal products for over a decade. I've used them to address particular health issues that required an individualized approach. I am sensitive to medication, so having a prescription tailored for me is very helpful. Also, as a woman, I've gone from being pre-menopausal to post-menopausal in the last decade. Using compounding hormonal prescriptions has helped me make that transition more proactively and successfully. I appreciate my pharmacist that has the knowledge of health issues and current pharmaceutical approaches to health issues. Losing access to compounded prescriptions would be a tremendous loss in my life. Please allow the freedom we need to get the individualized health care we need to flourish.

Upon going into menopause, I experienced a lack of energy, sexual energy, hot flashes, etc. Using BHRT has helped me tremendously. I will not use Premarin as this is a manufactured drug from pregnant mares. It does not assimilate the same as compounded hormones. My mother used it and it caused too many problems to mention.

I have been very happy on my BHRT for 15 years and wouldn't take any other medication.

I've had migraines since college. They had gotten a little better as I got older then I went through menopause and they started getting worse again. I remembered that during my pregnancies, I had not had ANY migraines so I started thinking that they might be hormone related. I had a full blood panel done and discovered that ALL my hormone levels were very, very low. My OB/GYN was going to put me on a low dose oral pill. Concerned about the effects on my migraines, he sent me to a neurologist to make sure I could take oral estrogen and I was determined that oral hormones was not in my best interest and that compounded topical hormones would be best. Since starting on them, I only have occasional auras with very little pain. I feel better than ever. What a game changer!

Hormone therapy has helped me with several age-related health issues. Not many doctors offer this as part of their practice. Please support those doctors and pharmacies that offer this treatment.

Thank you

Bioidentical hormone replacement is very important to me. Without it, I feel horrible and I’m unable to function for my family. I watch my granddaughter while my daughter works as a nurse. Without Bioidentical hormone replacement, I become extremely fatigued. I would not be able to watch my granddaughter if not for Bioidentical hormone replacement. Please don’t change anything except make it available through insurance.

Going through peri-menopause and then menopause. I cannot survive without them. I was just about bedridden from my menopausal symptoms. Bodyaches confusion and forgetfulness mood swings. Please do not take this away from me having access to bio-identical hormones. This would be like taking blood pressure medicine from a person that has high blood pressure.

I started testosterone replacement in my early 30s. I tried injections, but my body metabolized it so quick, I could never get a level dose. My doctor changed me to Androgel, the cost of this was over $10,000.00 per year. The amount I had to apply covered my entire chest, arms, and tops of my legs due to the rate my body metabolized it. I was told every 6 months a generic was coming. After several years, the company that was about to release the generic was bought out by the original company, resulting in no price drop. It was at this time I had to make a change both for the fear of transference to my family due to how much of my body and clothes were in contact with the replacement gel and the cost. That is when I found another doctor that would prescribe a compounding replacement. This cut the cost to $600.00 per year, and an amount that could be applied to only my scrotum. This greatly reduced the cost and fear of transference.

The compounding is the best option for me and many others. It has changed my health, saved me money, and eased the fear of transference and harm to my family.

Hormone replacement is not easy to get regulated in the body.

Please consider the economic, health, safety, and the patients choice of treatment before making any changes to the compounding option.

Thank you for your time.