Dear Congress Representatives:

I have been a patient using 4 different compounded hormones from my local compounding pharmacy for over a year now. These compounded hormones have completely changed my life. Before using them, I struggled with debilitating physical symptoms that prevented me from living my life professionally and personally.

I am able to have dosages tailored to my specific medical conditions because my compounding pharmacy is capable of formulating nuanced dosage adjustments -- these nuanced adjustments are critical for me to be able have the proper dosage so I can function every day. I would not have such dosages available to me through the traditional pharma route.

I urge you to continue to allow compounding pharmacies to continue doing the incredible life-changing and life-saving work they are doing for their patients such as me. I simply could not live my life generally or do my job without these compounded hormones and the special dosages I use.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,
April Pesa

I am a 70 year old woman who was diagnosed with a urethral caruncle as a result of low estrogen 3-5 years ago. The caruncle was bleeding, partly due to my low platelet count. I felt frightened by circumstances out of my control. My urologist recommended & prescribed cBHT estrodiol cream which shrunk the size of my caruncle. It worked and I’ve continued to use it to this day. I am so grateful for this natural hormone therapy. I live in fear of the day when this therapy is no longer an option, and I’d have no choice but to take pharmaceutically produced hormone cream which could result in cancer, or have surgery which would leave me with a leaky bladder and all the attending circumstances due to my sensitive skin. For 35 years I’ve done Kegel exercises, and I’m unwilling to submit to surgery when my caruncle size can be managed with cBHT estrodial cream!
I have chosen to be as drug free as possible all of my life; as it is healthier for my body. I do not take prescription drugs, and I wish to keep it that way. My body is highly sensitive to unnatural ingredients and will react to chemically altered substances. I do not wish to use any synthetic, chemically modified substances on myself, and do not understand why those in charge would take away something as helpful as cBHTs.
I’m living proof of the benefits of estradiol! I don’t ’understand why the need to limit cBHTs. I believe I have the right to choose my path in life rather than have it dictated by others. The wide-spread use of cBHTs is actually Preventing Public health problems. There is no safety risk with the use of these natural substances. Because these hormones are plant based there is no possibility of them being harmful or cancer causing.
It is my firm belief that the medical field should allow the option of natural cBHTs, as not every human body responds the same way to introduced substances. Taking these hormones away would result in many more health issues. In my opinion the real public health concern would be the control over cBht’s by the FDA and big Pharma! That would diminish our quality of life & lead many people to despair; because it would compromise our physical health and even psychological health. Throwing out a wonder cure and deciding to turn back the clock of medical science is both foolish and unwise. Those denied access to cBHT’s –would feel manipulated, controlled, angry, fearful, & anxious about their future health!
What’s happened to being broad minded? Natural products are as effective as man-made ones, and in some cases more effective or the only way for certain bodies to heal! People tend to forget that natural medicines existed before pharmaceuticals! Without the base of natural cures there would have been no structure to begin to develop pharmaceutical drugs. My fear is that if I’m unable to purchase this product, I’ll be forced to use a substance that harms my body, or wear diapers until I die! How inhumane, depressing and demeaning! Do I need to go outside of the USA to find the things I need? What is happening to our forward, cutting edge medical example to the rest of the world? Are we, as a result of our greed, becoming worse than those we view as ‘less advanced’? They because they ‘know no better’; but we, due to a lack integrity or conscience? Please, I beg of you, choose wisely!!

Being less than 50 and going through peri-menopause is no walk in the park. Unpredictable and uncontrollable mood swing were the roughest symptoms of the experience. I did not want to start hormone replacement therapy with pharmaceuticals (due to the many possible side effects) but felt comfortable with the suggestion by my naturopath to try bio-identical hormones. It's been over a year now and my life feels manageable again. The best part is that these hormones are gentle and I have not experienced any side effects.

I had hormone imbalances as a teenager, had my uterus removed at age 38, later learned about natural hormones and started them at age 50. What a relief to have my breast tenderness gone, and to begin having my hormones in balance without having to worry about heart issues as a side effect of hormones produced from horse urine. Natural hormones have been great for me, allowing me to have enjoyable sexual relations with my husband, keeping me emotionally balanced, and having the physical benefits of healthier skin, heart, a healthy weight, and overall good health. I have four sisters who are also taking natural (bio-identical) hormones and who attest to the help they have given them to eliminate depression and anxiety among other benefits. Please do not take this benefit away!!!

Twelve years ago, as a relatively healthy 50 year old, I had thought I could do without any hormonal supplement as I entered menopause. By age 52 it became apparent that I was unable to keep up with my physically demanding job and lifestyle, due to constant night sweats and only 2-3 hours of sleep every night, month after month. Yet, having to get up each morning and carry on extremely sleep deprived and physically drained.

I had been very hesitant to begin taking the more traditional hormone treatment suggested by my M.D. as I have always been very sensitive to many medications and often had to stop taking a prescription because of adverse effects. Only to have to search for a more natural way to improve my health that could be taken long term.

So I began searching for something that might be easier on my body and I
found cBHT.
When I first began taking the bioidentical hormone treatment compounded for what my body required. My life changed for the better in a wonderful and remarkable way.
My dosage is very low and I'm staying balanced both mentally and physically.
It doesn't turn back the clock, so to speak but it makes aging gently and gracefully so much easier.

I truly implore you to not remove the ability to receive this life saving medication. Not only for myself but, for many others in the same situation.

Sincerely,
Cynthia Maniscalco

I have been on bioidentical hormone replacements for 3 years and feel great. The pharmacist has been super helpful in getting my dosage exactly where I need it to feel my best.
I feel this is what is best for my health and Thea pharmacies can provide the most accurate dosage for my well being.

After hearing the women's study on Premarin, I stopped female hormones. resulting in hot flashes every 35 minutes. other therapies did not work for me, but one doctor discovered that a biest instead of a triest formula would work for me. That compounded medication has me hot flash free years later. Please do not stop compounding.

Similarly, I am sensitive to my thyroid replacement medicine. Compounding allows a very exact dose of that hormone replacement,

Pharmaceutical medications have a great purpose however not everyone is able to take them and tolerate them. I am one of those people! I LOVE that the compounded hormones are specifically made for ME and I am the ONLY ONE on MY DOSE! It is as specialized as my needs! We are all made unique and our needs are just as unique! It is an amazing, wonderful way to once again gain balance in your life. If you have hormone imbalance everything is out of balance! I am extremely thankful that I have been able to use cBHT! This is critical for me to maintain my quality of life!

From the compound pharmacy the medication only costs about $50. At the drug store it would be way over $300! I would like to keep this facility open.

I was diagnosed with low testosterone in 2001. I was in my early 40’s. The only available remedy my doctor was willing to prescribe was Estratest. This pill had both estrogen and testosterone in it. It was not right for me and I had side effects as I didn’t need the estrogen. Finally, in 2015, I found a doctor who was willing to prescribe testosterone for me from a compounding pharmacy. It was life-changing. I increased my sex drive and made my marriage much happier. It also increased my energy. Additionally, it improved my mood. I was in shock at how much better I felt and how much the quality of my life went up. I was also sad because I wished I was able to take it sooner.
My entire family benefited from me taking it. I still take it today. If the availability of compounded testosterone was gone, I would be in a very bad position. I would not feel well at all if I no longer was able to take it. It would be more than a reduction in my sex drive, it would render me much less capable of having a quality life. And it would impact my husband and children as well. Please continue to allow compounding pharmacies to continue compounding hormone therapy.

I have been using compounded hormones for 13 years. After a full hysterectomy 23 years ago, my doctor prescribed progesterone which was much too strong and gave me migraines. I learned about cBHT from a friend whose cousin was a compounding pharmacist. I was tested for hormone levels which were found to be very low and were having the various side effects this causes. I met with the pharmacist, gave him my test results and he compounded a prescription for me. Over the next few months, we had to tweak the ingredients to eliminate the side effects I was experiencing. We reached a great match for me and I have been feeling great and looking younger without the hot flashes and mood swings. I have mammograms annually and have had no problems from the compound. Removing it from the market would make a distinct undesirable difference in my life. With the right pharmacist, cBHT can help millions of women live an energetic, active, sexually satisfying life, looking and feeling their best with no downside.

My OBGYN is a very respected, experienced practitioner. Her father was also an OBGYN, helped train her, and was also very respected and experienced. In fact, my husband, also a physician, learned much from him in residency before the OBGYN passed away. After I had 5 children, even though in very early 40s, my body was changing a lot, almost like flipping a switch.

A few of my pregnancies had been strange hormonally, and I didn't like the way that the progesterone and estrogen pills made me feel overall though I had to take them to maintain fetal viability on some cases. These pills in their limited dosages seem kind of extreme from my body. I also tried some of them after my pregnancies when my body started changing some. My doctor had regular appointments with me and I did a hormone diary. She adjusted the doses of the pill several times, but then encouraged me to try a troche from a pharmacy she trusted several states away. She said she could get it more exact that way to what my body needed. Basically, the troche works with the way my body was already created. Throughout my visits with her, she has adjusted hormones and changed the amounts needed ever so slightly. I feel very good now and I'd say she has the right combination! Please don't remove the availability of this advancement in science. It has come a long way to achieve and to perfect to where it stands now. I encourage Congressmen to trust physicians. Physicians have to work 11 or more years to get their degree. The vast majority of physicians have the health of their patients and patients' best interests on their hearts. I feel that so much more trust should be put in them. ...So much more than is given them by the pharmacies, insurance companies, hospitals, and even by government.

I was experiencing extreme menopausal symptoms, hot flashes, mood swings, short temper, sleeplessness, etc. I was relieved of all those symptoms with the bio-identical hormones. I also prefer taking bio-identical hormones vs. synthetic hormones and my doctor strongly prefers compounded bio-identical hormones. Please do not reduce access to this life-changing hormone replacement therapy that improves lives and is better for our bodies.

Hi,
I have been taking Compounded Bio-Identical Hormones for over 15 years now. And I really wish they had been available when I was a teenager!

I have suffered with, what I know now to be an imbalance in my hormonal system for practically my entire ministration life. I suffered for many years with irregular periods and horrible pain! Regular Birth Control pills & HRT was given to me early on, even as young as about 13 yrs old. But I could not tolerate the awful side effects! Extreme mood swings, excess facial hair growth, and many others, by the way, I am a woman.

So, as I was getting older and still suffering more and more every month, i realized that when I hit “Peri-Menopause”, regular HRT was not an option for me, been there done that, not doing it again!!

I started looking for Help, Healing & Solutions!!! I was finally lead to a Fantastic OB-GYN who started me on the Compounded Bio-Identical Hormones. It really helped me get back my life!!

I still take them every day with no awful side effects! I do not want to even think about what my life would be like without them!

Why would you want to take them away from us and make us SUFFER !

Insurance does not even cover this, so I pay for them out of my pocket !! Why is Viagra covered for men but this is not !!

The FDA study should have been independent and included REAL PATIENT RESULTS!

STOP MESSING WITH WHAT IS WORKING!

Dwana Henry

I had a baby with multiple birth defects in 1981.
Great loss of sleep for several years with her care and great stress from this and added by my husband was heading me toward a real tough time with menopause symptoms. I wanted something safer to help alleviate the horrible hot flashes I was getting. My mental and physical self had already been put through long drawn-out hardship and did not want anything adding to whatever problems had already manifested. My worn-out body needed something more in tune with my body and that would work with it to help correct it.

Post hysterectomy 6 years I began what I’d call a slow agonizing death! Surely some type of parasite just eating away all my energy,sleep,Strength! Dear God what’s wrong with me! I’d decided this is what it’s down to ! So I became so depressed because I didn’t know who this person I’ve turned into! No longer had much life left in me and just so many things that doctors ignored. Until I finally saw my OB GYN, he sat down and had a good conversation about it alll!!!! I must be the poster child by now!! He told me all about giving the bio hormone replacement. The cream and the vaginal pill (🤣 was shocked by that !!) told me it should begin working good in about 4/5 weeks! By day 3 I woke up my old self! Everything was great ! I cannot believe how much better my quality of life was. Seeing the morning sunshine took on a whole new meaning! Thank God for Bio identical hormone replacement therapy. It gave me life again ❤️

Menopause and perimenopause are completely under studied. I am grateful for compounded hormone therapy to help my symptoms. There are so many parts of the body affected by hormone imbalances--issues I never considered were related--and I have found compounded hormone therapy so helpful in aiding my body as it goes through this transition. I notice immediate changes when using the compounded oils, versus waiting for pills to make it through my system. I feel much better using compounded hormones rather than other products on the market.

After going months without sleep and having hot flashes my bio identical progesterone helped stop it. I am very thankful my pharmacist told me about it. Otherwise, I would still be suffering.
Dona F

I just recently became aware of the FDA’s attempt to ban hormone replacement therapies. This would cause a tremendous, life changing catastrophe for me and my family. Why on earth would an agency want to ban something that helps people?! If these therapies are banned, this clearly shows the FDA does not have our best interest or well-being at heart. For once, please do something right.