My name is Debra Butler and over a year ago I unexpectedly found myself in menopause. My symptoms were severe and debilitating. Chronic headache, muscle and joint inflammation and pain, constant hot flashes, trouble sleeping and night sweats. My physician put me on hormone therapy and the symptoms improved however I was on an oral progesterone that caused a lot of nausea, upset stomach and diarrhea. I was housebound until I was able to transition to a compounded progesterone. Since then my life has finally returned to normalcy for the most part. I don't have any other option but to use a compounded progesterone in order to function. I am 48 years old and have a full-time career as a program manager and need the compounded progesterone option in order to maintain my health and continue being a self-sufficient productive citizen.

I have had lifelong hormone imbalance that has had a hold on my life since I was in my mid 30s. Once I entered into perimenopause in my mid-forties , life only changed for the worse. I suffered for painful cycles, migraine headaches, cramping and lack of sleep. If you experience headaches, like these, along with no sleep for nights on end - you could understand how this will begin to take your life away.

All the sleepiness nights and migraines began to affect me and anxiety started to interfere with my daily life.

Instead of being treated for hormone imbalance, my doctor put me on anti anxiety medications. Resulting into a SSRI reaction causing multiple ER trips and weight loss in only a few weeks of taking the medication.

SSRIs are not the answer for hormonal women. Once I began taking bioidentical hormone replacement - my life changed. I slept through the night for the first time in years and my cycle regulated and my anxiety is nonexistent.

If you take these options away from women, not only will their lives change, for the worse, but you will change the lives of the family members who love and care for us.

If you care about women’s and men’s health, these options must remain available for us. And honestly, insurance companies should be required to help women in their 40-50s with medical testing and coverage for hormones.

To whom it may concern,,hi my name is Antoinette and in a nut shell I started off with hypothyroidism since my female hormones went very low I'm in peri menopause I was bed ridden for over a year not able to work tons of anxiety cholesterol levels so high it was in the danger zone never been over weight and was a kickboxer until my hormones progesterone testosterone and estradiol took that away from me when they were unbalanced, memory loss emotions running a much I was a hot mess and didn't want to live like that I was on the verge of losing my job I couldn't pay my bills almost lost my car ..so I gave biodentical hormones a try and after 3 to 4 months being on progesterone ,testosterone and estradiol I'm feeling much better I have weaned off anti-anxiety meds which are very addicting my thyroid is working much better now as well all these hormones work together I'm able to play with my daughter once again and back to work it was a long journey for me and for many others these biodentical hormones are life saving if we don't have these our lives are at stake..it can cause alot of health problems without biodentical hormones..just imagine your wife or daughter having major anxiety every day not able to work in pain and bed ridden..? And if there's no biodentical hormones what would she do?reg doctors prescribe hormones that are cancer causing please do your research..biodentical does not.bioidentical hormones have saved alot of women and men it protects us from heart attacks as well ,men out there are on biodentical for health reasons as well as thw transgender communities it will be catastrophic to stop biodentical hormones..please reconsider..think about your own family?what if they need this? It saved my life and millions of men and women

Suffering painful monthly cramps and excessive loss of blood, during my teens & 20’s, my endometriosis finally invaded my female organs. I was 31 that year (1977). Dr. Jack Ford, my gynecologist, spent 4 hours during my total hysterectomy, attempting to scrape/remove the scar tissue and endometrial tissue from my lower colon. Dr. Ford told me I would have to take Hormone Replacement Therapy for the next 20 years. He reminded me that the female reproductive organs, and the hormones (14 varieties) they produced were not only for creating new life, they played an important role in many bodily functions, and losing my ovaries & uterus (and NOT taking hormones) would interrupt the rest of the endocrine glands work. I would age faster than normal, experience thyroid disorders, hair loss and brain functions quickly. He began a regimen of hormone pellet implants that I received 4 times/yearly. I continued that therapy for the next 43 years. Because of those hormones I had the energy, stamina and brain clarity to have a full life, marry a wonderful man and start my own corporate consulting firm. I worked for almost 40 years, and at 75 years of age I take a low dose of compounded HRT topically. Please do not destroy the lives & vitality of women who need these compounded substances to live a full and active life. Be kind enough to empathize with us. Especially now, at 75 yrs of age, I am happy, healthy and involved in life thanks to compounded HRT.

I use bio identical hormones because I was completely unable to use the traditional hormones my doctor prescribed. Without them I was experiencing brain fog so bad that I was riding down the street unaware of where I was located. This has been the only thing that I have found that helps my menopausal symptoms and I urge you to keep compounding pharmacies legal and in business for all those like me who can’t do without them.

Hello,
I am a middle aged woman who is so grateful for the relief I received upon using my compounded prescription cream. As I entered into my mid-40's, and for several years after, I was struggling with pain during intercourse because of thinning and delicate tissue. I finally spoke with my doctor and he prescribed Estriol Versa Cream, an cream with an extremely low dose of estrogen that can be taken long-term if needed. It has made all the difference in the quality of my life and I am forever thankful for the opportunity to purchase this miracle cream. Please do not restrict access to this cream, or any other compounded hormones.  You have the chance to give us the freedom we have enjoyed for many years and let us make our own decisions on what is best for our health. Thank you for your consideration.

I am a Registered Nurse & realized I was beginning to experience early menopause in my late 40's. I made an appointment with my GYN & expressed my symptoms & concerns about oral menopause medication. At this time he informed me of a local non-systemic treatment using a compounded prescription medication. I had my doubts, but after following my prescription exactly...WOW...what a difference it has made in my life, especially in my Marriage!!! Best solution to my medical issue was this personally compounded medication.

The compound creams l am prescribed have made a life changing miracle for me. I could hardly function before l started using them. They have made such a difference in the way l feel.
I do not want to go back to feeling the way l did before. I need these to function and have a quality life.

I reached menopause at 51 yrs of age. My mental and physical health declined. I began to suffer from severe symptoms anxiety and depression, plus hot flashes and muscle weakness.
My gynecologist prescribed bio identical progesterone cream and my symptoms were gone.

I started cBHT shortly after I entered menopause. I was having major issues around short-term memory and foggy-headedness, trouble sleeping, hot flashes that would soak the sheets, and a lack of general energy. I worked with a naturopathic physician who specializes in hormone issues, and she suggested cBHT. We carefully evaluated the studies on safety (I always do my own research on this kind of thing) and decided that this was a safe and reasonable treatment for what had become very life and work-compromising symptoms. The treatment has been very effective.

Please do not restrict my access to cBHT; I need this treatment to be able to keep functioning as my household's primary breadwinner and the primary care provider for my disabled husband. My health is being well monitored by the ND, and we will discontinue the cBHT if and when they appear to be putting me at risk in any significant way. Please allow my physician and I to make that decision.

Sincerely,
Ruth Harmon

I have a highly sensitive body, balancing healing from multiple autoimmune conditions, plus a tendency towards hypothyroid. On top of that, I'm in pre-menopause. I STRONGLY OBJECT to any new regulations that restrict or disallow access to compounded hormones, as these hormones are the only ones that have worked to balance both my thyroid and pre-menopausal symptoms, and work very well for my body without any side effects, and which are calibrated to my small size and needs as a person balancing multiple conditions. Do not base your decisions on biased and flawed application of science. Thank you.

My story is nothing new. Age 55, menopause. My sister died of breast cancer and so I KNEW I would NOT go near any of the "approved" pharmaceuticals that were on the market. I went to my physician and she explained that I DID have options. I have been 14 years on compounded therapy for menopause with NO problems whatsoever! My health is better than some 30 year olds I know. I have great energy, sleep very well and still am employed full-time. My bones are still strong and I am extremely active (including the gym).

I have no plans to stop because why should I?

I implore "the Powers that Be" to NOT mess with my compounded prescriptions!

I am 62 years old. Many years ago it was discovered that my digestive system was not functioning well and I was deficient in key nutrients. After much time and effort I found that restricting certain things from my diet was helpful to my digestion. I DO NOT do well with medicines that must be swallowed because my digestion does not work well. Before and after the digestive issues were discovered we also became aware of imbalances and low levels of my hormones. I was on Armour thyroid successfully until the FDA stepped in and made them change their formulation. After that it did not work well for me. I have spent from then until now struggling to keep my thyroid levels optimal. Also, I am low in estrogen, progesterone, and DHEA levels. I use a pharmaceutical patch for the estrogen. I use compounded progesterone and a compounded DHEA. It has taken me YEARS to get to a place that resembles some sort of balance in my body; Where my mind is clearer, my energy level is better, and my sleep is at least better than it used to be. Every time that one medication has to be changed (usually it has been the thyroid medicine due to FDA interference) I have had to try again to find a way to regain balance. The thought of having to start over again makes me want to lie down and give up on life. The compounded medicines are working for me. Please DO NOT take them away from me.

I am a menopausal woman who, without bioidentical hormones suffers from 100's of diabilitating hot flashes daily (& nightly), with intense anxiety. I am unable to sleep, and unable to function in any daily activities, thus having suicidal thoughts.
Bioidentical hormones also keep my Interstitial Cystitis at bay ( flare ups also make me suicidal), making it possible to have relations with my spouse. Synthetic hormones have not given me any relief.

I am a breast cancer survivor & compounding my hormones is the safest & most effective way to treat my menopause symptoms. By having Bi-est compounded hormones, it mimics the estrogen found in my ovaries most naturally. This should be a persons choice to have hormones compounded. Please understand that hormones are not a “one size fits all”. Each individual person is different & through compounded hormones we can adjust our doses as needed.

I had a hysterectomy at 21 years old. I have tried patches, pills, and cream. I was unable to keep a constant level and felt fatigued, hot flashes, night sweats, and brain fog. So the pellet has changed my life. I am 41 years old now and able do live a fairly normal life. no more hot flashes, night sweats & brain fog.

Mopped the moody feeling of crying and give me more energy.

Where do I begin? I had no clue how wonderful NHRT would change my life.I suffer from anxiety and depression already. Once my moodiness increased along with the hot flashes and night sweats I researched for help. My lab work was nowhere that i thought it would be. Once i started my first dose of pellets and i saw my labs increase and saw how i felt i knew this was exactly what i needed. It has truly saved my marriage and sex life. The drugless and lack of libido really had me not wanting to connect with my husband. my libido has completely changed and i am able to carry on with intercourse without dragness. My mood changed so I was able to handle daily challenges without being so irritable. i can tell when it is time for my next round of BHRT therapy. I have cad articles where people say this is not safe. My opinion is the pro's out weigh the ton's.

It has made me be able to function again. Hormonal imbalance is horrible to go through it. Hot flashes, not sweat weight gain uncontrollable bleeding on top of thyroiditis (Hypo). I was a mess.