When I first went to a medical expert in the field of hormone replacement, I was bothered by constant fatigue and a steadily rising cholesterol level. A very complete blood testing revealed low testosterone, low progesterone, and low DHEA. I received a prescription for a transdermal cream to address the first two low hormones, which I obtained from a compounding pharmacy. Three months later, my lethargy was gone and my cholesterol was a very healthy 165 down from 232, the former being my cholesterol level when I was in my 30's. (I was 65 years old at the time of this first test.) Since that time, I have continuously used the bioidentical hormones via transdermal creams. My cholesterol has remained at a very healthy level and my fatigue is gone. I have returned to regular daily runs (20-30 miles routinely) and feel wonderful.
I strongly believe that we should not put into our bodies substances which aren't there naturally, except on unusual circumstances (antibiotics to address infections would be such an exception). The brother-in-law of a close friend was killed by statin drugs he used to lower his cholesterol level. That is a strong message to me that I'm on the right track. My own research also shows that bisphosphonate drugs routinely prescribed for osteopenia and osteoporosis are dangerous, causing spontaneous fractures and preventing normal bone healing and rebuilding. The progesterone I'm taking should be substituted as it is the only hormone my research shows can stop and reverse those two conditions. Bioidentical testosterone may also assist in allowing the osteoblasts to keep up with the osteoclasts; we need both those cells to maintain healthy bones and proper calcium reuse by our bodies.
Most US-educated doctors know almost nothing about naturally occurring hormones and how bioidentical hormones can supplement declining hormone levels as we age.
I am very pleased with my bHRT experience of the last 11 years and wish that the drug companies would spend more time making them available to physicians in a variety of strengths in parallel with improvements in the education of doctors, particularly those who specialize in primary care. At this time compounding pharmacies are the only reliable source of these substances which have dramatically improved the quality of my life!