Hormone Management

Body-identical hormones are natural hormones made from plant oils and are identical in structure and function to human hormones. These oils are usually extracted from soybeans or wild yams and can be compounded to replace several types of deficient hormones in individualized amounts to meet the needs of the patient.

Women who have had hysterectomies, personal or family history of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, or Alzheimer’s, and women with perimenopausal symptoms that affect their quality of life should consider discussing bHRT with their healthcare providers.

Compounding pharmacists can make specific formulations of bHRT that can be given in oral, slow-release capsules, transdermal creams or gels, buccal troches, sublingual drops, or vaginal suppositories and creams. Formulations can be customized to meet the needs of the patient.

A compounding pharmacy is the oldest type of pharmacy. The compounding pharmacist is trained in formulating prescriptions from pure ingredients based on an order from a licensed healthcare provider, with whom they work closely to create a unique formulation for each patient.

The most common hormones used in bHRT are estrogens (estrone, estradiol, and estriol), progesterone, DHEA, testosterone, pregnenolone, and the thyroid hormones.

Some insurance companies will reimburse a percentage of the cost of the medication to the patient. Once you purchase your medication, you can request a reimbursement form, which can be filled out and sent to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Your healthcare provider will consider your age, weight, symptoms, medical history, and use of hormones before deciding on a dosage form for you. They may then choose to do a saliva, urine or blood test to identify specific imbalances of your hormones. Follow-up testing and regular monitoring may be necessary to adjust your dose. 

The North American Menopause Society recommends using these drugs for menopause symptoms at the lowest dose possible for the shortest time needed.