I get my bioidentical hormones from Womens International Pharmacy. They have a website. My doctor prescribes them for me. You can do a search in your browser to find them.

My family doctor (a DO) prescribed the cream for me which I got at a Rite-Aid Pharmacy which mixes compounds (not all do). My OB-Gyn does not believe that the cream is beneficial and I can't tell a difference when I use it or don't. Make sure you have your hormone levels checked by your doctor to make sure you need it, how much, how often, etc. Note: your hormone levels will vary depending on what time of the month you do the blood test, so make sure your doctor is aware of that, too. Good luck!

I am now on bioidentical hormones as a patient at Platt Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, CA. I underwent blood work to determine the best levels of progesterone and testosterone replacement for me as an individual. I take Progesterone Cream transdermally (a small amount on my wrists three times a day). The cream I take is specially compounded for me at Town Center Pharmacy and shipped to me. It is a higher dosage than is available in the over the counter creams available in health food stores and on the Internet. I cannot overemphasize the importance of hormonal balance (something I was woefully uneducated about before I became a patient at Platt Medical Center). The hormone balancing has lead to a more than 40 pound weight loss (and I am not even completely faithful to the food plan prescribed), and I am off SIX medications: antidepressant, antihistamine, sleep medication, blood pressure medication, acid reflux medication, and most importantly (to me, anyway) the Ritalin I took for years because I am AD/HD. I have more energy than I did when I was 30, and I will be 50 in June 2008. I am, needless to say, evangelical about the benefits of whole bioidentical hormone regime I am on through Platt Medical Center's office. Dr. Platt has written a remarkable book called THE MIRACLE OF BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES (2nd Edition) which outlines the benefits of a number of different supplements and hormones available to both men and women. Incidentally, his protocol is VASTLY different from the Willey protocol endorsed by Suzanne Somers in her book Ageless. Do yourself and your body a favor and read Dr. Platt's book, if for no other reason than to become a better informed consumer. (And if you are wondering, I am in no way connected to the Platt Medical Center practice except for being a patient of Dr. Platt's office associate Dr. John D. Carr).

Hi

I am from Australia and there is a pharmaceutical company here called Lawley Pharmaceutical, they have a website, they specialise in Bio Identical hormones. They produce the only standardised quality control Natural Progesterone Product on the market that I know of. I believe they have a licence to export (as we need doctors prescription to get it here) But if you are in the USA or anywhere other than New Zealand and Australia I believe you can buy it direct from them. I use this cream, after years of using various other creams by various compounding pharmacist I am relieved to find this one is totally reliable and properly manufactured. I find it gives a very consistant result, instead of other creams which can vary and sometime work and sometimes not.

Also I suggest checking out Jenny Birdsey website and her self published books on the use of natural progesterone...she has been utterly invaluable to me and I think anyone using natural progesterone should read her books. Personally I think she is a pioneer in the use of this amazing hormone. search her name on the web and she should be easy to find, she has a free advice line too.

I have been on hormone replacement therapy for over 3 years and absolutely love it. At first I ordered it from a pharmacy in Atlanta (set up through my doctor's office) and then I had it transferred to a local apothecary we are fortunate to have in our area. They compound my prescriptions and I can actually talk with the pharmacist (a woman who listens) if I have questions.

I feel less stressed, my breasts are not sore--all I have to do is rub the cream on my wrists morning and evening. Additionally I have a vaginal cream that eliminates the dryness. The regular gp's and the pharmaceuticals are not happy about it. Some insurances will not cover it.

I do not want to go back on Premarin--ever!

I would recommend finding a compound pharmacy. This type of pharmacy mainly deals with hormone replacement (bio-identical vs. synthetic) but also "concoct" other individually tailored medicines. They may have something you can buy right off the shelf or they could at least recommend a place for you to go in your area. Hope that helps.

Please help! I am 65 and was on HT from 50-60. When my doctor discontinued the HT, I began to experience the same symptoms I had before I started taking HT, and continue to have the night sweats, hot flashes, low grade depression etc....etc... when I told my doctor and asked if I should return to HT or if there was an alternative, he just said"well do you want breast cancer?" I am tired of feeling angry, down and not enjoying life.

Laura

I am a 67 year old woman and I have been on HRT since I was in my early 50s, after a complete hysterectomy. Unfortunately, I did not have an opportunity to see the show today (1/15) because there was a plane that crashed in the Hudson River and it pre-empted all but the last ten minutes of the show. I would have liked to hear the differences between the two types of therapy, because when I went on HT, there were not many options, and I was given the patch. After all this time i still am having terrible, terrible night sweats and can't stand it anymore. It would have been great to hear what I could ask my gyn to see what I could do about it. I am definitely post-menapausal and if I should stop wearing my hormone patch, seven days later, maybe less, I go back to awful hot flashes and mood swings again. I am totally unfamiliar with that biodentical therapy and would like to know how I can find out more, where I can get it and how exactly it works.

leyland67.

Hi Laura,

I'm sorry you're not feeling well. I'm 57, a nurse, and have taken both synthetic and bioidentical hormones over the last several years. From the research I've done I definitely believe bioidentical hormones are the way to go if you're having symptoms and need relief. I like them because they are "customized" for each individual. I would suggest finding a new doctor. Your doctor is obviously not interested in how you're feeling and his comment on, "well do you want breast cancer?" is a ridiculous question to ask any woman and a very intimidating one. How insensitive. You deserve kinder treatment from a physician that really cares.

Good luck!
Love,
Peg

I am not sure where you live so it is hard to advise. Here in Oklahoma many of the local health food stores stock a couple of brands. Many store owners are happy to discuss the different options and have useful suggestions based on reports from their customers experiences or complaints. From my own experience I gave up on the OTC preparations due to unreliability of dosing and switched to prescription compounded product. This requires finding a physician that is famailiar with the bioidenticals, of course. The Apothecary Shoppes here carry a line of OTC hormones that is pretty reliable.

I am trying to inform everyone that the proposed ban on supplements and over-the-counter preparations is being tacked onto trade agreements and could make bioidenticals unavailable. This clause is the codex alimentarius and is an attempt to overturn existing U.S. laws in favor of pharma-friendly international trade rules. There are videos at youtube on this subject for anyone who would like to find out about this.

Find a doctor who will put you on BHRT. The bio-identical progesterone will help to protect you from breast cancer and combined with bio-identical estrogen you will feel great! I'm 60 and have been on BHRT for 7 yrs thanks to Suzanne Somers I feel like I'm 30. Get her last 2 books on hermones and read Uzzi Rice's last book .

I want to get my blood tested to see if I'm a candidate for bioidentical hormones, but I have no clue how to go about finding a doctor who prescribes them. Other than opening up the phone book, and randomly calling gynecologists offices in my area, I don't know how to find someone who can help me. Unfortunately, I can't rely on word of mouth, as I don't know any women who are taking bioidentical hormones.

I too unfortunately did not get to see the entire show, but I caught the end. It would be nice to have it aired again, but anyway, I had been on hormone replacement for many years after having my ovaries removed. I lost my job in April and my health insurance as a result so I stopped taking the meds to save money. Well, I don't think I really had any idea how they were working for me until I started having the menopause symptoms. Let me just say that there are many times throughout the day that I am not much fun to live with. I have always been very health conscious and like to incorporate my strong feeling on health and wellness into my everyday life through a healthy diet, exercise, living an all natural life as best I can and trying to stay away from prescription meds if possible. I started taking a supplement that was introduced to my by a good friend, and it really helps to boost my energy, helps me focus and has helped with inflimation in my neck due to an old injury. But...........there is apparently no alternative to replacing your hormone loss because I am experiencing hot flashes quite often, I don't sleep well at all, and when I am tired you should just stay away! I have decided that I need to come up with the funds to visit my doctor and get back on some replacement therapy. Poor Tom, I am sorry Baby for what you have to deal with! Good luck to all of you who are in the same boat as I.

I am also looking for a doctor in the Connecticut area, as my GYN doesn't believe in bio-identical hormones. Anyone out there have a doctor in the Greenwich, Stamford, Westport, Danbury area that you would recommend? I;ve been to all of the links on Oprah and the nearest doctor I can find is in Manchester. Thanks!

Hi Everyone

Can anyone recommend a physician in NYC who's open to prescribing bio-identicals?

Many thanks.

Meg