DO YOU TAKE COMPOUNDED BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES?

[DANA]

Hi! I am interested in if anyone is taking compounded bio-identical hormones for treating peri-menopause or menopause?

If so, do you take a pill form or a topical cream form? Please feel free to share any benefits about using this form of hormonal treatment. Thank you!

[Helen Sullivan]

Hi.....I tried bio identical progesterone cream a couple of years ago. I don't think it made much difference even though I really wanted it to! Started getting hot flushes so tried Remifimen but after 2 weeks on that I was one of the rare ones who develop liver problems with Black Cohosh. Thankfully I stopped immediately I got symptoms. Some women never attribute it to the Remifemen and keep taking it. Was a bit fed up really...hot flushes, wakeful nights so went on HRT. Initially oestridail patches but had skin reactions to the patches, so switched to Sandrina gel, which is a clear gel used daily, rubbed into abdomen or thighs. Also on tiny dose of progesterone daily. I wasnt too happy initially to go on HRT but will only be on the smallest dose of both oestrogen and progesterone to stop hot flushes and will taper off after a year. The risks involved with HRT increase after many years, which is what women used to do years ago. The gels and patches are safer than the pill form because they are not metabolised through the liver. Anyway hope this helps. Some women are helped by bio identical hormones but I wasnt one of them!

[DANA]

Hello Helen! Thank you for sharing about your experience with identical hormones! Looks like both of us did not have good luck with bio identical hormones! My body is so messed up from taking the compounded bio identical hormones that I literally have not had my period for four months! No kidding!
I was having my period before I started the hormones so I definitely think that once I started the hormones, they were NOT the correct dosage because my symptoms became much worse.

I went back to using Estroven, purchased at a local pharmacy, over the counter. It does have black cohosh and it seems to help keep the hot flashes to a minimum. I have tried natural progesterone cream and for many years did very well on it. My periods were less painful and easier. However, progesterone cream is no longer working well for me. It does not seem to do anything.

My blood work shows that I am deficient in estrogen so I do think that I definitely need to do something about it, but I am at wits end! I have an appointment with an endocrinologist, but I have no idea if he will address my female hormones? Hormones have really done weird things to my body and I am breaking out with acne in crazy places! It is worse than when I was a teenager!

[Sharon Tep123]

Dana, I have an appointment with a specialist next month who uses Bio-Identical hormones for menopausal symptoms. The adderal does not seem to be working as well after 5 years even with an occasional break. I am now more in a fog then ever and I think it may be hormonal related. Have you heard if the Bio-Identical hormones work for those who no longer have their periods? How did it affect you aside from stopping your periods?
What affect does menopause have on ADD ----OR ---- what affect does ADD have on menopause?