Verbatim response from Claude
Picking a Legitimate BHRT Clinic vs. Hormone Mills
Red Flags of "Hormone Mills"
- Prescribe hormones after a questionnaire only (no bloodwork)
- One-size-fits-all dosing
- Aggressive upselling of pellets or supplements
- No follow-up testing scheduled
- Practitioners with minimal relevant training
What Legitimate Clinics Do
Testing first, always
- Comprehensive baseline labs (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, thyroid)
- Follow-up labs at 6-12 weeks after starting
Qualified practitioners
- Look for board certification through NAMS (North American Menopause Society) - their "Menopause Practitioner" directory is reliable
- ACOG-affiliated OB/GYNs with menopause specialization
- The Menopause Society provider finder at menopause.org
Specific reputable providers/networks
- Midi Health - telehealth, menopause-specialized clinicians
- Gennev - menopause-focused with physician oversight
- Alloy - physician-supervised, evidence-based protocols
- Your own board-certified OB/GYN or internist who stays current on menopause medicine
Important Note
Be cautious with pellet-only clinics - pellets can't be adjusted if dosing is wrong. FDA-approved options (patches, gels, pills) are easier to fine-tune.
Would you like more detail on any specific aspect?