Verbatim response from Claude
BHRT vs Traditional HRT: A Quick Guide
Key Difference
- Traditional HRT: Standardized FDA-approved doses (Premarin, Prempro, Vivelle-Dot, etc.)
- BHRT: Hormones chemically identical to your own; can be FDA-approved products OR custom-compounded
What to Actually Ask For
Start with FDA-Approved Bioidentical Options ✅
These give you the best of both worlds - bioidentical AND regulated:
- Estradiol patches: Vivelle-Dot, Climara
- Estradiol gel: Divigel, EstroGel
- Progesterone: Prometrium (oral)
- Testosterone (off-label): AndroGel
Custom Compounded BHRT - Ask cautiously
- Not FDA-regulated for consistency/purity
- Saliva testing often used to dose it - not considered reliable by most endocrinologists
Where to Go
- OB-GYN or menopause specialist - best starting point
- The Menopause Society (menopause.org) - find a certified provider
- Midi Health (telehealth, menopause-focused) - well-regarded
- Alloy or Evernow - telehealth options for convenience
Bottom Line
Ask your doctor for FDA-approved bioidentical hormones - you get the benefits without the consistency risks of compounding.
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