Picking a Legitimate BHRT Clinic vs. Hormone Mills Red Flags of "Hormone Mills" Diagnose and prescribe hormones based on symptoms alone (no bloodwork) One-size-fits-all pellet dosing High-pressure sales tactics or expensive packages upfront Little follow-up testing after starting treatment No licensed physician oversight What Legitimate Clinics Do Testing First Comprehensive baseline bloodwork (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, thyroid) Some also test saliva or urine (DUTCH test) for metabolites Physician Oversight Look for board-certified OB/GYNs, endocrinologists, or internists BodyLogicMD and Bioidentical Hormone Network maintain physician directories with credentialing standards Reputable Compounding Ask if they use PCAB-accredited compounding pharmacies like Belmar Pharmacy or Strive Pharmacy Good Starting Points Menopause Society (NAMS) provider finder – menopause.org lists certified practitioners Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) – ifm.org for metabolically-trained physicians Your current OB/GYN or internist for a referral Key Questions to Ask "What bloodwork do you run before prescribing?" "How often do you retest levels?" "Are you a licensed MD/DO?" The presence of thorough follow-up testing is usually the clearest sign of legitimacy.
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