Understanding BHRT: Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

What Is BHRT?

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) uses hormones that are chemically identical in structure to those the body produces. They are derived from plant sources and prepared to the strength your prescriber specifies.

What a Compounding Pharmacy Prepares

Compounded hormone therapy is made to order against a patient-specific prescription. The strength and the dosage form are whatever your prescriber has written, rather than whatever a manufacturer has chosen to produce.

The forms we prepare for hormone therapy are hypoallergenic creams, an olive oil base topical, and vaginal preparations, with oral capsules for progesterone and DHEA. Estrogens and testosterone are prepared as topical or vaginal preparations — testosterone in particular is poorly absorbed when it is taken by mouth.

We do not make hormone pellets, patches, injectables, troches or lozenges.

Who Decides What

Your prescriber diagnoses, selects the hormone, sets the strength, and orders and interprets any lab work. We do not prescribe. If your prescriber adjusts the strength, send us the new prescription and we will prepare it to match.

Our hormone therapy work is led by Jessica Patrone, Pharm.D., who has over 20 years of compounding experience and is certified in Hormone Replacement Therapy.

How to Get a Prescription Filled

1. Your prescriber sends the prescription to us
2. A pharmacist reviews the formulation
3. A team member confirms cost with you before anything is processed, made, or shipped
4. We prepare it — 48-hour compounding time on most preparations. Shipping time is additional.

We are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, so we can ship to you wherever you live.

If you already have a prescription at another pharmacy, you can transfer it to us. For more on hormone therapy generally, see our HRT page.

Call 423-975-0597 for current pricing and shipping options for your state.

Compounded preparations are not reviewed or approved by the FDA for safety or efficacy. Nothing here is medical advice; decisions rest with your prescriber, who also orders and interprets any lab work.