Are bio identical hormones expensive?

Are the natural bio-identical hormones expensive? And where do you go to get them? Do I ask my GYN for a prescription? thanks

Windyaa,
Unfortunately my insurance does not cover the hormones. I pay $90 to $100 a month for mine, but for me it has been well worth it. The hormones have changed my life. I just feel so good and so energetic.

You have to get the hormone Rx's from a doc who is knowlegeable about them. The OB/GYN who did my surgery was NOT a supporter of bio-identical hormones--a lot of docs are not. He said it was a quack science. I got the name of my new doc from my local Compounding Pharmacy, which is where the Rx's are filled. They gave me a list of docs who prescribe bio-identical hormones and I researched each before selecting one.

Good luck.

Candy

Hi Windyaa-

There are many bioidentical hormone formulations available with a prescription that don't have to be compounded and are likely to be covered by insurance - the Climara and Vivelle dot patches (generic versions as well), Femring, Divigel, Estrogel, Estrasorb lotion, Elestrin gel, Evamist spray, and Estrace tablets along with their generic form estradiol. Prometrium is a bioidentical progesterone, so are Prochieve and Crinone. They're all tested and FDA approved, so your Dr shouldn't have a problem prescribing any of them.

I am using the term "bioidentical" here as "chemically the same as human hormones". If you need a customized dose or a blend of different estrogens you have to get a prescription from your Dr and take it to a compounding pharmacy. Your insurance may or may not cover it. Mine doesn't.

CMT55 and Sciencegeek, thank you for all the great info on these hormones. Boy, they don't make it easy for us do they. What happened to when things were simple in life.

You can get an Estrace prescription filled at WalMart for $4/month. It's bio-identical, oral tablet.

Hi Calypso, I'm now on Premarin vaginal cream. My GYN said it's natural because it comes from horse urine, which is natural. I do feel slightly better mentally.

The premarin vaginal cream is only localized estrogen, not systemic (will not relieve major menopause symptoms, but will help with vaginal dryness/moisture). It is not bio-identical (identical to what the HUMAN body makes), but it is bio-identical for horses.

Glad it's helping you out. Different strokes for different folks!

but my uro/gyn said it was natural. And he won't give me anything natural like Estrace I hear about. Some male doctors just don't get it. They don't know what it's like to be a menopausal women. Thats why I like female doctors.
thanks

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Calypso The premarin vaginal cream is only localized estrogen, not systemic (will not relieve major menopause symptoms, but will help with vaginal dryness/moisture). It is not bio-identical (identical to what the HUMAN body makes), but it is bio-identical for horses. Glad it's helping you out. Different strokes for different folks!

If you use a high enough dose of premarin cream it is systemic. I have used it and know from experience that it will do that.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by marcatbak If you use a high enough dose of premarin cream it is systemic. I have used it and know from experience that it will do that.

For some perhaps, if the vaginal tissues are very thin it can happen. But it is not the norm.