These conditions affect millions of women. As the number of women seeking hormone-related treatment has grown, so has the mass production of pills, patches and creams by the drug industry. Each woman’s body is different and has its own unique needs, but commercially manufactured products tend to be “one size fits all,” and they do not always account for the differences between individuals. Compounding is the preparation of customized medications for patients. The advantage of compounded hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is that it can be adapted specifically to fit each individual’s body and hormone levels. Bio-identical hormones have the exact chemical structure as the hormones in the human body. The body recognizes them and allows them to mimic the function of the hormones the body produces on its own. No two women are alike, and compounding pharmacists understand this. A pharmacist experienced in HRT can assist a healthcare provider in interpreting the results of tests that measure a patient’s hormone levels. The health care provider, compounding pharmacist and patient can then determine a course of treatment that will give the patient the exact amount of hormones her body needs.
Working closely with the patient and her health care provider, a compounding pharmacist can help start and maintain a hormone replacement regimen that brings her hormones back into balance and closely mimics what her body has been doing naturally for years. With a health care provider’s prescription, the pharmacist can prepare hormones in a variety of strengths and dosage forms. Thanks to compounding, there are customized hormone prescriptions to meet your specific needs. And that’s the power of personalized medicine.
