Compounding involves creating a custom formulation of a medication to meet a patient’s unique needs that cannot be satisfied with commercially available products. Estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone are essential in various medical treatments. They are widely used in hormone replacement therapy and to address hormonal imbalances. Their effectiveness and safety are well-documented and supported by numerous medical societies and clinical guidelines. These hormones can be found in both manufactured products and compounded preparations, making them versatile options for different therapeutic needs.
Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT) is widely used to address menopausal symptoms, fertility issues, and other hormonal imbalances in women. Men also benefit from BHRT, particularly for conditions like low testosterone levels.
Despite the availability of numerous hormone-containing products that have been evaluated for safety and efficacy, there remains a significant need for individualized compounded preparations for millions of patients. This is often due to specific patient needs, such as allergies to certain ingredients or the requirement for unique dosages or combinations not available in commercial products.
Compounding allows the dose, dosage form, and route of administration to be tailored and adjusted to achieve the desired clinical effect for each individual patient while minimizing potential side effects. This is why many patients prefer compounded bioidentical hormone therapy (cBHT) over manufactured products, which are available only in limited dosage forms and strengths.