Best Online Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
If you are like me, when you finally get to the point that you are ready to start Hormone Replacement Therapy and specifically if you are looking for telehealth options, you go to Google to begin your search.
When I started looking for companies that provided online HRT, Winona was the first one I found and then soon after I found Joi Woman's Wellness.
Best Hormone Replacement
How do you know the best hormone replacement for you? It's the one that alleviates your symptoms, is priced and packaged in a way you can afford, gives you the right type of communication and access to your certified coach or HRT doctor/specialist and is available in the state where you live.
If you find an online provider who can provide these things for you, then you have hit the jackpot.
Menopause Symptoms
Menopause feels different to each of us. They start both gradually and all at once. Sometimes, you recognize them immediately, but for me to it took some time for me to accept them for what they were.
Symptoms can be:
Irregular periods
Vaginal dryness
Hot flashes
Chills
Night sweats
Sleep problems
Mood changes
Weight gain and slowed metabolism
Thinning hair and dry skin
Loss of breast fullness
Best Online HRT Clinic
Here is where I can begin to point out the differences between Joi Women's Wellness and WINONA.
WINONA's goal is to make things easy and convenient for you. You go online, you create an account. You give them a credit card number, so if you do purchase, they can process the order and then a doctor reaches out to begin the conversation via their patient portal. You won't be bothered to miss work to attend an online meeting/appointment. From your online registration, the doctor will make recommendations via the patient portal, and you'll be able to ask questions regarding the Winona Treatment they are prescribing. Once, you and your doctor land on the therapy, they'll send the prescription directly to you.
Joi Women's Wellness will require an upfront blood test to look at your levels of hormones at a minimum. They offer several different series of blood tests and depending on your concerns, you may choose the Hormone ($149), Hormone + Metabolic ($399) or the Comprehensive Panel ($699). You'll pay for the blood work, they'll send lab orders to you, and you'll go to your local LabCorp for the blood draw. Upon receipt of the blood work, Joi will send you a link to schedule an appointment with a certified health coach. Because Joi treats the entire body, you may also want to discuss, digestion, weight or sex concerns. You'll have an entire 30-minute session dedicated to you to discuss your symptoms, health concerns and medical history. At the end of that appointment the certified health coach will make some recommendations and will send an invoice with the pricing of the products for you to decide what you want to purchase.
How much does HRT Cost and is it covered by insurance?
That's the golden question I get so often. Unfortunately, it's not a yes or no answer. There are a few other questions you should ask.
First, understand that there are two types of HRT, Bioidentical and Conventional. Bioidentical is what most of us want as its plant based and can be custom dosed based on what each of us need. It's also thought to be more natural. On the flip side, conventional has been around for a very long time. It's proven in its effectiveness and in many cases, it's covered by traditional private insurance.
When you do business with WINONA, you'll be purchasing your products ala cart. They don't take insurance, so understand you'll be paying out of pocket. My HRT doctor prescribed an estrogen/progesterone combo cream that was $225 for 3 months, or $75 per month and DHEA pills that didn't make a difference, and I chose to not purchase a 2nd time. There was no initial fee to get started and no commitment beyond my 3-months' worth of HRT products. You'll likely need an estrogen product and if you still have a uterus, you'll need a progesterone. Unless you choose to purchase one of their add-on products, those are the only two WINONA products you'll need. Each comes in multiple formulations and in all cases, there are cost differences.
Due to the fact that WINONA doesn't require upfront testing, that saves you money and time travel to a LabCorp. It also means that how you feel and if your symptoms improve will be the only measuring stick to gauge if the meds are working.
Joi Women's Wellness also prepares their prescriptions in 3 months' supply and bills for them quarterly. Once the initial bloodwork is paid for, follow up bloodwork may or may not be needed depending on your therapy.
Testosterone - $59-$69/Month
Estrogen $59-$69/Month
Vaginal Estrogen $ 49-$59/Month
Progesterone - $54-$69/Month
I needed to see the numbers to know I truly needed to take HRT and I am thrilled at each follow-up knowing that my numbers have improved and yet are within ranges that are healthy for a menopausal woman. Secondly, the fact that I have access to an HRT Certified Coach for 30 minutes every three-months, that's the type of white-glove treatment I can get behind.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Near Me
Joi Women's Wellness is able to practice in all 50 states. WINONA is licensed in 33 states. Click here to see your state.
Best Hormone Replacement
These two providers couldn't be more different as they serve different needs.
Both companies offer bioidentical HRT. They prescribe estrogen patches, pills and creams. They both prescribe progesterone in cream and pill formulas. Joi and WINONA have partner compounding pharmacies so prescriptions can be sent directly to you upon fulfilling the orders. So, for the most part, the same products. It is their service and how they practice healthcare that sets them apart.
If you are looking for a simple way to purchase HRT, are good with only text communication, have a budget, have no interest or are not willing to invest in blood work, then WINONA is probably the best option for you. You could likely get started with the estrogen/progesterone cream for $75/month.
If you are curious about your hormone levels, have other health concerns, like weight gain you want to discuss with a real live health coach and if you are in a financial position that you can afford as much as $172 per month, then Joi Women's Wellness would be a great fit for you. The other benefit to Joi's program is that they offer testosterone as part of their therapies. They also have Semaglutide and Tirzepatide injections that can be prescribed to help you lose that menopause weight. Personally, I have found using HRT and the newly FDA approved weight loss drugs together to be the perfect combo to lose that last 12 pounds.
Best HRT
I am currently using Joi Women's Wellness. I have been prescribed an estrogen (estradiol) patch, progesterone tablets and testosterone injections. I also use Joi's Semaglutide Weight Loss injections. I feel fabulous! No night sweats, no hot flashes and I've lost 11 pounds since I started the semaglutide about two and half months ago.
I've used WINONA in the past and had a great experience with them as well. I just prefer to be with a company who does the blood testing to monitor hormone levels, but there are lots of professionals out there who don't feel the ongoing monitoring is necessary as our estrogen levels ebb and flow throughout the day and month.
Comments