How I replaced 3 HRT Prescriptions with 1: Inner Balance for HRT
- Peggy B. - Experienced HRT Patient Reviewer
- Sep 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 2
This blog is how I was able to replace three prescriptions with one prescription vaginal cream that included all my needed hormones.
I hadn't put much thought into the fact that for the past few years my Hormone Replacement Therapy consisted of three separate prescriptions: the Estradiol Patch, Progesterone tablets and Estrogen vaginal cream. It's a pretty typical regimen that online HRT platforms and brick and mortal doctors prescribe. When I learned that I could replace all three of these with one product, I was intrigued.
Oestra by Inner Balance
I was not only super motivated to try this one because I could reduce my routine of three meds down to one, but also they specifically mention that this formulation helps with sleep. Sleep remains the only HRT symptom that I've not been able to conquer. All of the other HRT regiments that I've tried helped the night-sweats, moodiness, hot flashes and brain-fog, but until Oestra my sleep still wasn't great.
I had even upped by dose of progesterone tables from 100 mg to 200 mg and even that didn't help my sleep in the way that I had hoped.
Oestra by Inner Balance is a vaginal cream that contains both estrogen and progesterone. Per Dr. Sarah Daccarett, the founder of Inner Balance, the two hormones in one product delivered vaginally convert testosterone. So no additional testosterone is needed with this product per Dr. Sarah.
Oestra Cream
The cream comes in a jar with a pump with enough product to for three months. Initially, most women are prescribed to apply or administer one pump per day. During a Q & A that I attended with Dr. Sarah, she had mentioned that in many cases women are prescribed two pumps per day on month four. When I inquired about this, I was asked to schedule an online consult with Inner Balance for us to discuss this option for me. This appointment is to happen at the end of this month.
I have always struggled with vaginal cream application. So I made the decision for me, that I wanted to also purchase disposable vaginal applicators to take the stress out of administration of this vaginal cream. I push down on the jar's pump and the cream comes out the top, I use my fingers to place into the applicator and then insert.
Oestra by Inner Balance for Sleep
I had done enough research on progesterone and it's impact on sleep that I assumed the most advantageous time to apply the cream is just before bed. I've had some women reach out and say the cream makes them sleepy, so that affirmed to me that I was correct in its effect. I would suggest when you are new to this product, that you apply in the evenings about the time you are ready to fall asleep.
The biggest improvement that I have seen from this HRT product is the quality of my sleep and for that I'm super grateful and excited. It makes me blissfully sleepy about 30 minutes after administration and I find I wake up less often.
Cost of Oestra by Inner Balance
Before I started the Oestra cream, I was on three separate prescriptions from MyMenopauseRx.
Estradiol patch: I tried doses of .025, .0375, and .050 – I was on the .050 when I found Oestra. You place the patch on your torso or buttocks and change it twice a week, switching form one side to the other. Mine were covered by prescription insurance.
Progesterone tablets: I started at 100 mg, later increased to 200 mg to see if it improved my sleep—but it didn’t make much difference. I took them nightly. Also covered by insurance.
Vaginal estradiol inserts:Â Twice a week at bedtime. Also covered by insurance.
That’s a lot to keep track of: patches twice a week after I shower, tablets nightly, and inserts twice a week before bed. I made it work, but honestly—it was A LOT.
Now let’s talk cost, because this part is important to all of us. With insurance, my three prescriptions came to about $95 for a 90-day supply. Plus I need to add in four yearly consults at $99 each, and the average worked out to about $67 per month.
Inner Balance doesn’t take insurance. It starts at $199 per month, BUT . . . then drops to $99 per month from month seven and onward. If you average that out over the first year, that’s about $149 per month. And then year two onward, it’s $99 per month.
Oestra costs about $32 more per month compared to using insurance. But for me, the improved sleep makes it worth every penny. Plus, the simplicity is priceless. No more patch schedules, no remembering which side I used last week, no twice-a-week inserts, and no extra prescriptions to track.
Oestra is one product, one step, done nightly. The clinician support team is responsive, and my medication ships directly to my door every three months. No fear of running out. You will need to put a credit card on file.
The only downside? They don’t take HSA cards. But I adjusted my HSA contributions so I have the extra $99 cash flow each month—and that solved the problem.
Inner Balance by Dr. Sarah Daccarett
Personally, if my sleep continues to be at the quality that it is today, I'm willing to spend a bit more for the Oestra cream. I think Dr. Daccarett has created a product that for me, seems to include the missing component.
I have to assume it's the vaginally delivery of the product that makes it different. I'm super excited to have my one-on-one consultation later this month to see if they want to increase my dose to two-pumps.
