Is the Estrogen Patch Bioidentical

Estradiol comes in patches, creams, gels and tablets.

I'm Peggy an HRT patient reviewer. I've tried thus far, seven different online Hormone Replacement Therapy providers. I love telehealth for Menopause Hormone care and don't really see the need to see a clinician in person for HRT specifically.

I still visit my GYN annually and have mammograms done as suggested also on an annual basis. But, I prefer to get my HRT from someone who specializes in hormones and menopause care.

Did you know that most OB/GYN's are surgeons and have very little to no training on hormones or perimenopause/menopause care? My GYN isn't supportive of me using HRT, so I had to advocate for myself which is how I found several really awesome online, telehealth providers. See my list of trusted providers here.

I was prescribed the Estradiol patch in the .0375 dose and Progesterone tablets in 100 mg dose from Effecty. Click on photo for $50 coupon off first order of Effecty.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

For so long, I thought it was the formulation (cream vs. pill vs. patch) that made a specific HRT product bioidentical or not, but I was wrong. It's the ingredients that make one product bioidentical or synthetic.

"Bioidentical" means a hormone compound is structurally identical to the hormones your body naturally makes, allowing your body to recognize and use it the same way, often used in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for menopause, though it's a marketing term and availability varies between FDA-approved products and custom-compounded ones with different safety/regulation profiles.

Bioidentical has become a marketing term that many of the on HRT providers use to help potential clients understand that today's HRT is safe for most women.

If your HRT whether it be the estrogen patch, an estrogen cream or gel, if it names Estradiol as the main form of estrogen, then your product is considered Bioidentical.

Be sure to look for the Legit Script certification when shopping for online, telehealth HRT providers. This means the provider has gone through 3rd party testing and your credit card information is safe.

Is the Patch Bioidentical or Synthetic

The Estrogen Patch is primarily sold with bioidentical Estradiol as the main ingredient. However, there are still some patches on the market that are synthetic and don't meet the description for bioidentical. Check the ingredients on your patch box to ensure it's estradiol.

Back in the early 2000's when my mother was on estrogen, she was taking the Premarin tablet. It was conjugated estrogens from pregnant mare horse urine. YUCK! But at the time it was the best they had to offer and it worked for so many women. Today, however now that bioidentical estradiol has been discovered and approved by the FDA it's the preferred estrogen for patches, creams, gels and tablets.

The Estradiol patch comes in multiple doses.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Cost

The cost of Hormone Replacement Therapy will be dependent on whether you are using insurance or utilizing an online telehealth provider who offers self-pay discounted options.

If you still have a uterus, you'll likely be prescribed estradiol in some formulation and then also a progesterone, probably in tablet form along with the estradiol. This combo of the progesterone pills and estradiol patch is very popular and I've done the research for you on where you can get the best deal.

You will find that many of the online telehealth providers offer Estradiol in a topical cream or gel. This means you'd be rubbing the substance on your inner thighs or inner arms. You will find that the creams and gels are less expensive than the patch, for many women, the creams and gels just don't absorb as needed so they don't get the desired results they are looking for.

This was the case for me. After being on topical Estradiol cream for 3-months, my blood levels were still so low that my then current HRT clinician was even surprised I'd been on HRT. The labs certainly didn't show that. So I switched to the patch and saw an immediate difference in how I felt and my lab numbers.

Self Pay Options, not using Prescription Insurance:

1. Winona - $188/month

2. Effecty - $145/month

3. Joi Women's Wellness - $199/Month (+quarterly fees)

Options when utilizing your Prescription Insurance

(Consults are in addition and you'll need to validate they take your medical insurance)

1. MyMenopauseRx - $32.33 per month for estradiol patch and progesterone pills + $99 consult fee + $45/message consult for refills/follow up

2. Midi Health - $32.33 per month for estradiol patch and progesterone pills +$250/consult fee + $125/consult for refills/follow-up

   
   

Estradiol comes in several formulations. Discuss the options with your HRT care provider.

Is BHRT for Women FDA approved

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is approved by the FDA. BHRT is going to be HRT products that are made from Estradiol and Progesterone, specifically. If your HRT is made from any other ingredients, it is likely synthetic.

BHRT that comes from a compound pharmacy and is in a custom dose or ratio, will not be FDA approved as it was custom created specifically for you and therefore hasn't been tested by the FDA.

There is so much more to menopause than just hot flashes or night sweats.

My Favorite Hormone Replacement and What I'm using Right Now

Back in July of 2025, I found Oestra by Inner Balance. It's the only vaginal cream that I know of that contains Estradiol and Progesterone in systemic (whole body) doses. Most estrogen creams are very, very small doses intended for localized dose, meaning it only reaches the vagina. Then you also use the patch for the rest of the body, so two separate products.

What I have discovered with Oestra is that I fall asleep much faster and stay asleep longer than with the estrogen patch and progesterone pills combo platter. I feel equally great as I did on the patch, but the added benefit of better sleep makes it worth it for me.

Oestra is bioidentical and means that I only need one HRT product rather than two or three separate hormone products. Also, I've opted to use disposable vaginal applicators as that just makes application more simple for me. See my full blog on my experience here.

You can use Coupon Code PEGGY10 for 10% off your first order of Oestra.

Is the Estrogen Patch Bioidentical

The easiest and best way to confirm if your HRT is bioidentical, is to read the label. Check for Estradiol, which is the type of estrogen we had the most of when pregnant.

Then also look for Progesterone, not Progestin, they are different. Progestins are not bioidentical.

Be sure to check out our trusted providers page to see the HRT telehealth providers I have tried and also look for coupon codes and discount links to get started.