Oestra by Inner Balance - Patient Review at 90 days
- Peggy B. - Experienced HRT Patient Reviewer
- Sep 30
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 2
Oestra is the seventh Hormone Replacement Regimen that I've tried over the past five years. I started out with a traditional doctor prescribing Bioidentical troches, then moved on to a topical estrogen/progesterone cream by Winona. Did I want to try testosterone, even? So I next became a patient of Joi Women's Wellness and was prescribed testosterone. It was during my Joi bloodwork review that I realized that although I had been on a topical estrogen/progesterone cream for three months, there was zero signs of that in my labs.
MyAlloy was next on my list as they began to flood my social media feeds. I wondered what they were all about. Eventually, I got curious and wanted to explore if my prescription insurance would pay for HRT, so I became a patient of Midi Health and also MyMenopauseRx. Both of these providers take medical insurance and prescribe FDA approved meds that can be picked up at your local pharmacy using prescription insurance.
All of them worked to some extent and I did feel better. And, it became obvious that for me, some formulations just worked more effectively than others.
In each case I paid for all of my HRT out of pocket or used by prescription insurance when I could.
Inner Balance for HRT
After what I felt to be a pretty successful eighteen months on the estradiol patch in multiple doses and 100 or 200 mg of progesterone tablets, and Estradiol vaginal Cream twice weekly, when I could remember - I really was in a good place. My hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and brain fog were under control. And then when I added semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy) to my regimen I was able to lose those last 14 pounds.
But, even with all that - my sleep wasn't where I wanted it. So when I ran across Oestra by Inner Balance and noticed that it is administered different than most HRT regimens and that they specifically mention it helps with sleep, I was intrigued.
Dr. Sarah Daccarett, founder and CEO of Inner Balance has created the Oestra cream for women in Perimenopause and Menopause.
Menopause is the one day in your life when you can say you haven't had a period in over twelve months. The ten to fifteen years leading up to that day is called perimenopause. The day after your one official day of menopause is called post-menopause. Most women don't realize it, but by the time you are in your early 30's you're down to maybe 10% of the eggs you were born with. As the eggs decline so do your hormones and that's why I turned to Hormone Therapy to help with the symptoms when I was in my late early 50's.
Hormone Replacement isn't just for Menopause Symptoms
That first doctor who prescribed HRT to me, mainly to see if it would help me lose weight did me a great favor. Little did I know in December of 2019 that that one prescription would change the course of my life forever. And in a good way.
I was able to lose about 25-30 pounds in the early part of 2020 after I started HRT and I definitely started to feel better. I no longer woke up in drenched pajamas, which helped my sleep a bit.
What I didn't know back in 2019 is all the added benefits that we gain when we take Hormone Replacement. If you follow any of the big menopause names on social media (Dr. Kelly Casperson or Dr. Mary Claire Haver) then you've likely already been subject to their opinions on the benefits of HRT.
I encourage you to watch this YouTube video. In July 2025 the FDA invited ten well established doctors and researchers to a roundtable discussion to talk about Hormone Replacement and it's benefits. Each of the docs were give five-minutes to state their case and opinions of how HRT benefits women. That part is in the beginning, so if that's all you watch, it's worth it!
It's been proven that HRT helps our hearts, our brains, bones and overall general health. What older women in your life do you know that Osteoporosis, heart issues or some form of dementia? I have to wonder, would HRT have helped them age better and have a better quality of life?
Oestra for Sleep
For me, the topical estrogen/progesterone creams just didn't cut it. They just didn't absorb well into my skin. It was when I was prescribed the estradiol patch and progesterone tablets that I felt my best. And the good news, both of those are FDA approved and I could use my prescription insurance.
But, as good as I felt, I still wasn't sleeping the way I wanted. When I came across Oestra, I was immediately disappointed when I learned that I couldn't use prescription insurance or even my HSA card. However, I really, really wanted to try it. I could tell Dr. Sarah, the creator of the Oestra cream was a different type of doc and couldn't help but wonder, would it be worth it to pay out of pocket if it improved my sleep?
Oestra HRT Cost
I bit the bullet and for the sake my curiosity, this website and my YouTube Channel, I became a patient of Inner Balance so I could try their magical cream. I wanted to find out first hand as a HRT patient reviewer, would this HRT be any different than the others and would it really help with sleep?
The Oestra cream is a subscription based product. You pay $199 per month the first six months, then starting with month seven, you pay $99.50 monthly and are locked in forever. As a point of reference, if you were to purchase the Estradiol patch and progesterone tablets (this combo is best comparison to Oestra) from Winona, the cost is $188 per month. Joi Women's Wellness charges $150 per quarter for a subscription plan that includes labs and consultations plus you pay for HRT medications on top of that.
Don't make the mistake of comparing the cost of a topical cream to Oesta, they are not the same thing at all. I have found topical creams yes, to be more affordable, but they typically are not as effective for most women.
If you compare the cost of the patch and progesterone tables using insurance, you also have to factor in four follow-up consults per year with your doc on top of driving to the pharmacy and waiting in line for your prescriptions. The last batch of patches I picked up before I started Oestra were on back order and I had to wait an extra week before I could pick them up, so two trips to the pharmacy.
Inner Balance will ship medication to you quarterly, bill you monthly and includes free communication with a HRT doctor whenever you have questions. At four months they'll likely want you to have a FREE follow-up phone call with one of their Menopause Society certified docs to determine if you dose needs tweaked. It's streamlined and simple. If you dose is increased to two doses, no additional cost for the larger quantity of Oestra that you'll need.
Oestra Hormone Replacement Results at 90 days
The first thing I noticed about three or four days in was that about 30 minutes after inserting the cream, I would be come welcomely drowsy. After ninety days, I find I get sleepy with half an hour and when I do wake up to go to the bathroom, I'm more able to fall back asleep faster.
I opted to purchase disposable vaginal applicators as I knew this would reduce the stress of administration for me. They were about $15 for a 90 day supply on Amazon. The directions say you can use an applicator of you are comfortable, you can apply with your finger. For me this is the only thing about Oestra I don't love, but in time I've gotten used to it.
Another added benefit is that I've been able to reduce the number of prescriptions I'm on. In lieu of an Estradiol patch (switched out twice weekly/mornings) + Progesterone Tablets (nightly) + Estradiol vaginal cream (twice/week at night), I now only have to remember one product that I insert nightly just before bedtime.
I would encourage you to use the bathroom before you insert the cream, as one night I didn't and a bit of cream leaked out.
I had my 90 day check-in a few days ago. My Inner Balance doctor used the first few minutes of our call to share with me his credentials. He's an OB/GYN Board Certified Doctor, he's also a Menopause Society certified doctor. Based on our conversation, I was prescribed two pumps nightly rather than the one pump I did for the first three months. On a Q&A that I was on with Dr. Sarah, a while back, she did indicate that many people will be increased to two pumps on month four. She says it takes about 90 days for most women to heal and for their body to adjust to Oestra. By the time month four rolls around, many are in a place that two pumps are an appropriate dose. There is no additional cost if you are prescribed a larger dose.
I plan to continue Oestra at least for three more months as I want to see how I feel and how I sleep with two pumps. On month seven, knowing that the cost is reduced to $99 per month certainly puts Oestra right in line as far as cost is concerned compared with other bioidentical HRT regimens.
All in all, its a simple process to get started. Only one HRT product versus three. I'm getting better sleep. And knowing that I can get support or ask questions for free at any time makes it very appealing option for any woman in perimenopause or menopause to consider.
