I didn't need to have a hearing aid sitting in my hairdressers chair to hear all the hype about bio-identical hormones and how great these women were feeling! I mean that is where women talk about everything from relationships to health conditions to Botox. They were excited, glowing and I wondered why? Was it some new facial or something? I aksed myself what is Bio-identical. So I set out to check this Dr. out myself, went on line read as much as I could and made an appt., read the book, and asked for an consultation. He was professional, spoke a little fast, he did answer my questions, but I wanted to see his study (wasn't available) . Having a medical background I like to read everything and anything. As a woman that also suffers with hot flashes and everything that goes with it. And yes, I mean suffers it is not fun. I have the fan by my bed! I carry a mini fan with me in my Louie. I have already tried everything else known to man except Estrogen because I have a first line relative who had breast cancer. So I really want some sort of relief that actually works. My only concern was knowing how many (mg's) you actually received into that hip and if the lab that makes these are in the US or sent out of the country to be made? I was told the answers to both and thought well we must be practicing on the honor system where women report if they have problems because it is not FDA approved. Now don't get me wrong, the FDA is not perfect but if it was FDA approved they could pull the entire lot if there was a reported problem. But with no watch dog looking over them , how can we be sure , we are getting what they claim we are getting. After all their is the placebo effect. Being the skeptic that I am I listened to his story. Then I recalled the 9 women smiling and sitting in the waiting area waiting for their turn for the pellet? One had driven down from Tucson to get it and another from New Mexico. So after much thought and questions I also checked in with my Internist @ a famous big clinic here to share my delight about bio-identical hormone therapy . Well she was not happy and not really a believer of bio-identical. She said, women have been needlessly scared off due to the terrible hype reporting in the Newspaper from that "study" of women/ breast cancer and hormone therapy. She abruptly sent me an appt. for genetic testing and also to the cancer.org site to take the breast cancer survery risk (calculator). I must admit I was not surprised by her answers or suggestions. Knowone would endorse anything that they were not currently doing in their practice. So I asked the question I always ask, when in doubt. Would you send your mom to get these pellets if she had hot flashes like me? There was a long silence on the end of the phone. She replied, not any Dr. on the planet can tell you that you won't get B.C. during your lifetime. But I think I would try the Patch first and if that didn't work then perhaps go that route. But if you do make sure you have all your blood work done before during and after. And if your level is still post menopausal and you are still sweating then come in for another physical. Many diseases can mimic sweating! I thought to myself...great! The problem is many of us patients are very misunderstood by our Physicians especially when it comes to menopause and flashing. She further went on to say that she had a client who wanted the pellet also and so she called this Dr. he reported that he had one patient who did get b.c. during the study but he said, they were not sure if she had the lump before getting the B.I. or after. She is still waiting for his research study to read. I thanked her for her honesty and her time .This genetic appt. for me is in the future and I am not sure if I will go or not. But I am thinking I just may try these bio-identical myself. Afterall, if they don't work they are gone in 4-6 months or faster if you have a high metabolism, or workout etc and they monitor you closely with blood work. All I want to do is stop sweating, sleep better, feel better etc.. and if I benefit from the other things they claim well that is wonderful. I'll report later about my appt. Stay pro-active regarding your health care. And always ask questions. Healthy Blessings.