Compounded Meds Explained: Hormones, GLP-1s, and What’s Often Overlooked - Fempower Health | A Women's Health Podcast

Episode OverviewIn this episode, I take a closer look at compounded medications—what they are, when they’re used, and the important nuances behind their growing popularity.From hormone therapy and menopause care to semaglutide and GLP-1s, compounded meds are often described as personalized solutions. But these treatments exist in a regulatory gray area, with real variability in quality, safety, and effectiveness.This episode is about cutting through confusion—without judgment or hype—and offering context to help you better understand your options.What You’ll LearnWhat compounded medications are and when they’re usedWhy some women rely on them for hormone therapy, PCOS, progesterone intolerance, or GLP-1 accessWhat’s different between FDA-approved medications and compounded versionsWhy terms like “bioidentical” can be misleadingThe impact of drug shortages, insurance limitations, and gaps in careWhy It MattersMany people don’t realize that compounded medications aren’t FDA-approved—and that doesn’t automatically make them dangerous or ineffective. But it does mean they operate by different rules. This episode offers a grounded look at what’s happening behind the scenes and why these treatments are increasingly common in women’s health and beyond.ResourcesRead article on Fear, misinformation, and pharmaceutical messianism in the promotion of compounded bioidentical hormone therapyCheck out the blog post version of this episode here, which includes all citations.🎧 Loved the episode? Here's how you can take action:1. Help others discover Fempower Health:Leave a quick review on Apple or Spotify. It’s the easiest way to support our mission and amplify women’s health voices.2. Stay connected:Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok, YouTube for real-time updates, expert insights, and relatable conversations.Or join our newsletter to get curated women's health content—on your terms, in your inbox.**Top 50 Health Podcast of 2024** **The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for informational purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor.  Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by the Fempower Health podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.****May contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links**