Women's Health & HRT Providers, Reviewed

Women's telehealth has expanded rapidly to address historically underserved conditions: menopause, perimenopause, female pattern hair loss, PCOS, and sexual health. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone — is the primary pharmacological intervention for menopausal symptoms and is increasingly available through telehealth platforms.

The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study in 2002 created widespread fear about HRT that subsequent research has largely refuted for younger, recently menopausal women. Current evidence supports HRT for women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause onset who have bothersome symptoms, with a favourable risk-benefit profile for most women in this group.

Online women's health platforms offer bioidentical hormone therapy (estradiol, progesterone, DHEA), compounded formulations, and non-hormonal alternatives. Pricing is significantly lower than legacy OB/GYN or menopause specialist practices, making telehealth the most accessible entry point for most women.

FDA-approved bioidentical HRT includes estradiol patches (Vivelle-Dot, Climara), gels (Divigel, EstroGel), sprays (Evamist), and oral micronised progesterone (Prometrium). These are structurally identical to endogenous hormones and have the most robust safety data. Most online women's health platforms can prescribe these.

Compounded bioidentical HRT (cBHRT) is prepared by compounding pharmacies to custom doses and delivery routes. It is popular among patients who want non-standard doses or combinations, but it lacks the standardised quality controls of FDA-approved products. The Endocrine Society does not recommend cBHRT over FDA-approved options for most patients.

Vaginal estrogen (Vagifem, Imvexxy, Estring) treats genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) with minimal systemic absorption. It is safe for most women including those with a history of breast cancer. Ospemifene (Osphena) is a non-hormonal oral alternative for dyspareunia.