UAN's most recent PMULines e-newsletter resulted in a slew of women telling us that they've switched from Premarin to a different kind of therapy, or that they refused to take Premarin from the get-go. It's been wonderful to read all the stories! I hope some women will share their stories publically through this forum.
I am one of the women who uses alternative, plant-based hormone replacement therapy. From the beginning I asked my doctor for HRT that did not come from animals. I am a vegetarian and animal lover/animal rights person, so didn't want to use anything made from animals. It wasn't until years later, reading UAN's materials that I realized how awful the Premarin industry is to horses -- validating my decision.
Anyway, I don't remember the original HRT I was on -- which had both estrogen and progesterone in it. But my insurance removed it from their formulary, so my doctor and I switched to Estradiol, a generic plant-based estrogen, and Prometrium, for the progesterone. These have worked very well for me and I am currently on a very low dose.
Gay, thank you for sharing your story. It is great to hear that UAN's materials informed you about Premarin. Maybe other women can share their experience with Estradiol.