How we review
Every brand on this site is scored against a single rubric, then editorially reviewed against medical literature before we publish. This page is the source of truth for what those scores mean.
The 0–10 composite score
Each brand gets five sub-scores, 0–10, that we combine into a single composite. Sub-scores are visible on the brand page; the composite is shown everywhere we list the brand.
| Sub-score | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | 20% | Starting price, transparency, hidden fees, insurance acceptance, HSA/FSA eligibility. |
| Clinical infrastructure | 25% | Credentialing of prescribing clinicians, NAMS certification, malpractice coverage, clinical partner reputation, in-house vs. outsourced. |
| Transparency | 20% | Clarity of pricing, treatment options, refund policy, what is a is not included. |
| User satisfaction | 20% | Trustpilot score and review count, BBB rating, our reading of Reddit / community sentiment. |
| Value for money | 15% | What you actually get for the price relative to the rest of the market. |
What disqualifies a brand
- Currently inactive, acquired-without-continuity, or closed
- Active FDA warning letter on file
- Compounding pharmacy partner without current 503A registration when required
- Failure to disclose clinical partner or prescribing model on request
Editorial medical review
Every page with clinical content is checked against peer-reviewed medical literature and major guideline bodies — ACOG, the Menopause Society (NAMS), and FDA prescribing information — by our editorial team before it goes live. Our editorial review process is documented openly. Editorial review checks for factual accuracy about hormones, medications, and prescribing models. It does not see, edit, or approve our affiliate relationships.
We do not currently attribute pages to an individual named clinician. As we add clinician reviewers with verified NPIs, each will be credited by name and NPI on the specific pages they review — we do not claim individual clinician review until it is real. Each page carries a last-reviewed date; updates re-trigger review and refresh that date.
Brand verification protocol
Before publishing any review, we verify:
- The brand is currently operating (we place a real inquiry).
- FDA warning letter database — clean record at time of review.
- State availability as claimed (we spot-check against state telehealth registries).
- Pricing as advertised within the last 30 days.
- Affiliate program status (or marked "no affiliate").
- Compliance category — compliant / grey-zone / under review — assigned and dated.
Refresh cadence
Every brand carries a lastVerifiedDate. We re-verify every brand at least once per quarter. Brand pages older than 90 days display a notice and re-enter the review queue.
Independence
Affiliate commission has no input into the composite score. We do not accept payment for higher rankings, for inclusion in "best-of" lists, or for favorable framing. Brands without an affiliate program are scored on the same rubric and can rank above brands that pay us. See our affiliate disclosure.
Corrections
If you find a factual error in any review, contact us at [email protected]. We aim to respond within five business days. Material corrections are noted in the page footer; minor edits (typos, rewording) are not.