Janet's Winona Story: Finding Energy and Balance at 54Explore All SymptomsIs HRT For Me?Join A Live Q&AOur missionAt Winona, it’s our goal to take the confusion out of menopause and help women get the solutions they need. We are a telehealth company that aims to empower, educate, and treat women throughout the entirety of their menopause journey. We offer doctor-prescribed, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy that is backed by science and shipped directly to your door. How it worksFirst, we’ll gather your medical history to determine safety and eligibility. After you complete the onboarding process, we’ll connect you with a doctor in your state. The doctor will review your onboarding answers and prescribe personalized treatment accordingly. You’ll be able to message your doctor with questions or concerns anytime, directly through our platform. Once your doctor prescribes your medication, you will typically receive it within 2-5 business days. Join the women's groupRead the journalWhat is HRT?Hormone fluctuations are part of every woman’s life; from puberty to menopause, hormones spike and wane. As women enter the menopause transition in their late 30s and early 40s, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone begin to steadily decline, creating challenging symptoms.There are over 100 symptoms associated with declining hormones in the menopause transition, some of the most common including hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a prescription treatment used to boost hormone levels, by replenishing the estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone that diminish over time. At Winona, we only use plant-based, bioidentical hormones that are identical in molecular structure to those made naturally in your body.If you’re feeling overwhelmed by menopause symptoms, you’re not alone. Winona’s board-certified physicians are available to listen to your concerns and design a personalized HRT plan just for you. Read all about HRT. What is
By Winona (bywinona.com) has 8,255 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5.
Also known as
bywinona.com
Website
bywinona.com
Category
Clinics
Location
Dallas, Texas
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
About these reviews
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The company replied to 88% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: October 2026.
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I feel the doctors didn't listen to concerns and sent medications just to sell. As I responded back they acted too bothered to look and listen to the side effects and brushed me off.
Response from By WinonaSep 3, 2024
We apologize if you did not feel your concerns were addressed, Cori, as listening to our patients is a top priority!
Fortunately, most women don't experience any side effects from HRT; for those that do, they usually only occur in the initial few weeks of treatment as the body is adjusting to the increased hormone levels.
These are some things that may occur:
Breast tenderness
Spotting or an abnormal period in the first month
Headaches
Nausea - especially with the oral formulations
Drowsiness or sleepiness - this is usually a welcomed side effect for those with insomnia
Bloating or water retention - This may cause a temporary increase in weight
We see that you messaged your Winona doctor on August 27th and that he replied back to you, but we are not privy to the contents of your communications due to privacy reasons.
A member of our Patient Care Team has emailed you for further support!
MI
Mimi
Not for me
I was prescribed a 90 day supply of estrogen cream w. progesterone 3/150mg/ml and DHEA 25mg. The 3-month supply for both was about $250. I took it as prescribed for 90 days and if anything, my menopause symptoms increased, with more weight gain and more fatigue. When I told the prescribing doctor that my symptoms were unchanged, they just offered to increase the dosage.
At this point I need to just suck it up and visit an in-person menopause practicioner and try something else.
I feel like I got suckered in by all the overwhelmingly positive reviews. I'm disappointed that it didn't work and I gained 10 lbs and am out $250. Not saying mail order bioidentical estrogen doesn't work...but this didn't work for me.
This review will probably never see the light of day, as I'm sure Winona scrubs negative reviews.
Response from By WinonaAug 12, 2024
Thank you for your feedback, Mimi!
We do not "scrub" any negative reviews, and always want our patients to be honest and open about their experiences with us as it helps us to improve our services.
We are saddened to hear that your body did not adjust to your treatment plan as you had hoped.
Bioidentical HRT helps most women, but as with all medical interventions, there are no guarantees.
Most women see improvement after a few weeks, and we can say that 80% of patients are satisfied with how they feel around the three-month mark.
If your symptoms have not improved after 10-weeks, we can change the dose or the medication to try to help you feel better.
It can take time for your body to acclimate to the influx of hormones.
These are real prescription medications, prescribed by real doctors, just like you would receive in a doctor's office. The only difference between Winona and your personal doctor is that we conduct our visits via telehealth.
Be assured that your Winona doctor is available if problems arise or if you have any questions about treatment.
We are committed to helping you find the appropriate medication and dose that benefits you the most.
A member of our Patient Care team has emailed you for further support!
AG
Assassin G.
My symptoms aren't better I gained…
My symptoms aren't better I gained weight more than I had and still haven't dropped them
Response from By WinonaJul 29, 2024
Thank you for your feedback, Assassin gamer.
We understand that menopause symptoms can be challenging and we apologize that you are still experiencing them despite starting HRT recently.
Unfortunately, it can take time to achieve full and lasting relief with HRT, as every person's body reacts differently.
Most women feel relief from treatment within the first month. Within 3 months, 80% of women feel complete relief from their symptoms, so we encourage you to keep going!
To support you through this process, we offer free, continuous support with your Winona doctor who can work with you to find the dosage that works best for you!
A member of our Patient Care Team has emailed you for further support!
EM
Emily
Not One Size Fits All
In theory this program seems great but there are many limitations to receiving internet-based care. I did like the use of bioidentical hormones and the compounded estrogen/progesterone cream. I hate taking pills if I don't have to. They were shipped before you ran out and you were able to customize with either one additional pump or one less pump of cream based on how you were responding. The doctor was nice as long as you didn't ask too many questions. These are doctors who have full-time jobs already and this is generally a side gig for them for more income I'm sure, so don't expect more personalized care.
That being said, you fill out an initial questionnaire and it seems they have a standard formula they like to start people on. This also includes the use of DHEA. Despite the fact that my testosterone levels and DHEA levels were significantly too high the doctor insisted it was beneficial to use, for what reason I'm not sure. I ultimately had to stop taking it because of the side effects which wasted 2.5 months worth of medication. You do have the option to refill your medications monthly but they encourage the 3-month prescription since changes will not be made anyway until after your 10-week review (it's just another questionnaire you fill out, not an actual visit with your doctor). Refilling monthly ends up being more expensive but if you have any doubts it may be worth doing that for your first 3 months just to make sure this is for you.
Treatment is not based on lab work which is fine to a point, however if anything presents itself that can make it more difficult to figure out appropriate treatment they are either not prepared to work through that, don't have the time or don't care to. Heaven forbid you bring up concerns or questions about increased blood pressure, increased weight gain, ongoing unresolved symptoms or new symptoms- they just end your treatment.
It's definitely an investment and for 3 months of basic treatment will run you upwards of $300. You can choose to do estrogen and progesterone pills or cream, they want you to take DHEA pills since they are unable to prescribe testosterone, they offer a female Viagra so to speak and I think a few other miscellaneous things.
So for those who are fortunate enough to only need a little dose of hormones to make you right again, this program will be fine. For those who tend to have a more difficult menopause it's probably best to try and find an actual in-person physician who is willing to make the effort to try and resolve your symptoms. Hormones do have side effects and for some people pose a greater risk when taking them, despite what every single doctor may say about the ones they prescribe. Don't let them gaslight you into thinking otherwise. Just do your homework because this program is not for everybody. Lesson learned.
*By Winona, if you respond, you will not find my specific information in your system because this is my new email address. Either way, I don't need a response and I just outlined the general information for your program as well as my experience with it. Definitely not the worst that's on this review platform. Thank you.
Response from By WinonaJul 29, 2024
We appreciate your feedback, Emily, as we do strive every day to provide our patients with treatment and service worthy of 5 stars.
We take all comments seriously, good or bad, and do try to maintain a professional and trustworthy plan of care for you.
Unfortunately, as you indicated, we cannot locate an account under your name as it is listed here. You did not provide any email address.
You are correct that HRT is not prescribed based on lab work.
It is prescribed based on symptoms, in accordance with the AMA, NAMS, and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists.
Our Winona doctors review the health history and onboarding information that you provide and prescribe a treatment plan that they feel would benefit you the most.
All of our doctors are board-certified, well established, and specialize in the care of women going through the menopause transition, something that is lacking for women in today's world.
We take your health and safety very seriously and will not accept anyone who is not a candidate for HRT. Our primary focus is not based on monetary goals, but rather a goal of providing women safe and effective HRT who may not otherwise have access to it.
The decision to receive a 1 month supply or a 3 month supply of medication is totally up to the patient. We have no preference for the amount that can be prescribed to you, as we are acutely aware that cost is a factor for many women. The 3 month supply is cheaper in the long run, but we have many women who opt to only receive a monthly prescription.
Our treatments help most women, but as with all medical interventions, there are no guarantees. This applies to online providers as well as brick and mortar providers.
Fortunately, the majority of women do not experience any side effects at all. For those that do, they usually only occur in the initial few weeks of treatment as the body is adjusting to the increased hormone levels. Bloating, breast tenderness, nausea, etc. are usually short lived and manageable.
Most women see improvement after a few weeks, and we can say that 80% of patients are satisfied with how they feel around the three-month mark.
It can be hard to acclimate to an online platform for your health care needs, and our Winona doctors understand this. They always provide you ongoing support and guidance to ensure you have the best treatment plan for your symptoms.
If your symptoms have not improved after 10-weeks, we can change the dose or the medication to try to help you feel better.
However, it can take time for your body to acclimate to the influx of hormones. These are real prescription medications, prescribed by real doctors, just like you would receive in a doctor's office.
Again, be assured that your Winona doctor is available if problems arise or if you have any questions about treatment.
We are committed to helping you find the appropriate medication and dose that benefits you the most and would love the opportunity to resolve any issues that you may have encountered.
Please contact our Patient Care Team at [email protected].
We look forward to hearing from you!
AD
Adrienne
It takes too long to get a reply from…
It takes too long to get a reply from the dr. Five days or more.
Response from By WinonaJul 25, 2024
We apologize for any delay in communication from your Winona doctor, Adrienne!
We understand that when you have a question or a concern that you would like a timely response.
It is always our goal for you to have a response within 24 hours or less.
All of our doctors continue to maintain clinic and hospital hours, and their schedules will sometimes vary or incur changes beyond our control.
We take your feedback seriously and will take it into consideration as we continue to improve our services to you.
A member of our Patient Care Team has emailed your for further support!
LI
Lillian
Willing to give it another month …
I have not had any of the positives that I was hoping for while taking this medication. I have had quite a bit of weight gain. I was having multiple health problems and was hoping that the adjustment in the hormones would help with these issues and unfortunately it just hasn’t. It’s not about the medication. I’m sure it’s more about my body not responding.
Response from By WinonaJul 15, 2024
We are so sorry to hear that you have not progressed in your treatment plan as you had hoped, Lillian.
We do encourage you to give it some more time, as it can take as long as 3 months before positive changes are seen.
We see that you just completed your Follow Up with your Winona doctor and that you have been communicating back and forth.
One of the perks of customized HRT is that it can be adapted to meet your symptoms, so we are hopeful that you will hit that sweet spot of relief soon!
We are here to support you and assist you in any way possible!
KR
Krista
No Changes Noticed
Have been using for 10 weeks now and do not notice any changes. I've emailed Winona about these concerns but no one responded. Instead I got emails saying my next package was shipped and another email asking me to write a good review. This is not a good review
Response from By WinonaJul 10, 2024
We apologize if there was any confusion regarding communication with your Winona doctor, Krista!
It can sometimes take around 3 months to start to see positive changes.
However, if you are not having any relief around the 10 week mark, your Winona doctor is happy to discuss adjusting your treatment plan!
We do see that you completed your Follow Up on July 4th, and your Winona doctor messaged you back on July 5th.
A member of our Patient Care Team has emailed you for further support on how to check your messages :)
AN
Angela
Wouldn’t recommend this program.
I got Winona to help with my hot flashes and to lose some weight. They put me on some hormones to relieve the hot flashes and it did help them go away but I ended up getting my period back, which I didn’t want. And I never lost any weight. I went to my regular doctor and she was shocked that they don’t do any lab testing to see what’s the right amount of hormones to use. Overall I’m not happy with how my body is because of the way the hormones changed my body. That’s why I’m only giving it 2 stars.
Response from By WinonaJun 14, 2024
Thank you for your feedback, Angela.
We're sorry that you did not have a good start to your HRT treatment program!
Some women do get a random period, or a change in their period, upon starting therapy because your body is adjusting to the hormones. A little weight gain and bloating is also common in the beginning. However, once your body is at the correct level of hormones, everything should return to normal.
We encourage women to consistently take their HRT for at least 3 months before deciding to change their dosage or discontinue their medication.
We are happy to hear that your hot flashes have resolved though!
Blood hormone levels change daily, sometimes from hour to hour, so blood testing is not medically recommended or needed. HRT is prescribed based on symptoms.
Every woman will respond differently, and your Winona doctor is happy to help you find just the right dose of HRT to help you see the results you are seeking.
A member of our Patient Care Team has emailed you for further support.
