Injection
Estradiol Cypionate
Long-acting estradiol injection for menopause and perimenopause symptoms and for gender-affirming hormone therapy, given every one to two weeks. Prescribed and dosed by a licensed physician.
Starting at $139/mo
BioidenticalMenopauseOral
BIEST Capsules
RxPrescription onlyTaken by mouth · Once a day · 1–2 mg · Bioidentical · Menopause · Oral
Starting at $89/mo
Oral capsules of bioidentical estriol and estradiol (20:80 or 50:50 blends) for hot flashes, night sweats and other menopause symptoms. One capsule daily.
How many capsules per month?
MonthlyEvery 3 months
30 capsulesper month
You'll receive 30 capsules per month. $109 billed monthly. Cancel anytime.
Real prices from our pharmacy. Longer plans cost less per month and are billed up front. Pause or cancel anytime.
- Bioidentical estriol and estradiol blend
- Simple once-daily capsule
- Blend and dose set by your physician
Every plan includes
- Personalized, physician-guided plan
- 30 capsules per month, monthly and 3-month
- Dispensed by a US-licensed compounding pharmacy
- Unlimited protocol adjustments and messaging
- Ongoing support and check-ins
- Pause or cancel anytime
- Reviewed by our in-house physicians
- Physician-guided care
- Ongoing, expert support
- 100% online
- Free, discreet shipping
What are BIEST capsules?
(bi-EST, bi-estrogen)
BIEST combines estriol, a gentle estrogen, with estradiol, the main estrogen your ovaries made before menopause. In a capsule it is swallowed once a day, like a standard estrogen pill.
- How it is taken
- Taken by mouth
- How often
- Once a day
- Dose range
- 1–2 mg
- Form
- Bioidentical · Menopause · Oral
2 blends
20:80 (more estriol) or 50:50, chosen by your physician
Oral estrogen passes through the liver first, which raises clot and gallbladder risk more than skin creams; your physician weighs this before choosing.
How it works,
week by week.
Day 1
A US-licensed physician reviews your menopausal symptoms, history, and risk factors to set your dose.
Weeks 1-2
Hot flashes and night sweats usually ease within the first two to four weeks.
Month 1-2
Sleep and mood stabilize as hormone levels rise. Your physician checks in and adjusts dose if needed.
Month 3
Check-in. Your physician reviews symptom relief, any side effects, and confirms your dose going forward.
Beyond
BIEST therapy is reviewed yearly: dose, benefits, risks, and whether to continue.
What you may notice,
and when.
Fewer hot flashes
the most dramatic change from estrogen therapy
Better sleep and mood
as night sweats settle and hormones stabilize
Bone protection
estrogen slows bone loss at menopause
Steadier energy
many patients report clearer, more stable daily rhythms
Individual results vary. Benefits reflect what Zepym Health members commonly report to their physician at check-ins; they are not the results of a clinical trial.
Safety first:
what to know before you start.
Important safety information and common side effects
BIEST is a prescription hormone combination with real benefits and real risks. Common effects include breast tenderness, bloating, nausea, headache, spotting, and injection-site reactions. Estrogen therapy increases risk of blood clots, stroke, gallbladder disease, and, with a uterus, requires progesterone to prevent endometrial cancer. Not prescribed with breast cancer, blood clots, unexplained vaginal bleeding, liver disease, or pregnancy. Smoking raises clot risk. Seek care for chest pain, shortness of breath, leg swelling, severe headache, or vision changes. Tell your physician about every medication.
The research behind
Biest.
Biest is a compounded mix of estriol and estradiol, usually in an 80:20 or 50:50 ratio. It is not FDA-approved, and no outcome trial has tested it; the evidence is pharmacology and a few small studies.
- Outcome trialsNo outcome trials
No randomized trial has tested Biest against heart, bone or cancer outcomes, or against symptom relief. The 2020 National Academies review judged the evidence for compounded bioidentical hormones insufficient, and found most marketing claims unsupported by well-controlled studies.
National Academies, The Clinical Utility of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy, 2020 - Blood levelsLess estrogen than a patch
In a Mayo Clinic randomized trial of 40 postmenopausal women over 16 days, Bi-est cream at the lower doses gave much lower estradiol exposure than a standard estradiol patch with micronized progesterone. The study measured blood levels only, not symptoms or safety.
Bioidentical compounded hormones: a pharmacokinetic evaluation in a randomized clinical trial, Maturitas 2013 - Estriol partLimited, mixed evidence
The same National Academies review found limited, mixed-quality evidence that estriol may help some menopausal symptoms, and insufficient evidence about its long-term safety.
National Academies, 2020
What the studies found
- No human trial has shown a clinical benefit of Biest itself; the 2020 National Academies review found the evidence insufficient (NASEM, 2020)
- The estradiol component alone has trial evidence for hot flashes, but that evidence is for estradiol products, not for this mix (MacLennan, Cochrane 2004)
- A vaginal estriol gel had a placebo-controlled trial with symptom and cytology outcomes, but that was a single estriol product, not Biest (NCT04574999)
- Mechanistic only: the idea that a fixed estrogen ratio mimics the body's own is unproven in people
Compounded Biest is not the product studied in any trial. The idea that the body needs a particular estrogen ratio is not tested in outcome studies. The known risks of estrogen apply to Biest as well.
What this does not say
- No outcome trial exists for Biest; the blood-level study says nothing about symptoms or safety.
- Compounded doses are not standardized, so the amount in each capsule or cream can vary.
- The trials of estrogen cited elsewhere on this page used other products.
The research
behind it.
Estrogen therapy is the most effective treatment for hot flashes and night sweats, and it also protects bone. BIEST is a compounded bioidentical blend used when a physician judges it fits better than an approved product.
If you have a uterus, estrogen must be paired with progesterone to protect its lining. Your physician also reviews your clot, stroke and breast cancer risk before starting.
Hormone therapy beyond hot flashes:
what the research showsBones, the heart, vaginal health and sexual desire: the trials, with their numbers and their limits.Read the researchHormone therapy and breast cancer risk:
what the trials foundEstrogen alone and with progestin, why the two differ, and how physicians weigh it.Read the research
what the research showsBones, the heart, vaginal health and sexual desire: the trials, with their numbers and their limits.Read the researchHormone therapy and breast cancer risk:
what the trials foundEstrogen alone and with progestin, why the two differ, and how physicians weigh it.Read the research
Getting started
takes a few minutes.
- 1
Connect with a physician
Answer a few questions online and a US-licensed physician reviews your health, history and goals to make sure treatment is right for you. 100% online. No in-person visit required.
- 2
Get your discreet shipment
If approved, your treatment is compounded by a US-licensed, LegitScript-certified pharmacy, inspected for quality, and shipped discreetly to your door.
- 3
Receive continuous support
Start with one goal, then keep building over time. Unlimited physician messaging, easy refills and dose adjustments, all from the Zepym Health app.
Frequently asked questions
Contact supportHow do I take BIEST Capsules?
Taken by mouth, once a day. The starting prescription is 1 capsule (1 mg) each time. Your physician sets your own dose and it is printed on your label.
What strengths does BIEST Capsules come in?
The pharmacy carries 3: 1 mg, 1.5 mg, 2 mg. Your physician chooses which one you get.
How much arrives in each shipment?
30 capsules at the starting strength, shipped to your door from a licensed US pharmacy.
Capsule, cream or tablet under the tongue?
Capsules are the simplest; creams avoid the first pass through the liver and carry less clot risk; under-the-tongue tablets act quickly. Your physician recommends the best fit for your health history.
Is BIEST really bioidentical?
Yes. Estriol and estradiol are both bioidentical, meaning their chemical structure matches what your body made. BIEST is a compounded formula mixing these two in a specific ratio.
Do I need progesterone with BIEST?
If you have a uterus, yes. Estrogen thickens the uterine lining, and progesterone protects it. After hysterectomy, estrogen alone is safe.
Is BIEST better than estradiol alone?
Not necessarily. Both work. BIEST appeals to patients seeking a lower dose, a gentler profile, or a compounded approach.
What if I smoke?
Smoking significantly raises your clot and stroke risk on estrogen. Your physician may recommend transdermal (topical) over oral forms, or may suggest stopping smoking first.
BIEST capsules educational content reviewed by our physician
Scott Nass, MD Doctor of Medicine, board-certified in Family Medicine
Charles R. Drew University and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center.
More options
in this area.
Capsule
7-Keto DHEA Capsules
7-Keto DHEA, a metabolite of DHEA that does not convert to testosterone or estrogen. Supports energy and metabolism without hormonal side effects.
30 capsules per month
Starting at $89/mo
Dissolving tablet
BIEST (20:80) 0.05 mg ODT
A low-dose bioidentical estrogen (20% estriol, 80% estradiol) in a tablet that dissolves in the mouth, for hot flashes, night sweats and other menopause symptoms. Prescribed and dosed by a licensed physician.
30 tablets per month
Starting at $99/mo
Dissolving tablet
BIEST (20:80) 0.1 mg ODT
A stronger dose of bioidentical estrogen (20% estriol, 80% estradiol) in a dissolving tablet, for menopause symptoms not controlled by the lower dose. Prescribed and dosed by a licensed physician.
30 tablets per month
Starting at $99/mo
References
- 1.The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause, 2022
- 2.Estrogen and progestogen use in postmenopausal women: 2015 perspective. Lancet, 2015
Prescription products require an online evaluation with a licensed medical professional who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Products are compounded by a licensed pharmacy. The FDA has not reviewed or approved compounded products for any use for safety, efficacy, or quality. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved brand-name products.