Frequently
Asked Questions

Winona is a telehealth platform that offers safe, personalized, doctor-prescribed bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and non-hormonal treatment options for women navigating the menopause transition.

Beyond prescriptions, Winona provides holistic care, including access to a private online patient community, educational resource guides, and virtual Q&A sessions with board-certified doctors, empowering women to make confident, informed decisions about their menopause care.

Winona’s HRT are prescription treatments that reduce menopausal symptoms by replenishing hormone levels that naturally decline during the menopause transition. We offer the safest modern forms of bioidentical HRT, backed by the latest scientific research, including oral pills, transdermal patches, body creams, and localized treatments.

Yes, Winona has helped improve the lives of thousands of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women across the country. We tailor the dose and form of HRT to your specific symptoms to maximize optimal treatment outcomes. Visit our Reviews Page to hear real Winona patients share their success stories firsthand.

Yes, Winona is an established telehealth company founded in 2021. Our core values of safety, integrity, and education mean that we maintain rigorous standards for doctor selection and training to ensure the safest and most effective menopause care for our patients.

Safety is our top priority at Winona. Our board-certified physicians carefully review your medical intake information to determine if you’re a good candidate for HRT.

We also only prescribe hormone therapy to women ages 35–59 in alignment with the clinical consensus that when hormone therapy is started before the age of 60 or within 10 years of your final menstrual period, the benefits of treatment generally outweigh the potential risks. 

All of Winona’s menopause medications are prescribed by our staff of 30+ board-certified physicians, who offer expert telehealth care nationwide.

Yes. All of our doctors are state-licensed and board-certified, and we take pride in their compassionate approach and commitment to helping you feel your best. If you’d like to learn more about our physicians, we invite you to visit our Physicians Page, where you can read their bios and learn about their qualifications and experience.

Yes. All of our HRT treatment options are made with bioidentical hormones derived from plants. Bioidentical hormones are identical in chemical and molecular structure to the hormones produced naturally in your body. They are compounded by a licensed pharmacist and prescribed by a Winona board-certified physician.

You can get started with Winona by filling out your medical intake information on our Eligibility Page. Visit our Help Center to learn more about the onboarding process and how to start a personalized, bioidentical HRT treatment plan with Winona.

Most women ages 35–59 who are experiencing menopausal symptoms are generally eligible for Winona’s HRT treatments. Our board-certified physicians will review your medical history for potential risk factors to determine if you’re a good candidate for hormone therapy.

Our licensed physicians carefully evaluate your symptoms and medical history to decide if HRT is an appropriate treatment option for you. Your doctor will factor in your menopause status, potential risk factors, and medication use to determine your individual benefit-risk profile.

Yes, you can start treatment even if you’re still getting irregular periods during perimenopause. Hormone therapy can help alleviate disruptive symptoms that are common in the years before menopause, such as hot flashes, night sweats, low libido, and mood shifts.

Yes, all of our products require a prescription.

No. In accordance with The Menopause Society and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), Winona does not require any type of bloodwork or hormone testing to be prescribed an HRT treatment plan.

Hormone levels fluctuate day to day, and even hour to hour, so testing is not the most reliable way to determine if a patient could benefit from HRT. At Winona, our physicians prescribe and adjust HRT treatment based on the severity of your symptoms. Want to learn more? Read about why hormone testing for perimenopause and menopause isn’t necessary.

Winona currently serves the following U.S. states and territories; Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico.

Winona is only able to safely provide HRT treatment plans for women 35–59 years of age. For our non-HRT products, such as the Sildenafil Arousal Cream, Minoxidil Hair Serum, and Estriol Face Cream with Tretinoin, the minimum age requirement is 18.

No. Once you complete the onboarding process, you will be assigned a Winona doctor licensed in your state who will review your medical intake information to ensure that you’re an appropriate candidate for HRT and prescribe you a personalized treatment plan.

Once onboarding is complete, patients are placed in a queue to be matched with a doctor licensed in their state. If you submit questions for your physician in the onboarding questionnaire, they will send a message addressing your questions before prescribing. If no questions are submitted and you’re an appropriate candidate for treatment, your personalized HRT prescriptions will be sent to the pharmacy for fulfillment.

Winona offers a variety of HRT and non-HRT prescription products. Our hormone therapy treatments include oral pills, transdermal patches, body creams, and localized treatments. Our non-HRT products include our compounded Sildenafil Arousal Cream, Minoxidil Hair Serum, and Estriol Face Cream with Tretinoin. You can explore all of our treatment options on our Treatments Page.

Yes, personalized HRT treatment is the cornerstone of the work we do at Winona. Our board-certified doctors take your unique symptoms, medical history, and personal preferences into account to recommend menopause medications best suited to your individual health needs.

No, Winona does not prescribe testosterone. There’s currently no FDA-approved testosterone therapy for women for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. However, we do prescribe DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a hormone precursor that can help gently raise your testosterone levels and provide similar benefits.

Yes. Winona prescribes DHEA as an alternative to testosterone therapy to help reduce sexual symptoms of menopause, such as low libido. Although DHEA is available over the counter (OTC), supplements are not regulated as strictly as prescription medications. With Winona’s prescription DHEA, the potency, quality, and consistency of your medication are guaranteed.

No, Winona does not prescribe GLP-1 medications. However, it's generally considered safe to use GLP-1 medications alongside hormone therapy. If you choose to use GLP-1 medications in conjunction with HRT, please inform your doctor to ensure safe, coordinated care. Read more about the important differences between HRT and GLP-1 medications for weight management.

No, we do not prescribe hormone pellet therapy. 

Yes. Winona offers a variety of non-hormonal treatment options, including our Sildenafil Arousal Cream, Minoxidil Hair Serum, and Estriol Face Cream with Tretinoin.

Yes. Winona’s treatments aren’t only intended for women who have reached menopause. Our HRT products can help reduce common perimenopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood shifts, brain fog, and vaginal dryness.

Winona’s estrogen tablets, progesterone capsules, and estrogen patches are FDA approved.

To provide personalized prescriptions, Winona owns and operates two 503A compounding pharmacies. These pharmacies are regulated by state pharmacy boards rather than the FDA, which means Winona’s compounded creams are not FDA approved. However, all 503A compounding pharmacies, including Winona’s, are required to compound prescriptions using FDA-approved ingredients.

Visit our Help Center to learn more about how Winona’s prescriptions are regulated for safety, quality, and consistency.

Yes, Winona owns and operates two 503A compounding pharmacies. These pharmacies are regulated at the state level by state pharmacy boards. All 503A compounding pharmacies, including Winona’s, are required to compound prescriptions using FDA-approved ingredients to ensure the highest quality treatment.

Yes. If you feel you need to switch hormone delivery methods, you can message your doctor any time of day through your secure Patient Portal to discuss treatment adjustments.

Yes. If you’re interested in adding another medication to your HRT treatment plan, you will need to contact your physician through your secure Patient Portal, as all of Winona’s hormonal and non-hormonal treatment options require a prescription.

Everyone responds to hormone therapy differently, and some women may experience mild bloating, breast tenderness, or mood changes shortly after starting treatment.

These side effects typically go away as your body adjusts to the initial increase in hormones. If they persist, your doctor may recommend adjusting the dose or form of HRT. Learn more about how to manage common initial side effects after starting HRT.

Yes. If you feel your symptoms are not improving on your current HRT plan, your doctor can increase the dose. However, it can take up to three months to feel the full effects of HRT, so if you’ve just started treatment, your doctor may recommend giving it some time before making any dose adjustments. Read more about why it may feel like HRT isn’t working.

There’s no limit on how long you can stay on your Winona HRT plan. As long as your treatment plan remains effective in relieving your symptoms and you don’t develop any contraindications, you can use Winona’s HRT for as long as needed.

Many women begin to feel improvements in hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and mood changes within the first few weeks of treatment. Within three months, 80% of women feel significant or complete symptom relief.

Treatment progress is different for every patient and can vary depending on treatment compliance, hormone metabolism, and the severity of symptoms. After 10 weeks, your Winona physician will check in and see how you’re doing. At that time, if you’re not experiencing the benefits you desire, your doctor may adjust the medication dose or method of treatment. Learn more about what to expect after starting HRT.

Because HRT plans vary based on the hormone delivery method and each woman’s unique health needs, the total cost of a Winona treatment subscription varies between patients. You may be prescribed just one product or multiple products, which can also affect the cost. You can see all of our products and their individual costs on our Product Page.

No. We do not currently work directly with insurance companies and are unable to bill your insurance provider on your behalf. However, you may be able to submit your HSA/FSA receipts for reimbursement. Visit our Help Center to learn more.

Yes, you can use your HSA/FSA card as a form of payment. When you set your FSA card as your payment method in your online patient account, it will work like a debit card at checkout. Visit our Help Center for a list of all accepted payment methods.

Yes. Winona is happy to provide you with a receipt for your Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for possible reimbursement. HSA/FSA receipts can be accessed through your online Patient Portal.

No. Due to restrictions within our billing platform, we are unable to accept CareCredit as a payment method.

Billing cycles vary based on your treatment plan. Payment and prescription for a 30-day supply are automatically processed every 28 days, while those for a 90-day supply are processed every 84 days.

Patients may cancel an order and receive a full refund to their original form of payment only within the 24-hour processing window. Orders cannot be cancelled, refunded, or returned after the 24-hour cancellation window has passed. Visit our Help Center to learn more about our Cancellation and Refund Policy.

When the pharmacy receives a prescription request, there’s a mandatory 24-hour waiting period to allow for cancellations or last-minute changes to the treatment plan. Typically, the pharmacy prepares and ships each order within 1–2 business days. Depending on the state where the patient resides and USPS delivery times, packages should arrive within 3–5 business days.

Once your package ships from the pharmacy, you’ll receive a confirmation email with tracking information. For the most up-to-date tracking details, we recommend checking directly with the shipping carrier.

All packages are shipped free of charge via USPS Ground Advantage. USPS Priority Mail, FedEx Ground, and FedEx Overnight shipping may be arranged prior to shipment by contacting the Patient Care Team.

• USPS Tracking

• FedEx Tracking
  

Yes. We offer the following shipping options:

• USPS Ground Advantage (free): 2–5 business days

• USPS Priority mail ($15): 2–3 business days

• FedEx Ground ($25): 1–5 business days

• FedEx Overnight ($50): Next-day service (may not be eligible for Saturday delivery)

• FedEx Overnight - Saturday ($75): orders placed on Friday for Saturday delivery (if eligible for Saturday delivery)

Please reach out to our Patient Care Team at hello@bywinona.com to apply expedited shipping to an order.

Our Help Center provides step-by-step instructions on how to cancel your order within the 24-hour processing window or cancel a refill prescription.

No. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer alternate or more discreet packaging. Our packaging is thoughtfully designed with our pharmacy partners to protect your medication during shipping, be environmentally friendly, and reflect the Winona brand. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience.

Your medications are shipped directly from one of our two 503A compounding pharmacies in El Dorado Hills, California and Twin Falls, Idaho.

Yes. Prescriptions are processed automatically according to your refill schedule, so you never run out of your medication. The only exceptions are Winona’s Vaginal Estrogen Cream and the Sildenafil Arousal Cream, which must be requested as needed. This is because the frequency of use of these products can vary between patients.

Refills are processed automatically according to your refill schedule — every 84 days for a 90-day supply or every 28 days for a 30-day supply unless you pause or cancel your subscription.

Yes, you can cancel your Winona subscriptions at any time. Learn more about our Cancellation and Refund Policy.

You can cancel your treatment plan subscription in your account settings.

• Go to Account Settings.

• Select Edit.

• Scroll to the bottom of the page to Billing Details and select Edit.

• Click Cancel Subscription.

You can pause your subscription for up to 90 days in your account settings.

• Go to Account Settings.

• Select Edit.

• Scroll to the bottom of the page to Billing Details and select Edit.

• Click Cancel Subscription, then choose the option to pause your subscription for 30, 60, or 90 days.

You can pause your Winona subscription at any time for 30, 60, or 90 days in the Patient Portal. Your prescription will automatically resume processing on the selected “pause until” date.

If you want to pause treatment for more than 90 days, you may contact the Patient Care Team or your doctor, who can help arrange that for you. If your prescription has been paused for more than 90 days, you will need to reach out to your physician when you’re ready to resume treatment.

You can easily update your payment method under Billing Details in Account Settings.

Yes, you can easily update your shipping address under Billing Details in Account Settings.

Winona’s doctors are board-certified physicians who specialize in menopause care. Our medical team is dedicated to staying up to date on the most current menopause research to provide personalized, evidence-based treatment. Visit our Physicians Page to read their full bios and learn more about their qualifications and expertise.

You can communicate with your Winona doctor through our direct messaging system in your Patient Portal.

Winona is an asynchronous telehealth platform. Some of our physicians also work in clinics or hospitals and may be assisting other patients throughout the day. Typically, our physicians respond to messages within 24–48 hours. In some cases, responses may take longer.

If you have any urgent concerns, or if you have not heard back from your physician within 48 hours, please reach out to our Patient Care Team at hello@bywinona.com, and we’ll be happy to help.

No, we don’t offer phone or video calls with physicians. All communication happens through our secure Patient Portal. This allows your doctor to thoroughly review your concerns and respond thoughtfully without the time constraints of scheduled appointments. Once onboarding is complete, you’ll have 24/7 access to our doctor chat feature.

For urgent, non-medical concerns, the Winona Patient Care Team is available 24/7 by email at hello@bywinona.com. For medical concerns, please contact your doctor through the Patient Portal. Please note that it may take up to 24–48 hours to receive a response. If you have not heard back from your doctor after 48 hours, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Patient Care Team, who will work to resolve your concern in a timely manner.

Once a doctor–patient relationship is established, your physician oversees your care throughout your time as a Winona patient. If your assigned physician is temporarily unavailable, another licensed physician may step in to prevent any lapse in care. If a physician leaves Winona, patients are permanently reassigned.

After you complete the onboarding process, you will be placed in a queue to be matched with a Winona doctor licensed in your state. Once you’ve been assigned a doctor, you may request a different one, provided the other doctor is licensed in your state and is currently accepting new patients.

Thousands of women have shared how Winona has helped them reclaim their quality of life. Explore our Reviews Page to hear directly from patients about their experience navigating the menopause transition with Winona.