I'm struggling with this knowledge today - tomorrow I see a new provider who has the potential to give me access to treatments I really need, or deny me access (again) like multiple docs have in the past few years.

Thank you for talking about this. The easy-breezy seeming way you talk about the informed consent model makes it seem like getting HRT should be "easy." I lucked into a good endocrinologist for my diabetes years ago who now specializes in HRT stuff. I wish everyone had that same privilege and luck. I'm sorry you worry about lifesaving medicine, too - we deserve better.