Here in the U.S., it is different. Supplements, including creams and liquids, are available over-the-counter, but their hormone content is very low; too low to be effective. Supplements like these are not regulated for quality and safety.
Those with high enough doses to actually work are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and require a prescription. A lot of people try various herbal products and creams, but their effects are minimal because the content is too low or nonexistent. There are also many products that do not contain the hormone itself but instead contain other compounds that are claimed to be precursors (as if the body will somehow magically combine them to make the hormone).
A prime example of that is progesterone products. Some contain a very small amount of progesterone, thus avoiding regulation. Others contain Wild Yam extract, not progesterone. The body cannot convert Wild Yam extract into progesterone. That requires sophisticated lab equipment. But since these products are not regulated, manufacturers can make all sorts of wild claims, and people will still buy them.
Another example is the Bovine Ovary, and other "glandular" supplements. The claim is that by eating tissue from these organs, some of the "nutrients" survive digestion and help to improve hormonal balance. There is no evidence that this is true. People have been eating animal organs for thousands of years and continue to experience the same issues.
By going the medical route, hormone levels are assessed and monitored. Proper bioidentical hormones (the same as human hormones, not from horses or cows) that are quality-controlled for dosage and safety are prescribed.
We always recommend the medical route because we don't want anyone risking their health over a cheap alternative. We also recognize that with the current state of animosity toward transgender medicine, the medical route is not always available to everyone.
