Hormone Replacement Therapy (menopause) - Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy refers to the use of hormones that are chemically identical to those produced in a woman's body. Proponents also claim that BHRT can offer advantages beyond those typical of traditional HRT. There is no evidence in the peer reviewed literature that validates or refutes these claims.

Some bioidentical hormone therapies are FDA approved. Others are provided in connection with the practices of pharmaceutical compounding and saliva testing to determine, and adjust a woman's hormone levels. The latter two practices are not widely accepted in clinical medicine. Compounding has not demonstrated any benefits and presents risks of uncertain dosing, potency and possible contamination. In addition, saliva testing is of limited utility due to natural fluctuations in hormone levels, and lack of consensus for ideal dosage in humans.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has stated that BHRT is unsupported by medical evidence, and its administration is considered false and misleading by the agency. The FDA has expressed concerned that unfounded claims like these mislead women and health care professionals. Traditional therapy has been researched to quantify these risks and benefits, and are produced by manufacturers with stringent purity and potency standards.