Bioidentical hormones for menopausal hormone therapy: variation on a theme.
BACKGROUND
Progesterone creams and natural or bioidentical compounded estrogen preparations are being promoted to consumers as safe alternatives to conventional menopausal hormone therapy and as health-promoting tonics. No reliable data support these claims.


RESULTS
Natural hormones, including estradiol, estriol, estrone, and progesterone, can be expected to have the same adverse event profile as conventional menopausal hormone regimens.
Salivary tests may be used to persuade asymptomatic consumers to use hormones (or symptomatic patients to use higher doses than those needed to mitigate symptoms), a practice that can be expected to result in adverse events.
Fugh-Berman
Adriane
A
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 571460, Washington, DC 20052-1460, USA. ajf29@georgetown.edu
Bythrow
Jenna
J
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000329:Advertising; D000075202:Contraindications; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012646:Self Administration; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies / Q000009:adverse effects
D004967:Estrogens; D010840:Phytosterols; D028321:Plant Preparations; D013256:Steroids; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies