title: Compounded or confused? Bioidentical hormones and menopausal health.
abstract: The aim of this article is to focus on compounded bioidentical hormone (BH) formulations for menopausal symptoms and to discuss the impact of these on women's choice of treatment. The practice of compounding BHs for individualized treatment of women with menopausal symptoms has developed in the USA. In spite of claims of superiority, there is no evidence to suggest that these formulations are any more efficacious or safe than conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In fact, there are some concerns about dosing inconsistencies and usefulness of saliva testing that is carried out as part of this type of treatment. While there should be no serious safety issues for women, there is a mismatch between the reality of compounded BH formulations and women's perception of them.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Primary Care, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2AP, UK. alyson.huntley@bristol.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alyson L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Huntley
mesh_terms: D004339:Drug Compounding; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D010840:Phytosterols; D028321:Plant Preparations