title: Risks and effectiveness of compounded bioidentical hormone therapy: a case series.
abstract: After the publication of the Women's Health Initiative, attitudes towards management of menopausal symptoms changed dramatically. One alternative that has received much media attention is the use of bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT). The media and celebrity endorsements have promoted a number of misconceptions about the risks and benefits associated with the various forms of BHT. This article will review the available evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of BHT in comparison to conventional hormone therapy. We will also review several cases seen in our midlife women's referral clinics, which demonstrate concerns for the safety and efficacy of BHT, including unexplained endometrial cancer in otherwise healthy BHT users. Due to the lack of sufficient data to support the efficacy or safety of BHT, we recommend the use of United States Food and Drug Administration-approved regimens in the management of menopausal symptoms.
authors.affiliation: 1 Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western University , Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Batur
authors.forename: Holly L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Thacker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004964:Estriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D004964:Estriol