What Are the Dangers of Bioidentical Hormones?

Bioidentical hormones have become popular as a substitute for conventional hormones in hormone replacement therapy. All hormone replacement therapy involves risk, and so far there has not been enough research done to definitively state whether bioidentical hormones are safe or if they are safer than conventional hormones.

History

• The use of bioidentical hormones in hormone replacement therapy increased when risks were discovered with conventional hormones. It was believed that bioidentical hormones, made from natural sources, would not present the same risks. Health care providers and internet sites started touting the advantages of using molecularly identical hormones. Today, fully one-third of women in hormone replacement therapy use bioidentical hormones.

Speculation

• To date, there have not been enough studies to fully assess the safety and effectiveness of bioidentical hormones. Some studies show that these products are not only safe, but provide some level of protection against breast cancer, heart attacks, and dementia. Other studies, however, show that bioidentical hormones carry the same risks as conventional hormones. Much of the criticism stems from the fact that bioidentical hormones are not subject to FDA regulation, which means there are no standards for the hormone doses or purity in any given cream or formulation.

Safety

• Many organizations have come out against the use of bioidentical hormones. The Endocrine Society posits that bioidentical hormones carry essentially the same risk as conventional hormones. The Mayo Clinic states there is no evidence that Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is any safer or more effective than conventional hormone replacement therapy. The FDA says that claims about BHRT are unsupported by medical evidence. Conventional hormone therapy can increase the risk of breast cancer, uterine cancer, heart disease, and stroke--and many believe that bioidentical hormone use carries these same risks.

Warnings

• Any use of hormones, bioidentical or conventional, involves the manipulation of the body's natural endocrine rhythm. There is enough evidence about hormone replacement therapy and its risks that any hormone replacement should be undertaken with caution. In the case of menopausal symptoms, however, hormone replacement may be needed to relieve the symptoms.

Research

• More research needs to be done on bioidentical hormones. There are studies under way, but the results will not be reported for some time. The use of bioidentical hormones looks promising, but until more is known about its safety and efficacy, they should be used with caution and only under a doctor's care.