Are Bioidentical Hormones Better?

Controversy exists regarding bioidentical hormones and their effectiveness. Bioidentical hormones are created in a laboratory and are reputed by their makers to have the same chemical properties as hormones that your body produces.

Sources

• Bioidentical hormones are plant-derived hormone preparations that pharmacists make and label as medications.

Evidence

• There is no evidence that bioidentical hormones are better than other hormones, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA also says the benefits and risks between bioidentical hormones and other hormones are likely to be the same.

Safety

• The safety of bioidentical hormones has not been established by the FDA. Pharmwatch.org's advice is to avoid using bioidentical hormones because there is no scientific evidence to support their efficacy.

Claims

• The FDA issued a letter in 2008 to seven compounding companies, telling them to stop making claims that bioidentical hormones are better than those approved by the FDA. There also have been claims made that bioidentical hormones can help prevent and treat Alzheimer's, strokes, and some forms of cancer, but according to Dr. Stephen Barrett writing in Pharmwatch.org, there is no evidence to support these claims.

Possible Benefits

• Custom compounded hormones may have some benefit because you can get individualized doses and preparations that are not commercially available, according to the North American Menopause Foundation. But, because bioidentical hormones do not have government testing or approval, the amount of medication your body actually absorbs has not been established.