What Does Bioidentical Hormones Mean?

Bioidentical hormones are gaining popularity, and manufacturers are making claims stating bioidentical hormones are better than commercially prepared hormones. You might consider a bioidentical product, but before you make that purchase, make sure you understand what bioidentical means.

Bioidentical Hormones

• Bioidentical hormones describes products that are identical to your body's own natural hormones, or so manufacturers of these types of products would have you believe.

How They Are Made

• Bioidentical hormones are custom-compounded preparations that are created in a lab by a pharmacist. The effectiveness of the preparation depends on many factors, according to Pharmwatch.com. The quality of the ingredients used and how each pharmacy compounds them are important, according to Pharmwatch. Bioidentical hormones are plant-based preparations that are labeled as drugs.

How They Work

• Bioidentical hormones are reputed to mimic your body's own natural hormones, according to Pharmwatch. This is not the case though, since the chemicals used in plants to make these products have to be converted into human hormones synthetically.

Safety

• Determining the safety of bioidentical hormones has not been established, according to the FDA. There is also no evidence of bioidentical hormones being more effective than regular hormone therapy, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Side Effects

• Keep in mind, that bioidentical hormones are not approved by the FDA, and any side effects have not been established since the FDA does not endorse these products. These products should be considered to have the same risks and side effects as those that are FDA approved, according to Pharmwatch.