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Compounded Bio-Identical Hormones: More Harm Than Good?

What does compounded bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) mean to you? To some, including Suzanne Somers, it is the best thing since sliced bread. To others it's a ticking time bomb. Regardless of what side of the fence you're on, it is still important to understand the potentially serious consequences of taking compounded bio-identical hormones. Compounded BHRT refers to natural or bio-identical hormones, which are mixed in differing combinations, and then prepared into topical creams, gels, lotions, tablets, and suppositories. Because these products are created on a patient-by-patient basis, each one of them contains slightly different dosages -- meaning the Food and Drug Administration…

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Featured

 Bioidentical Hormones - Marketing Hype or Medical Breakthrough?

The best way to understand Bioidentical Hormones is to simply take away the term “bioidentical.” Don’t get me wrong, I love the term...it is descriptive, positive, and sounds very—“healthy.” The problem is that while it is meant to describe a hormone that is molecularly identical to human hormones, it (the word bioidentical), is a distraction from the clarity of facts that women (and men) must have to understand hormonal aging and what options, benefits and risks are out there for those who need help.

 Bioidentical Hormones: A Lot of Fancy and Very Little Fact

While bioidentical hormones are a popular celebrity trend, whatever you do, I strongly encourage you not to rely solely on obtaining your medical advice from Hollywood.

 Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

Compounded “Bioidentical” Hormone Therapy (cBHT), particularly estrogen and progesterone, have been promoted by some as safer and more effective alternatives to manufactured FDA-approved hormone therapies (HT) for relief of symptoms of the menopause. In fact, little or no scientific evidence exists to support such claims about cBHT. Additionally, preparation of cBHT formulations is not subject to FDA oversight, and can be inconsistent in dose and purity. As a result of unfounded but highly publicized claims, and the lack of standardized package labeling with risks outlined, patients have received incomplete or incorrect information regarding the relative safety and efficacy of cBHT preparations.

 Natural’ hormone therapy no panacea for menopause symptoms

Natural or bioidentical hormones are plant-derived products closely resembling the oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone produced in the body. The hormones are made up (compounded) in pharmacies to provide individualised doses to relieve the symptoms of menopause. Bioidentical hormone therapy is marketed as natural, safe, risk-free, age-reversing, sex-enhancing and even cancer-preventing. But not only is the term bioidentical in this context a misnomer, the products pose a serious safety risk.

Articles of Interest

Custom-mixed hormone therapies misleading menopausal women to think personalised products are necessary, experts say

Companies are selling compounded MHT as more ‘natural’ – but there are links with endometrial cancer, the Australian Menopause Society warns.

Prescribers Should Restrict the Use of Non-FDA-Approved Compounded Bioidentical Hormones, Except for Specific Medical Circumstances

The use of compounded bioidentical hormone therapies (cBHTs) — an increasingly popular approach to relieve symptoms of menopause and male hypogonadism — should be limited to the small number of patients who cannot benefit from an FDA-approved hormone therapy product, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. It recommends that prescribers restrict the use of cBHTs to two circumstances: when a patient is allergic to an ingredient in an FDA-approved hormone product, and when a patient requires a specific dosage form not available for an FDA-approved product.

The Clinical Utility of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

A review of safety, effectiveness, and use.

Benefits of HRT: Stopping the Menopause Thief

We only believe in replacing the body’s hormones with bio-identical hormone supplements. When we use hormones, we always use them in a bio-identical form. This means that the hormones supplements are exactly the same hormones as those made by the female body—the same estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone. This approach does not involve synthetic hormones like medroxyprogesterone, provera, or norethindrone; nor does it entail the use of hormone supplements manufactured from the urine of pregnant horses like conjugated equine estrogens or premarin.

Bio-Identical Hormones: Are They Right For You?

If you are 40+ and suffering from moodiness, hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, depression, apathy, fatigue, or abdominal weight gain you’re not alone. You’re probably asking yourself, “Am I losing it, just getting old, or is it my hormones?” The good news is, it's most likely just your hormones.

Bioidentical Hormones for Breast Cancer Survivors

Thirty Five years ago, surgeon Steven Economou MD asked me, “Does Estrogen cause breast cancer, and does hormone replacement increase cancer recurrence in breast cancer survivors?” Back then, I did not know the answer, and neither did he. Thirty Five years later, we now have the answer.

Bioidentical Hormones, Menopausal Women, and the Lure of the “Natural” in U.S. Anti-Aging Medicine

The perceived virtues of BHRT shed light on the rhetoric of anti-aging medicine and a deeply complicated relationship between conventional biomedicine, hormonal technologies, and women’s bodies.

Experts Voice Concerns on 'Natural' HRT Alternatives

Aging processes like weight gain, hardening of the arteries, bone loss, fatigue and an increased risk of diabetes. If it all sounds too good to be true, a number of health officials say it is. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists put together a special committee to look at the risks and benefits of hormones derived from plants. Dr. Michelle Curtis(ph) chaired that committee, which concluded bioidentical hormones are no more safe or effective than synthetic ones.

How Safe and Effective Are Bioidentical Hormone Therapies?

The popularity of bioidenticals has surged over the past decade, particularly among women with safety concerns about hormone therapy (HT) during and after menopause. Yet many women may not realize how little research exists on these products’ safety, effectiveness, purity, strength, or quality.

Menopause experts say compounded HRT is unsafe

“Every expert in the field shares the same view and concerns about compounded hormones: it’s unsafe, untested and unnecessary. We are concerned by its purity, potency and safety,” said Haitham Hamoda, the chair of the BMS, spokesperson for the RCOG and a consultant gynaecologist at King’s College hospital foundation trust.

Popular Menopause Hormones Made From Plants Come Under Scrutiny

Fears about commercial hormones have led a growing number of women to try customized cocktails of plant hormones to relieve menopause symptoms. These are mixtures of estrogens and progesterone that are extracted from plants but have the same molecular structure as the hormones produced by the human body. In fact, they are often referred to as bio-identical hormones.

Targeting Patients with Pellets: A Look at Biodentical Hormones

Promoted to treat vague symptoms and conditions like “hormone imbalance,” custom-compounded bioidentical hormones are increasing in popularity — and problems.

The dangers of compounded bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

Compounded bioidentical HRT is not subject to any quality control as it comes under a supplement. They often do not have properly enforced standards of good manufacturing, quality controls, and monitoring, as regulated hormones do.

What is Bioidentical Hormone Therapy?

An important distinction that needs to be made is whether a hormone therapy supplement is bioidentical or not. A bioidentical hormone is chemically identical to the hormone produced in your body. It may not have originated in your body, but it has the same chemical structure and even goes by the same name. Most importantly, it has the same biological function. On the other hand, there are hormone therapy options available that are not identical to the hormones in your body. They might be similar, they might even have a similar name, but they are not exactly the same as the hormones produced in your body.

Women Fooled By Untested Hormones From Compounding Pharmacies

According to a new study, an estimated 28 million to 39 million prescriptions are filled each year for hormone-replacement therapies made by compounding pharmacies. But two large Internet surveys reveal that a staggering 86% of women don't understand that products sold by compounding pharmacies are not approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. This is a disturbing but not entirely surprising revelation.

Resources

5 Common Myths About Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is a tricky subject for the average person to navigate. Especially since the media has had a field day with both bio-identical hormone therapies and the health repercussions of synthetic hormones.

BioTE

A hormone balance leader using tiny cardio-activated pellets 2 to 4 times per year, BioTE certified providers offer patients the possibility to experience increased energy and muscle strength, greater ability to lose weight, reduced mood swings, better sleep at night, mental clarity and increased libido.

BodyLogicMD

Hormone therapy replenishes the hormones our body needs to function properly using bioidentical hormones. BodyLogicMD's affiliated physicians are highly trained in natural bioidentical hormone therapy integrated with nutrition and fitness for those suffering from hormone imbalance.

Winona

At Winona, it’s our goal to take the confusion out of menopause and help women get the solutions they need. We are a telehealth company that aims to empower, educate, and treat women throughout the entirety of their menopause journey. We offer doctor-prescribed, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy that is backed by science and shipped directly to your door.

Bioidentical Hormone BHRT Blog

My goal with this blog is to simply publish my experience with Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (bHRT). I am not a doctor or related to the medical field in any way. This is just my personal experience and is not a recommendation to what will work for anyone else that might be reading this.

Happy Hormone Cottage

An educational facility and a medical facility. The Happy Hormone Cottage is all about women helping women learn the truth about natural hormone balance. We offer the educational piece through the process of hormone testing to seeing one of our nurse practitioners for your best health naturally.

GoodRx

Bioidentical hormones are lab-made hormones that are chemically similar to the hormones in your body. They’re made from a plant steroid found in soy and wild yams. There are FDA-approved bioidentical hormone products available, including estradiol (Estrace, Climara, Vivelle) and progesterone (Prometrium). Many compounded hormones are also considered to be bioidentical. These are hormones made just for you. But they aren’t FDA-approved and can vary in quality.

Hormonify

Hormonify, available for telehealth in the US, was created by Dr. Edward Eckert, a pioneer in the field of hormone health. Our unparalleled Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) has proven success in supporting both men and women.