Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026
06:18
An In Vivo Estrogen Deficiency Mouse Model for Screening Exogenous Estrogen Treatments of Cardiovascular Dysfunction After Menopause
Published on: August 13, 2019
Bioidentical hormone therapy: a panacea that lacks supportive evidence
Lisa A Boothby1, Paul L Doering
1Auburn University, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn, Alabama, USA. lisa.boothby@crhs.net
Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology
|July 29, 2008
Summary
Bioidentical hormone therapy lacks scientific evidence for efficacy and safety. Compounded hormones require further clinical trials to establish their profiles, differentiating them from established pharmaceutical treatments.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
- Integrative Medicine
Background:
- Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) is often promoted as a safer alternative to conventional hormone replacement.
- Pharmacists compounding BHT may lack comprehensive understanding of its scientific basis.
- Distinguishing BHT from legitimate pharmacy compounding is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the scientific evidence supporting BHT claims.
- To assess the safety and efficacy of compounded bioidentical hormones.
- To clarify the distinction between BHT and evidence-based pharmacy compounding.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of scientific literature on BHT.
- Analysis of arguments presented by BHT proponents.
- Comparison of compounded hormones with FDA-approved therapies.
Main Results:
- Major medical organizations dispute BHT claims due to lack of substantiation.
- Current evidence does not support superior efficacy or safety of BHT.
- Estriol lacks FDA approval, necessitating clinical trials for its use.
- Clinical data comparing natural progesterone and synthetic progestins remain inconclusive.
Conclusions:
- Compounded bioidentical hormones require rigorous clinical trials to prove efficacy and safety.
- The scientific community needs to address unsubstantiated BHT claims.
- Further research is essential to validate the therapeutic value of specific bioidentical hormones.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Bioequivalence of Drugs: Drugs with Multiple Indications
The concept of therapeutic equivalence (TE) in drugs with multiple indications is complex. A generic drug may be therapeutically equivalent to a brand-name product for one specific indication, but this doesn't necessarily mean it's equivalent for all other indications. Evidence of TE in one patient group and bioequivalence shown in healthy volunteers can support—but not confirm—TE for other indications. However, definitive proof requires individual clinical studies for each indication due to...
01:22Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence
Generic intravenous (IV) drugs are considered bioequivalent to their branded counterparts due to their 100% bioavailability upon administration. However, variations in stability among different drug products can significantly influence their therapeutic performance, even if they are pharmaceutically equivalent.Cefuroxime, a prophylactic antimicrobial, is often used as a single-dose IV injection for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. A 3 g dose typically provides...
01:22Target Cell Response to Hormones
Hormones intricately bind to receptors on the surface or within target cells, initiating a cascade of cellular responses.
Notably, the cellular response can be regulated by altering the number of receptors expressed in the cell. For example, prolonged exposure to elevated hormone levels results in a gradual decline or down-regulation in the number of receptors for that specific hormone on the cell surface. Conversely, in response to low hormone levels, cells may use up-regulation, producing an...
Notably, the cellular response can be regulated by altering the number of receptors expressed in the cell. For example, prolonged exposure to elevated hormone levels results in a gradual decline or down-regulation in the number of receptors for that specific hormone on the cell surface. Conversely, in response to low hormone levels, cells may use up-regulation, producing an...
01:27Hormones of the Pituitary Gland
The small, pea-sized pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain. It is crucial in regulating various bodily functions, from growth to reproduction. The gland is divided into the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe. The secretory cell clusters in the pars distalis of the anterior pituitary lobe are controlled by hypothalamic regulators and synthesize six primary hormones.
The most abundantly secreted hormone from the anterior lobe is the growth hormone, which controls overall growth by...
The most abundantly secreted hormone from the anterior lobe is the growth hormone, which controls overall growth by...
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
01:16Bioequivalence: Overview
Pharmaceutical equivalents, by definition, are drug products with the same active ingredient in the same quantities, encapsulated in identical dosage forms, and intended for the same administration routes. These pharmaceutical equivalents are deemed bioequivalent if the bioavailability of the active entity in the drug preparations is similar. Moreover, pharmaceutical equivalents demonstrating bioequivalence are also regarded as therapeutically equivalent. This means that when used as directed,...