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Published on: August 13, 2019
Menopausal Women's Access Path to Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy: An Exploratory
Doris Moro1, Wendy Young, Richard Stein
1Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding
|August 23, 2013
Summary
Women seeking bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) were influenced by symptom relief and personal preference, facing barriers like cost and lack of information. Improving access requires better physician education and patient decision aids.
Area of Science:
- Women's Health
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Menopause significantly impacts women's quality of life.
- Synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may cause side effects or fail to alleviate symptoms.
- Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) offers an alternative, but access and information can be challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore factors influencing women's decision to use BHRT.
- To identify information sources and support systems for BHRT users.
- To understand enablers, barriers, and potential improvements in BHRT access.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative exploratory study conducted in a compounding pharmacy in Ontario, Canada.
- Four postmenopausal women using BHRT participated in audio-taped mini focus groups.
- Data analyzed using an affinity diagram of verbatim quotes.
Main Results:
- Key decision factors for BHRT included unalleviated symptoms, side effects from synthetic HRT, and personal preference.
- Information was gathered from family, friends, publications, and menopausal health specialists.
- Knowledgeable physicians and pharmacists enabled access, while lack of support/information and cost were barriers.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced patient decision-making tools and improved physician/specialist education on BHRT are recommended.
- Strategies to improve the bioidentical hormone replacement therapy access path are needed.
- Further research into patient experiences and evidence-based BHRT options is warranted.
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