“The use of custom-compounded hormone therapy is not recommended because of lack of regulation, rigorous safety and efficacy testing, batch standardization…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Bioidentical Hormones Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Bioequivalent Hormone Therapy
  • Bioidentical Hormone Medications
  • Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
  • Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHT)
  • Bioidentical Hormones
  • Bioidenticals
  • Custom-Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (C-CHT)
  • Custom-Made Bioidentical Hormones
  • Custom-Mixed Bioidentical Hormones
  • Hormone Therapy Alternatives
  • Natural Hormone Therapies
  • Pharmacy Compounded Hormones
  • ‘Compounded’ Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (cBHRT)
  • ‘Regulated’ Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (rBHRT)

Background

What is the background of bioidentical hormones for the treatment of menopause symptoms?

In Bioidentical Custom Compounded Hormone Therapy the Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) explain:

“Many patients are attracted to the concept of using hormones that are the same as those which are produced by the ovary pre-menopause. This gained traction after the publication of the Women’s Health Initiative study. There was a suggestion from some that the adverse findings were secondary to the “synthetic” hormones used in that study and that the same would not occur with the use of natural hormones. This has led to an industry of the compounding of ‘bioidentical’ hormones which are often in the form of creams, troches and pessaries. These are widely used by many women at considerable expense”.2

Bioidentical Hormones

What are bioidentical hormones?

DotS the definition of bioidentical hormones may vary. In Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth: What the Science Says About Complementary Approaches for Menopause Symptoms – Other Complementary Approaches: Bioidentical Hormones the (United States) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health’s (NCCIH) definition is:

“Bioidentical hormones are hormones from plant sources that are chemically similar or identical to hormones produced in the human body”.3

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

What is bioidentical hormone therapy?

DotS the definition of bioidentical hormone therapy may vary. In Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. I’ve heard about something called bioidentical hormones. What are they? the North American Menopause Society’s (NAMS) definition is:

“The term bioidentical hormone therapy began as a marketing term for custom-compounded hormones. But it is taken to mean hormones that have the same chemical and molecular structure as hormones that are produced in the body. Bioidentical hormones do not have to be custom-compounded (meaning custom mixed)”.4

What is FDA?

FDA can be an abbreviation for the (United States) Food and Drug Administration.

Body-Identical Hormone Therapy

What is body-identical hormone therapy?

DotS the definition of body-identical hormone therapy may vary. In Bioidentical Custom Compounded Hormone Therapy the AMS’s definition is:

“…‘body-identical’ hormone therapy refers to pharmaceutical products that have the same chemical structure as those produced in the human body”.5

Compounding

What is compounding?

DotS the definition of compounding may vary. In Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers – What Is Compounding? the FDA elaborate on:

“Drug compounding is often regarded as the process of combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to create a medication tailored to the needs of an individual patient. Compounding includes the combining of two or more drugs. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved”.6

Compounded Bioidentical Hormones

What are compounded bioidentical hormones?

DotS the definition of compounded bioidentical hormones may vary. In Complementary and Herbal Therapies for Hot Flushes | New: January 2018: Compounded Bioidentical Menopausal Hormone Therapy the AMS note:

“Compounded “bioidentical” hormones contain hormonal preparations which are aimed at correcting “hormonal imbalances” which may occur at menopause. However, there is no evidence to support the effectiveness or safety of these products. Not only is evidence lacking to support superiority claims of compounded bioidentical hormones over conventional MHT, these claims also pose the additional risks of variable purity and potency, and lack efficacy and safety data. The Committee on Gynecologic Practice of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the US Endocrine Society have raised major concerns about the safety and efficacy of these products and recommend that patients be counselled to avoid their use”.7

Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones

What are pharmacy-compounded hormones?

In Menopause Management: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) definition is:

“Pharmacy-compounded hormones (sometimes referred to as bioidentical hormones) are mixtures of hormones made in compounding pharmacies that are promoted as hormones ‘exactly like our own’ hormones. They can contain oestrogens, progesterone and sometimes other hormones such as testosterone. The hormones are made into capsules, creams, gels, drops applied to the tongue, lozenges or troches (soft square-shaped tablets) sucked in the cheek”.8

Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapies

What are Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapies (cBHRT)?

In Bioidentical HRT: Part A – Explanation of cBHRT: Licensing In UK – Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) the British Menopause Society (BMS) explain:

“Compounded bioidentical hormone replacement therapies are manufactured as creams, lozenges and vaginal preparations by ‘Specialist Pharmacies’ which have proliferated both physically and online in the UK and abroad. These cBHRT products:

  • Do not follow the same regulatory pathway of evaluation by the MHRA as conventional pharmaceutical products
  • Have not been through the rigorous process of drug development which conventional medicines and products such as rBHRT undergo
  • Have not been scientifically evaluated in controlled randomised clinical trials for effectiveness and safety against placebo or conventional HRT”.9

What is UK?

UK can be an abbreviation for the United Kingdom.

cBHRT

What is cBHRT?

DotS the definition of cBHRT may vary. In Bioidentical HRT: Part B – Explanation of rBHRT: Key Terminologies the BMS’s definition is:

“cBHRT: Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy: Precise duplicates of human hormones which are produced by specialist pharmacies and do not follow the same MHRA regulatory pathway as conventional rBHRT”.10

What is MHRA?

MHRA can be an abbreviation for Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in the United Kingdom.

rBHRT

What is rBHRT?

DotS the definition of rBHRT may vary. In Bioidentical HRT: Part B – Explanation of rBHRT: Key Terminologies the BMS’s definition is:

“rBHRT: Regulated Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy: Precise duplicates of human hormones developed in a conventional way by the pharmaceutical industry and authorised by the regulators such as the MHRA in the UK”.11

Custom-Compounded Elephants

What maybe some elephants in the custom-compounded bioidentical hormone therapy room?

Bioidentical HormonesIn Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers – Are Compounded Drugs Approved By FDA? the FDA elaborate on:

“Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved. This means that FDA does not verify the safety or effectiveness of compounded drugs. Consumers and health professionals rely on the drug approval process for verification of safety, effectiveness, and quality. Compounded drugs also lack an FDA finding of manufacturing quality before such drugs are marketed”.12

In What Is Custom-Compounded Therapy? the NAMS note:

“A few consumers may need custom-compounded products to avoid allergies to certain ingredients or to provide dosages or mixtures that are not available commercially. However, custom-mixed hormones can pose risks. They do not have government approval because individually mixed preparations have not been tested to prove that they are absorbed appropriately or provide predictable levels in blood and tissue. And there is no scientific evidence about the effects of these combinations of hormones on the body, either good or bad”.13

In What Is Custom-Compounded Therapy? the NAMS also note:

“Preparation methods vary from one pharmacist to another and from one pharmacy to another, which means that consumers may not receive consistent amounts of medication. In addition, inactive ingredients may vary and there can be batch-to-batch differences. Reliable sterility and freedom from undesired contaminants are also concerns. What’s more, these preparations can be expensive because they are often not covered by insurance plans”.14

Saliva Testing Elephants

What may be some elephants in the saliva testing room?Bioidentical Hormones

In What Is Hormone Testing? the NAMS explain:

“Saliva testing is often a part of custom-compounded “bioidentical hormone therapy” with hormones. But saliva testing is not only unnecessary; it has also has also not been proven to be accurate or reliable. Because hormone levels vary day to day as well as throughout the day, even a blood test cannot accurately reflect the body’s hormone levels”.15

In What Is Hormone Testing? the NAMS also note:

“NAMS does not recommend saliva testing to determine hormone levels and does not recommend custom-compounded products over well-tested, government-approved products for the majority of women”.16

Products

What are two kinds of bioidentical hormone products?

In Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth: What the Science Says About Complementary Approaches for Menopause Symptoms – Other Complementary Approaches: Bioidentical Hormones the NCCIH elaborate on:

“Two kinds of bioidentical hormone products are used to treat menopause symptoms: (1) those that have gone through the same FDA approval process as other types of hormone therapy, and (2) custom-mixed preparations that compounding pharmacies prepare individually for patients”.17

Natural or Not

Are bioidentical hormones natural?

In Bioidentical Custom Compounded Hormone Therapy the AMS explain:

“It is important to realise that no hormone used in any preparation of pharmaceutical grade menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) or compounded “bioidentical therapy” is ‘natural’. They are all synthesised in the laboratory from some precursor by enzymatic manipulation”.18

In what country is the TGA?

Australia.

Safer or Not

Are bioidentical hormones safer than HT?

Depending on the compounder, seller, company or other, the answer to the question “Are bioidentical hormones safe?” may vary.

In Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer? Are bioidentical or natural hormones safer and more effective than hormones used in traditional hormone therapy for menopause symptoms? a (United States) Mayo Clinic author explains:

Bioidentical Hormones
“No, they aren’t. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and several medical specialty groups, the hormones marketed as “bioidentical” and “natural” aren’t safer than hormones used in traditional hormone therapy, and there’s no evidence that they’re any more effective”.19

On page one in Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: Custom-Compounded Versus Government Approved – Bioidentical Custom-Compounded Hormones the NAMS elaborate on:

“Government-approved hormone products are required by law to come with a package insert that describes possible risks and side effects. Custom-compounded hormones are not required to come with this information, but this does not mean they are safer. They contain the same active hormones (such as estradiol and progesterone), so they share the same risks”.20

In Bioidentical Custom Compounded Hormone Therapy: Safety Concerns About Compounded Bioidentical Hormones the AMS elaborate on their concerns about:

  • “Risk of endometrial hyperplasia and neoplasia
  • Quality Control and contaminents”.21

In Menopause Management: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones some of the JH’s “questions about the safety and effectiveness of pharmacy-compounded hormones”, include:

  • “We have no research evidence that the recommended doses of the hormone preparations made by compounding pharmacists are safe or effective
  • It has been claimed this form of hormone therapy does not cause side effects, but this therapy is similar to all prescription hormone therapies, and therefore should have the same risks and benefits. This is unproven and unlikely, with many women presenting with known complications of oestrogen and testosterone therapy while on compounded hormonal preparations”.22

In Bioridiculous the author explains:

“There is nothing inherently evil about producing compounded medication. It is a choice that is made when FDA-approved alternatives either do not exist or are not appropriate. It is a technique that our pharmacist colleagues wish to preserve, and it is an important option for the rare patient who is allergic to the colorings or fillers in common medications. Yet, the marketing of bioidentical hormones as a truly safe and effective alternative to FDA-approved hormone treatments for menopause cannot be condoned when FDA-approved preparations that are exactly the same as the hormones made by the body are available and will work superbly well for almost everyone”.23

2016 Revised Global Consensus Statement

What is one of the points of consensus about custom-compounded hormone therapy?

One of the points of consensus in the Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section B: General Principles Governing the Use of MHT – endorsed by seven menopause-related organizations – published online 20 June 2016, is:

Bioidentical Hormones
  • “The use of custom-compounded hormone therapy is not recommended because of lack of regulation, rigorous safety and efficacy testing, batch standardization, and purity measures”.24

2019 BMS Consensus Statement

What are the aims of the BMS Consensus Statement Bioidentical HRT reviewed in October 2019?

In Bioidentical HRT: Introduction the British Menopause Society (BMS) explain:

“The aims of this paper are to clarify the:

  • Differences between custom ‘compounded’ bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (cBHRT) and conventionally prescribed ‘regulated’ bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (rBHRT)
  • Issues which have caused confusion regarding the regulation and prescribing of these hormones
  • Scientific rationale for the potential advantages of regulated bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (rBHRT) compared to other types of conventional HRT”.25

Health Care Provider

What if I choose to use bioidentical hormones?

If you choose to use bioidentical hormones it may be in your best interest to also choose to tell your health care providers you are doing this. The JH caution:

“Further research and regulation of pharmacy-compounded hormones is needed before they can be recommended for use with menopausal symptoms. It is important when seeking any medical treatment that you consult a health practitioner face-to-face, rather than over the phone. Receiving advice or a prescription for medication without the proper advice is not advised”.26

In Bioridiculous the author elaborates on:

“There is very good reason to beware the inflated promises made by the bioidentical industry and to take better care of yourself during your menopause transition by going to the real experts—licensed medical professionals who have knowledge of the process of menopause and its treatment. Be leery of websites and experts who provide only their own product and recommend only their own tests. If it sounds too good to be true—it probably is. There are better and safer ways to cope with this important life transition, and most women will not require treatment for more than a few years, when risks remain very low. So choose science”.27

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Bioidentical Hormones?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Links

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  1. Bioidentical Hormones9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): 6. Myth – Complementary Medicines and Therapies Are As Effective As MHT and Safer
  2. 9 Myths and Misunderstandings About Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): 7. Myth – Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Is Safer Than Conventional MHT
  3. Approved Prescription Products for Menopausal Symptoms In the United States and Canada
  4. BMS Council Issues A Consensus Statement on Bioidentical Hormones [British Menopause Society]
  5. Bijuva Launched for Moderate To Severe Hot Flashes In Menopause
  6. Bioidentical Custom Compounded Hormone Therapy
  7. Bioidentical HRT [British Menopause Society Consensus Statement]
  8. Bioidentical Hormone Preparations – History of Development
  9. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
  10. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: Custom Compounded versus Government Approved
  11. Bioidentical Hormones
  12. Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  13. Bioidentical Hormones – Ask Dr Jean
  14. Bioidentical Hormones – Risks Revisited
  15. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  16. Bioridiculous
  17. Complementary Medicine Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  18. Complementary and Herbal Therapies for Hot Flushes | New: January 2018: Compounded Bioidentical Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  19. Complementary/Alternative Therapies for Menopausal Women
  20. Compounded Bioidentical Hormones In Endocrinology Practice: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement
  21. Compounding Interests: The Risks of Bioidentical Hormones
  22. Compounding Research
  23. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers
  24. Custom-Compounded Bioidentical HT for Menopause Symptoms May Yield ‘Abnormally High’ Hormone Levels
  25. Deciding About Hormone Therapy
  26. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  27. Despite Effectiveness Women Remain Skeptical of Hormones At Menopause—What’s the Problem?
  28. Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know
  29. Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Increase Cancer Risk? Does HRT Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer?
  30. Dr. Google: Dangers of Health Advice From the Net
  31. Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Women’s Profiles
  32. Endocrine Society Encourages Clinicians To Avoid Prescribing Compounded Hormones
  33. FDA Approves Intrarosa for Postmenopausal Women Experiencing Pain During Sex
  34. Fact Sheets and Downloads: Additional Downloadable Resources – Vaginal Estrogen Therapy
  35. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Levels Test
  36. HRT and Alternatives
  37. HRT: Summary
  38. Hormone Help Desk: ET, EPT, and More: Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHT)
  39. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  40. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Alternatives
  41. Hormone Therapy & Menopause FAQs: What Are Bioidentical Hormones?
  42. Hot Flash Relief Without Hormones
  43. Hot Flashes: Manage Without Medication?
  44. Hot Flashes: What Can I Do?
  45. Hot Stuff: What’s New About Hot Flashes?
  46. Index To Drug-Specific Information [United States]
  47. Information About Menopause [Multiply Languages] [Videos]
  48. Is It Really ‘FDA Approved?’ FDA Doesn’t Approve Compounded Drugs
  49. Lifestyle and Behaviour Changes for Menopausal Symptoms
  50. Lifestyle and Behavioural Modifications for Menopausal Symptoms
  51. Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Levels Test
  52. Managing Menopause: Don’t Let Symptoms of Menopause Reduce Your Quality of Life
  53. Menopause
  54. Menopause
  55. Menopause
  56. Menopause & Herbs
  57. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. I’ve heard about something called bioidentical hormones. What are they?
  58. Menopause FAQs: Hot Flashes
  59. Menopause Hormone Therapy: Who Shouldn’t Take It?
  60. Menopause In the New Millennium
  61. Menopause Management: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones
  62. Menopause Symptoms and Relief
  63. Menopause Treatment
  64. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  65. Menopause – Complementary Therapies [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  66. Menopause – Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT) Safe? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  67. Menopause – What Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (HRT)? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  68. Menopause: Complementary Therapies for Menopausal Symptoms [Video Interview Stories]
  69. Menopause: Diagnosis & Treatment
  70. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause – Treatment for Menopausal Symptoms [NICE Guideline]
  71. Menopause: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) [Video Interview Stories]
  72. Menopause: Medicines To Help You
  73. Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
  74. Menopause: Non-Hormonal Treatment & Relief for Hot Flashes
  75. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
  76. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  77. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  78. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
  79. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth
  80. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth: What the Science Says About Complementary Health Approaches for Menopausal Symptoms – Other Complementary Approaches: Bioidentical Hormone
  81. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  82. Natural Therapies & Supplements
  83. Non-Hormonal Treatment Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  84. NonHormonal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  85. Office of Dietary Supplements: Black Cohosh
  86. Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
  87. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy
  88. Statement on Improving Adverse Event Reporting of Compounded Drugs To Protect Patients
  89. Urogenital Problems
  90. Use of Compounded Hormone Therapy In the United States: Report of The North American Menopause Society Survey
  91. Vaginal Dryness
  92. Vaginal Dryness
  93. Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
  94. Video Series-2017 – Bioidentical Compounded Hormone Products
  95. Video Series-2018 – Nonhormone Prescription Options for Hot Flashes
  96. Video Series-2018 – The Truth About Nonpharmacologic Options for Hot Flushes
  97. Video Series-2019 – What Is New In Hormone Therapy?
  98. What Is Custom-Compounded Therapy?
  99. What Is Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) and Is It Safe?
  100. What Is Hormone Testing?

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. De Villiers, T. J., Hall, J. E., Pinkerton, J. V., Pérez, S. C., Rees, M., Yang, C, and Pierroz, D. D. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section B: General Principles Governing the Use of MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:4:314 https://www.imsociety.org/manage/images/pdf/ba6379e868044bec13015ac2b84f2753.pdf Accessed: 20 May 2020
  2. Bioidentical Custom Compounded Hormone Therapy. Content Updated: May 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/212-bioidentical-hormones-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 20 May 2020
  3. Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth: What the Science Says About Complementary Approaches for Menopause Symptoms – Other Complementary Approaches: Bioidentical Hormones. Last Updated: May 2017. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/menopausal-symptoms-in-depth Accessed: 20 May 2020
  4. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms – Q. I’ve heard about something called bioidentical hormones. What are they? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-hormone-therapy-for-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 20 May 2020
  5. Bioidentical Custom Compounded Hormone Therapy. Content Updated: May 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/212-bioidentical-hormones-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 20 May 2020
  6. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers – What Is Compounding? Content Current As of: 21 June 2018. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidancecomplianceregulatoryinformation/pharmacycompounding/ucm339764.htm Accessed: 20 May 2020
  7. Bioidentical Custom Compounded Hormone Therapy: Safety Concerns About Compounded Bioidentical Hormones. Content Updated: May 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/212-bioidentical-hormones-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 20 May 2020
  8. Menopause Management: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones. Last Updated:  07 April 2020 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 20 May 2020
  9. Bioidentical HRT: Part A – Explanation of cBHRT: Licensing In UK – Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Reviewed: October 2019. British Menopause Society https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bioidentical-hrt/ Accessed: 20 May 2020
  10. Bioidentical HRT: Part A – Explanation of cBHRT: Licensing In UK – Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Reviewed: October 2019. British Menopause Society https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bioidentical-hrt/ Accessed: 20 May 2020
  11. Bioidentical HRT: Part B – Explanation of rBHRT: Key Terminologies. Reviewed: October 2019. British Menopause Society https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bioidentical-hrt/ Accessed: 20 May 2020
  12. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers – Are Compounded Drugs Approved By FDA? Content Current As of: 21 June 2018. Food and Drug Administration https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidancecomplianceregulatoryinformation/pharmacycompounding/ucm339764.htm Accessed: 20 May 2020
  13. What Is Custom-Compounded Therapy? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/publications/clinical-practice-materials/bioidentical-hormone-therapy/what-is-custom-compounded-therapy- Accessed: 20 May 2020
  14. What Is Custom-Compounded Therapy? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/publications/clinical-practice-materials/bioidentical-hormone-therapy/what-is-custom-compounded-therapy- Accessed: 20 May 2020
  15. What Is Hormone Testing? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/publications/clinical-practice-materials/bioidentical-hormone-therapy/what-is-hormone-testing- Accessed: 20 May 2020
  16. What Is Hormone Testing? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/publications/clinical-practice-materials/bioidentical-hormone-therapy/what-is-hormone-testing- Accessed: 20 May 2020
  17. Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth: What the Science Says About Complementary Approaches for Menopause Symptoms – Other Complementary Approaches: Bioidentical Hormones. Last Updated: May 2017. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/menopausal-symptoms-in-depth Accessed: 20 May 2020
  18. Bioidentical Custom Compounded Hormone Therapy. Content Updated: May 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/212-bioidentical-hormones-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 20 May 2020
  19. Burnett, T. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer? 03 December 2019. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/expert-answers/bioidentical-hormones/faq-20058460 Accessed: 20 May 2020
  20. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: Custom-Compounded Versus Government-Approved – Bioidentical Custom-Compounded Hormones. 2015:1. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/2015/mn-bioidenticals.pdf Accessed: 20 May 2020
  21. Bioidentical Custom Compounded Hormone Therapy: Safety Concerns About Compounded Bioidentical Hormones. Content Updated: May 2018. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/212-bioidentical-hormones-for-menopausal-symptoms Accessed: 20 May 2020
  22. Menopause Management: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones. Last Updated:  07 April 2020 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 20 May 2020
  23. Santoro, N. Bioridiculous. 05 April 2017. https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-take-time-to-think-about-it/consumers/2017/04/05/bioridiculous Accessed: 20 May 2020
  24. De Villiers, T. J., Hall, J. E., Pinkerton, J. V., Pérez, S. C., Rees, M., Yang, C, and Pierroz, D. D. Revised Global Consensus Statement on Menopausal Hormone Therapy: Section B: General Principles Governing the Use of MHT. Climacteric, 2016;19:4:314 https://www.imsociety.org/manage/images/pdf/ba6379e868044bec13015ac2b84f2753.pdf Accessed: 20 May 2020
  25. Bioidentical HRT: Introduction. Reviewed: October 2019. British Menopause Society https://thebms.org.uk/publications/consensus-statements/bioidentical-hrt/ Accessed: 20 May 2020
  26. Menopause Management: Pharmacy-Compounded Hormones. Last Updated: 09 April 2020 | Last Reviewed: 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-management/ Accessed: 20 May 2020
  27. Santoro, N. Bioridiculous. 05 April 2017. https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-take-time-to-think-about-it/consumers/2017/04/05/bioridiculous Accessed: 20 May 2020
Topic Last Updated: 20 May 2020 – Topic Last Reviewed: 20 May 2020
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