References
Compounded bioidentical HRT improves quality of life and reduces menopausal symptoms
Abstract
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, a form of hormone balancing and treatment that uses hormones identical to the ones naturally produced by the body, is an effective and well-tolerated method of hormone replacement therapy. The Marion Gluck Clinic conducted a small-scale study to assess the effectiveness of compounded bioidentical hormone replacement therapy treatment protocols and their impact on the quality of life of women experiencing symptoms of the menopause. Quality of life was assessed by completing the Greene Climacteric Scale questionnaire before and after bioidentical hormone replacement therapy treatment. Statistical significance of the data was tested using a Student's two-tailed, paired t-test. The results demonstrated a significant improvement of 52% in quality of life after bioidentical hormone replacement therapy treatment. All 21 menopausal symptoms assessed were greatly reduced after BHRT treatment. Evidence is provided showing that bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, performed according to the Marion Gluck Clinic local clinical guidelines, improves quality of life and reduces menopause-associated symptoms in women. In addition, this pilot study paves the way for a future full-scale study, where the authors aim to assess quality of life and safety in a significantly larger number of women.
Hormone balancing using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a form of treatment that uses hormones with an identical molecular structure to the hormones naturally produced by the body, such as progesterone, estradiol and estriol, as opposed to non-bioidentical hormones that are structurally different from human hormones, such as conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) and synthetic progestins such as medroxyprogesterone (MPA).
Data from clinical outcomes and physiological studies demonstrate that bioidentical hormones are effective and produce fewer side effects than their non-bioidentical counterparts, including a lower risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease (Fournier et al, 2005; Fournier et al, 2007; Holtorf, 2009).
As an example, progesterone, when compared with synthetic progestins, is associated with better clinical outcomes. Studies where women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were switched from synthetic progestins to progesterone reported greater satisfaction, better quality of life (QoL), and fewer side effects (Greendale et al, 1998; Fitzpatrick et al, 2000; Cummings and Brizendine, 2002; Lindenfeld and Langer, 2002). It is important to note that natural progesterone is reported to be as effective as synthetic progestins in protecting the endometrium from hyperplastic changes associated with estrogen-only therapy (Judd and Meoane-Sims, 1996).
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