Subgroup analysesSubgroup analyses by dose of BHT suggested that higher doses of BHT may be associated with more effectiveness but also higher risk of adverse effects .
There was low to moderate quality evidence that BHT in various forms and doses is more effective than placebo for treating moderate to severe menopausal hot flushes .
There was some evidence to suggest that higher doses of BHT are associated with greater effectiveness but also with higher risk of adverse effects .
No data are yet available about the safety of BHT with regard to long-term outcomes such as heart attack , stroke and breast cancer .
BACKGROUND Various hormone therapies ( HT ) are available to treat  menopausal vasomotor symptoms .
Bioidentical hormones are chemically identical to those produced by the human body , and several types are well-tested and available on prescription .
Many women have opted for bioidentical hormone therapy ( BHT ) on the assumption that it is safer than other forms of HT .
We evaluated the evidence .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness and safety of bioidentical hormones compared to placebo or non-bioidentical hormones for the relief of vasomotor symptoms .
Clinical hypnosis in the treatment of postmenopausal hot flashes: a randomized controlled trial
Objective The use of estrogen and progesterone to manage vasomotor symptoms ( ie , hot flashes and night sweats ) has declined because of concerns about their risks , and there is an increased interest in alternate , effective , and low-risk treatments . This study reports the results of a r and omized controlled trial of clinical hypnosis for treating vasomotor symptoms among postmenopausal women . Methods This is a r and omized , single-blind , controlled , clinical trial involving 187 postmenopausal women reporting a minimum of seven hot flashes per day ( or at least 50 hot flashes a week ) at baseline between December 2008 and April 2012 . Eligible participants received five weekly sessions of either clinical hypnosis or structured-attention control . Primary outcomes were hot flash frequency ( subjectively and physiologically recorded ) and hot flash score assessed by daily diaries on weeks 2 to 6 and week 12 . Secondary outcomes included measures of hot flash – related daily interference , sleep quality , and treatment satisfaction . Results In a modified intent-to-treat analysis that included all r and omized participants who provided data , reported subjective hot flash frequency from baseline to week 12 showed a mean reduction of 55.82 ( 74.16 % ) hot flashes for the clinical hypnosis intervention versus a mean reduction of 12.89 ( 17.13 % ) hot flashes for controls ( P < 0.001 ; 95 % CI , 36.15 - 49.67 ) . The mean reduction in hot flash score was 18.83 ( 80.32 % ) for the clinical hypnosis intervention as compared with 3.53 ( 15.38 % ) for controls ( P < 0.001 ; 95 % CI , 12.60 - 17.54 ) . At 12-week follow-up , the mean reduction in physiologically monitored hot flashes was 5.92 ( 56.86 % ) for clinical hypnosis and 0.88 ( 9.94 % ) for controls ( P < 0.001 ; 95 % CI , 2.00 - 5.46 ) . Secondary outcomes were significantly improved compared with controls at 12-week follow-up : hot flash – related interference ( P < 0.001 ; 95 % CI , 2.74 - 4.02 ) , sleep quality ( P < 0.001 ; 95 % CI , 3.65 - 5.84 ) , and treatment satisfaction ( P < 0.001 ; 95 % CI , 7.79 - 8.59 ) . Conclusions Compared with structured-attention control , clinical hypnosis results in significant reductions in self-reported and physiologically measured hot flashes and hot flash scores in postmenopausal women
Subgroup analysesSubgroup analyses by dose of BHT suggested that higher doses of BHT may be associated with more effectiveness but also higher risk of adverse effects .
There was low to moderate quality evidence that BHT in various forms and doses is more effective than placebo for treating moderate to severe menopausal hot flushes .
There was some evidence to suggest that higher doses of BHT are associated with greater effectiveness but also with higher risk of adverse effects .
No data are yet available about the safety of BHT with regard to long-term outcomes such as heart attack , stroke and breast cancer .
BACKGROUND Various hormone therapies ( HT ) are available to treat  menopausal vasomotor symptoms .
Bioidentical hormones are chemically identical to those produced by the human body , and several types are well-tested and available on prescription .
Many women have opted for bioidentical hormone therapy ( BHT ) on the assumption that it is safer than other forms of HT .
We evaluated the evidence .
OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness and safety of bioidentical hormones compared to placebo or non-bioidentical hormones for the relief of vasomotor symptoms .