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 .
Dose-response efficacy of a new estradiol transdermal matrix patch for 7-day application: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
New estradiol ( E2 ) transdermal matrix patches developed for once-a-week application , releasing 25 μg E2 ( 7D-25 ) or 50 μg E2 ( 7D-50 ) daily , were investigated in comparison with a placebo patch and the twice-weekly parent patch releasing 50 μg E2 ( Derm-50 ) daily . Three hundred and eleven postmenopausal patients suffering at least seven hot flushes daily were r and omly assigned to the four parallel groups and treated continuously for 12 weeks without progestin opposition . The daily number of hot flushes significantly decreased in all groups . At the 12th week the decrease from a baseline average of eight to nine episodes per day was 78 % with 7D-25 , 93 % and 97 % respectively with 7D-50 and Derm-50 , and significantly ( p < 0.001 ) lower with placebo ( 59 % ) . Comparable efficacy was observed in terms of severity of hot flushes , Kupperman Index and patient self-rated overall efficacy . Minor systemic adverse events occurred in 10.0 % , 8.8 % , 16.9 % ) and 13.5 % patients in the placebo , 7D-25 , 7D-50 and Derm-50 groups respectively . Occasional mild and transient itching and /or erythema at the site of application was reported by a few patients , with no difference between groups or between once-weekly or twice-weekly application . In conclusion all E2 patches were significantly more effective than placebo in relieving climacteric symptoms in a dose-dependent fashion and all were well tolerated
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 .