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 .
Women and Menopause: Beliefs, Attitudes, and Behaviors. The North American Menopause Society 1997 Menopause Survey
OBJECTIVE The main purpose in organizing this survey was to collect information relevant to The North American Menopause Society 's ( NAMS ) educational mission and to document women 's knowledge of , and attitudes toward , menopause . DESIGN During June-July 1997 , The Gallup Organization conducted 750 telephone interviews with a r and omly selected sample of women 45 - 60 years of age from across the United States . Women were asked about their sources of information on menopause , what changes in health they anticipated as a result of menopause , why they used hormone therapy , and their attitudes toward menopause as a natural or a medical event . RESULTS Women are more likely to believe that depression and irritability are associated with menopause than heart disease , but only a few associate menopause with an increasing vulnerability to either memory loss or Alzheimer 's disease . Relief of physical symptoms of menopause was mentioned as the reason for starting hormone therapy more often than to protect against osteoporosis ( 25 % relative to 15 % ) , or to prevent stroke or a heart attack ( 10 % ) , or to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer 's disease ( 2 % ) . The single main source of women 's information on menopause was a health professional ( 49 % ) . The majority of women who were already menopausal or experiencing menstrual changes expressed an attitude toward menopause that was either neutral ( 42 % ) or positive ( 36 % ) . CONCLUSIONS Women are divided in their views of menopause , some seeing it as a medical condition requiring medical treatment , whereas others see it as a natural transition to be managed by " natural " means . Providing women with accurate , up-to- date information and enhancing communication between healthcare providers and menopausal women remain the challenges for NAMS
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 .