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 .
Low and ultra low-dose estrogen therapy for climacteric symptom control--preliminary report.
INTRODUCTION Recent clinical trials have caused physicians to reconsider the use of hormone therapy ( HT ) . Low-dose therapy has been proposed for those patients who tolerate st and ard doses poorly . OBJECTIVE to evaluate low-dose and ultra low-dose estrogen therapy ( ET ) for vasomotor symptom control . MATERIAL S AND METHOD Thirty five healthy postmenopausal women with moderate to severe climacteric symptoms were recruited . Symptoms were evaluated at baseline and three months after the beginning of treatment by a modified Kupperman 's index ( KI ) . Endometrial thickness was assessed with pelvic ultrasonography . Patients were r and omly assigned to one of these therapies : I ) Esterified conjugated estrogens ( ECE ) 0.156 mg/day ( ultra low-dose ) ( n = 18 ) or II ) ECE 0.312 mg/day ( low-dose ) ( n = 17 ) for 12 weeks . Statistical analysis was done with student 's t test for independent and paired sample s. RESULTS In groups I and II , the ab and on rate was 33.3 % and 47.0 % , respectively . No differences were found among the groups in general data nor in KI . The KI at the end of the study was 47.8+/-37.9 and 48.9+/-33.2 for group I and group II , respectively , for a mean decrease of 32.1 % and 37 % without differences between the groups . When comparing each group separately , KI decreased in group 1 , but without statistical significance . In group II there was significant decrease in KI . Endometrial thickness increased from 2.5+/-1.0 to 4.2+/-1.7 mm in group I , and from 3.5+/-1.3 to 6.0 + /-1.4 mm in group II . CONCLUSION low dose and ultra-low dose ET were useful in decreasing climacteric symptoms
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 .