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 .
Quality of life of postmenopausal women on a regimen of transdermal estradiol therapy: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE The effect of transdermal estradiol and placebo therapy on the quality of life of postmenopausal women was compared in a r and omized trial over 12 weeks . STUDY DESIGN Two hundred forty-two women were r and omized , and 223 were analyzed for efficacy ( n = 112 for estradiol and n = 111 for placebo ) . The quality of life was assessed by means of a battery of st and ard question naires . RESULTS Quality of life improved after both therapies , but health-related quality of life ( p = 0.0003 ) and well being ( p = 0.003 ) improved more after transdermal estradiol therapy than after placebo . This was also the case for all specific climacteric aspects , including sexual problems ( p < 0.0001 ) and dysfunction ( p = 0.01 ) , at comparison with placebo .  Self-rated symptom relief was more pronounced with estrogen therapy than with placebo ( p < 0.0001 ) . CONCLUSION It was concluded that estradiol therapy was superior to placebo in relieving symptoms and improving quality of life
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 .