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 .
The effect of tibolone versus 17beta-estradiol on climacteric symptoms in women with surgical menopause: a randomized, cross-over study.
OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of tibolone and 17beta-estradiol on climacteric symptoms , in a r and omized , single-blind , cross-over study in surgically menopausal women . MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty surgically menopausal women were divided r and omly into two groups . Group A received treatment with tibolone for 6 months , while group B received 17beta-estradiol . After 3 weeks washout period , treatment protocol s were exchanged for another 6 months . The climacteric symptoms were assessed with Greene Climacteric Scale at baseline , during washout and after the treatments . Statistical analysis was done with the Wilcoxon 's Sign Rank test . RESULTS Both treatments significantly improved the scores of all subscales with respect to baseline . However , the improvement in psychological , somatic and sexual subscales were significantly superior in the tibolone group compared with 17beta-estradiol group . Both treatments showed comparable improvements in the relief of vasomotor symptoms . CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that tibolone may improve mood , libido and somatic symptoms in surgically menopausal women to a greater extent than estrogen therapy alone
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 .