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 .
Efficacy and safety of a seven-day, transdermal estradiol drug-delivery system: comparison with conjugated estrogens and placebo. The Transdermal Estradiol Patch Study Group.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new , seven-day , transdermal estradiol system in healthy postmenopausal women with hot flushes . METHODS Two studies are described . In the first study , subjects were r and omized to treatment with a 0.05 mg/day estradiol patch , a 0.1 mg/day estradiol patch , or a placebo patch ; and in the second study , to treatment with either of the two estradiol patches or oral conjugated estrogens ( as Premarin ) 0.625 mg/day .  Efficacy was evaluated on the basis of diary entries recording hot-flush frequency and severity . Subjects ' and investigators ' global assessment s of treatment efficacy were recorded at follow-up visits . RESULTS In Study 1 , both the 0.05-mg and 0.1-mg estradiol patches were significantly more effective than placebo in reducing hot flushes and were associated with higher global assessment s. In Study 2 , all three active treatments produced a significant reduction in the number of hot flushes compared with base-line . There were no statistically significant between-group differences , although the response to the 0.1-mg estradiol patch was greater , and to the 0.05-mg estradiol patch less , than the response to conjugated estrogens . The patches were generally well tolerated . Skin irritation from the patch was the most common adverse experience in both studies . CONCLUSIONS The new , seven-day , transdermal system effectively and safely treats post-menopausal vasomotor 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 .