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 .
Comparison of Alora estradiol matrix transdermal delivery system with oral conjugated equine estrogen therapy in relieving menopausal symptoms. Alora Study Group.
OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of two strengths of an estradiol matrix transdermal delivery system with daily oral doses of conjugated equine estrogens in reducing the frequency of moderate-to-severe hot flushes in postmenopausal women . DESIGN The design of the study provided for the following treatment regimens : an estradiol transdermal delivery system ( Alora 0.05 or 0.1 mg/day ) administered twice weekly or oral doses of conjugated equine estrogens ( CEE 0.625 or 1.25 mg ) administered daily were given to 321 highly symptomatic postmenopausal women for 12 weeks following a r and omized , parallel-group , double-blind , double-dummy design . RESULTS Results indicate no statistically significant differences at any time point in mean frequency or mean percentage reduction in frequency of moderate-to-severe hot flushes between patients given Alora 0.1 mg/day and those receiving CEE 1.25 mg/day . Similarly , no significant differences were observed at any time in mean frequency of moderate-to-severe hot flushes between the Alora 0.05 mg/day and CEE 0.625 mg/day groups , although the group receiving CEE 0.625 mg/day exhibited a statistically greater percentage reduction than the Alora 0.05 mg/day group at weeks 3 , 4 and 8 . By week 12 , these two treatments were statistically indistinguishable . There were no serious or unexpected adverse events with the two transdermal systems and local skin tolerability was excellent . Other estrogenic effects such as restoration of vaginal cytology , breast tenderness and unexpected vaginal bleeding were comparable between transdermal and oral administration groups except for a lower incidence of bleeding in those women receiving the lower dose transdermal regimen
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 .