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 of pulsed estrogen therapy in relatively younger patients with surgically induced menopause.
BACKGROUND Pulsed estrogen therapy is a new approach in estrogen replacement therapy . We carried out a prospect i ve study to evaluate the efficacy of pulsed estrogen therapy in relatively younger patients with surgically induced menopause . METHODS Patients ( n=138 ) < 45 years old and suffering from severe vasomotor symptoms secondary to surgically induced menopause were included in the study . After the initiation of pulsed estrogen therapy ( 300 microg/day ) , the patients were re-evaluated every 4 weeks . The dose was increased at each follow-up , if necessary ( to a maximum of 600 microg/day ) . The patients who preferred another method after the first 12 weeks were prescribed oral conjugated estrogen ( 0.625 mg/day ) and at the end of the second 12 weeks their satisfaction levels were assessed . RESULTS At the end of the first 12 weeks , 26 patients were completely satisfied ( 18.8 % ) and 47 were moderately satisfied ( 34.1 % ) , whereas 65 concluded that the pulsed estrogen therapy they received was ineffective ( 47.1 % ) . At the end of the second 12 weeks , all the patients were completely satisfied . CONCLUSION Pulsed estrogen therapy for 12 weeks reduced the frequency of hot flushes in relatively younger patients with surgically induced menopause ; however , 81.2 % of patients were not completely satisfied at the end of this period
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 .