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 .
Pulsed estrogen therapy improves postmenopausal quality of life: a 2-year placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of pulsed estrogen therapy S21400 ( intranasal 17 beta-estradiol ) on different quality of life ( QoL ) dimensions in early postmenopausal women treated with S21400 150 microg per day , S21400 300 microg per day , or placebo in a double blind , r and omized , controlled 2-year study . STUDY DESIGN QoL was assessed based on the vali date d Women 's Health Question naire design ed for peri- and post-menopausal women . Three hundred and thirty-five healthy , early postmenopausal Danish women , 53 years of age in average , who completed one question naire at baseline and one under study treatment were included in the analysis set . All analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis . RESULTS QoL improved significantly in both S21400 groups compared to placebo in the dimensions ' memory/concentration ' , ' vasomotor symptoms ' , ' sleep problems ' and ' sexual behavior ' ( difference in mean change scores being respectively + 7.9 , + 28.3 , + 9.9 and + 10.8 % , p < 0.001 , between the S21400 300 microg and placebo group ) . There were no significant differences between actively treated groups and placebo in the dimensions ' anxiety/depressed mood ' and ' well-being ' . CONCLUSION Pulsed estradiol therapy had a pronounced effect not only on vasomotor symptoms but also a significant and clinical ly relevant improvement in several other QoL dimensions
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 .