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 .
A short study in the treatment of hot flashes with buccal administration of 17-beta estradiol.
OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy and safety of 17-beta estradiol buccal tablets in reducing hot flush frequency ( HFF ) in postmenopausal women . METHODS Estradiol buccal tablets containing 0.05 , 0.1 , 0.2 , or 0.4 mg or placebo were administered for 28 days to 99 postmenopausal women in a r and omized , double-blind study ; 19 premenopausal women were studied concurrently for comparison of laboratory data . Objective and subjective assessment s of HFF were obtained along with measures of  estradiol , estrone , follicle-stimulating hormone ( FSH ) , and luteinizing hormone ( LH ) . RESULTS Measurements of HFF revealed significant decreases from baseline in all estradiol groups ( P < 0.01 ) . In the 0.4 mg group , HFF decreased significantly compared to placebo ( P < 0.01 ) . All estradiol doses produced similar improvement in the vaginal maturation index . Mean serum estradiol levels increased as doses increased but were lower than in the premenopausal subjects . Mean serum FSH and LH levels decreased in all estradiol groups but not to the levels of the premenopausal subjects ; the greatest decrease occurred at the two highest estradiol doses . CONCLUSION A numerical dose-response relationship with hot flushes was seen in this pilot study comparing 0.05 , 0.1 , 0.2 , and 0.4 mg buccal estradiol . Only 0.4 mg 17-beta estradiol significantly reduced the occurrence of hot flushes compared to placebo
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 .