Are there any studies supporting the safety or efficacy of bioidentical hormones?
Yes. Bioidentical hormones have been used by physicians worldwide since 1980. There are numerous studies showing their efficacy in reducing heart disease risk factors, protecting women’s uterine linings, and preventing waning bone densities. Studies using transdermal estrogen have not shown increases in blood clotting, as occurs with oral estrogen preparations. In Europe, women are commonly treated with transdermal estradiol gels and natural progesterone, and there are many well-conducted studies proving their efficacy and safety. In a French study published in 2002, more than three thousand women using transdermal bioidentical estradiol gel and natural progesterone were followed for nearly nine years. These women were shown to have an improved quality of life, less bone loss, and reduced heart disease risk without an increase in breast cancer or clotting. Another French study of 54,000 women using estrogen (oral and transdermal), and synthetic or natural progesterone, showed that the
