Bioidentical hormones are not FDA-approved, so how do I know if they are safe?
Actually many bioidentical hormones are FDA-approved. However, bioidentical compounded hormones are not FDA-approved because they do not need to be. Compounded hormone doses vary from individual to individual. They are individually tailored by physicians who spend years studying and training and whose judgment is regulated by medical boards. It’s not the FDA’s job to oversee doctors. Compounded hormones prescribed by doctors are produced by compounding pharmacists who are regulated by pharmaceutical boards. The FDA has approved certain standardized doses of bioidentical hormones that are not compounded for specific patients, such as bioidentical estradiol patches, testosterone gels, natural progesterone capsules, and vaginal creams. They are available with a doctor’s prescription.
