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The many advantages of registered bioidentical sex hormones over registered, conventional, non-bioidentical menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) are considered. The transdermal route of estrogen administration avoids excess venous thromboembolic and ischemic stroke events. There is some indication that conjugated equine estrogens are more thrombogenic and most likely induce some hypertensive responses; estradiol might also be superior to conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) in terms of global cardiovascular health. The most valid evidence presently suggests that CEE-only treatment does not increase the risk of breast cancer and even may reduce it. But its combination with a synthetic progestogen (mainly medroxyprogesterone acetate) is a critical issue since it seems to be primarily associated with an increased incidence of breast cancer, however similar to or lower than that associated with some common lifestyle factors. Though not yet proven in a randomized, controlled trial, MHT continuously combining oral micronized progesterone with transdermal estradiol can presently be considered as the optimal MHT. It is not only safer than custom-compounded bioidentical hormones but also than oral conventional MHT and has the best breast profile; registered products for such optimal MHT are available around the world and must be preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Wide rejection of conventional hormone therapy (HT) after the initial publication of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) led to unjustified use of custom-compounded bioidentical hormones. In the USA, it became an unregulated drug manufacturer industry in disguise, without proper control and making false claims and misleading advertisements. Manufacturing quality is not ensured. Unspecific harm from compounding has occurred on a large scale, such as deaths from infected products and end-stage renal failure plus carcinoma due to confusion between different Chinese herbs. Oral estrogens increase venous thromboembolic and ischemic stroke events, even more when overdosed; these excess risks can be avoided by non-oral administration, readily accessible in custom-compounded HT by administering estradiol through diverse routes (of which transdermal is the best documented). Another risk specific to custom-compounded HT, resulting from estrogen/progestogen imbalance, might be excess endometrial carcinomas. HT can be optimized by continuously combining transdermal estradiol with progesterone (when required). Registered preparations do exist for such a more physiological treatment and therefore must be preferred. Custom compounding is only seldom legitimate, for example in case of allergy (such as to peanut oil) or to prescribe different combinations, doses or components (e.g. estriol, dehydroepiandrosterone or testosterone), even when not approved by local regulatory authorities despite being scientifically acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) remains the gold standard for treatment of climacteric symptoms in menopausal women; it is relatively safe in healthy subjects for at least 5 years, provided it had been initiated before the age of 60 years and/or within 10 years from menopause. Estrogen probably adds some cardioprotection, that can, however, be obscured by progestogens, especially medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). Oral HRT is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), gallbladder disease and possibly stroke. The increased occurrence of all these events can be prevented by the use of the transdermal route of estradiol administration; this route seems also advantageous for women with diabetes, hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors, and also especially with advancing age. Endometrial protection by any progestogen is insufficient in the mid to long term when cyclical, sequential regimens are used; full protection can be secured only by continuous combined estrogen + progestogen. Natural, 'body-identical' progesterone, devoid of any androgenic as well as glucocorticoid activities but being slightly hypotensive due to its antimineralocorticoid activity, appears to be the optimal progestogen in terms of cardiovascular effects, blood pressure, VTE, probably stroke and even breast cancer (contrary to synthetic progestogens and particularly MPA, which appear to be mitogenic on breast cells, in synergism with estrogen). HRT optimization can thus be achieved by combining low doses of estrogen given transdermally with micronized oral progesterone; such optimized HRT will allow us to treat symptomatic women for as long as required. Asymptomatic women at risk of (osteoporotic) fractures can also be treated with this optimized HRT as long as their individual risk/benefit ratio remains favorable (thanks to the absence of increased risks of VTE, stroke and breast cancer). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]