Board on Health Sciences Policy & Committee on the Clinical Utility of Treating Patients with Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy 
Clinical Utility of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy [EPUB ebook] 
A Review of Safety, Effectiveness, and Use

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved dozens of hormone therapy products for men and women, including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and related compounds. These products have been reviewed for safety and efficacy and are indicated for treatment of symptoms resulting from hormonal changes associated with menopause or other endocrine-based disorders. In recent decades, an increasing number of health care providers and patients have turned to custom-formulated, or compounded, drug preparations as an alternative to FDA-approved drug products for hormone-related health concerns. These compounded hormone preparations are often marketed as "bioidentical" or "natural" and are commonly referred to as compounded bioidentical hormone therapy (c BHT). In light of the fast-growing popularity of c BHT preparations, the clinical utility of these compounded preparations is a substantial public health concern for various stakeholders, including medical practitioners, patients, health advocacy organizations, and federal and state public health agencies. This report examines the clinical utility and uses of c BHT drug preparations and reviews the available evidence that would support marketing claims of the safety and effectiveness of c BHT preparations. It also assesses whether the available evidence suggests that these preparations have clinical utility and safety profiles warranting their clinical use and identifies patient populations that might benefit from c BHT preparations in lieu of FDA-approved BHT.