Increase in Compounded Hormone Therapy
Recent data indicates an increase in the use of compounded bioidentical HRT versus manufactured combinations which have been approved for the treatment of menopausal signs and symptoms. Published data suggests a safer profile of estradiol and natural progesterone therapy versus conjugated equine estrogens and progestins.
In 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) showed possible harm in women with an average age of 63 that were treated for more than 5 years with conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). This deterred many women from initiating or continuing prescribed hormones. Since the publication of the WHI, the use of compounded bioidentical hormone therapy has become more common.
Using a combination of cross-sectional Internet survey data, US Census Bureau statistics, and prescription data, a recent US study estimated that compounded bioidentical hormone therapy may account for 28% to 68% of all hormone therapy prescriptions and may be used by 1 to 2.5 million women aged ≥40 years annually.
Customized 17b-estradiol and progesterone combinations are available through our compounding pharmacy.