Verbatim response from Claude
Bioidentical Hormones vs. Standard HRT
Standard HRT
These are conventional hormone replacement therapies, which may include synthetic or animal-derived hormones. Examples include:
- Premarin (estrogen derived from pregnant mare urine)
- Provera/medroxyprogesterone (synthetic progestin)
- Prempro (combined estrogen/progestin)
Bioidentical Hormones
These have a molecular structure identical to hormones your body naturally produces.
FDA-approved bioidentical options include:
- Estrace, Vivelle-Dot (bioidentical estradiol patches/pills)
- Prometrium (bioidentical progesterone)
- Divigel, Evamist (estradiol gels/sprays)
Compounded bioidenticals are custom-mixed by pharmacies like Belmar Pharmacy or Empower Pharmacy, though these are not FDA-regulated for safety/efficacy.
Key Differences
| Standard HRT | Bioidentical | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | May differ from natural hormones | Matches natural hormones |
| FDA approval | Yes | Some yes, some no |
| Customization | Limited | High (compounded) |
Bottom Line
Many doctors recommend FDA-approved bioidentical options as a good middle ground. Work with a menopause specialist or visit menopause.org to find a certified practitioner.
Always consult your doctor before starting any hormone therapy.