Bioidentical Hormones vs. Standard HRT Standard HRT These are conventional hormone replacement therapies using synthetic or animal-derived hormones that may not be chemically identical to what your body produces. Examples include: Premarin (estrogen derived from horse urine) Provera (synthetic progestin/medroxyprogesterone) Prempro (combination product) Bioidentical Hormones These have a molecular structure identical to your body's natural hormones. They include: FDA-approved options: Estrace (estradiol pills) Vivelle-Dot (estradiol patch) Prometrium (progesterone - body-identical) Bijuva (combo capsule) Compounded options (custom-made at pharmacies like Medically Necessary Compounding or local compounding pharmacies) Key Differences Factor Standard HRT Bioidentical Molecular match Close but different Identical to body's hormones FDA regulation Yes Varies Customization Limited High (compounded) Important Note Consult your doctor or a menopause specialist - the evidence base for FDA-approved bioidenticals is stronger than for compounded versions, which lack standardized testing.
Mentioned in position 8 of 8
Read full answer with sources →