Body identical HRT
- 10 Dec 2023
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Body identical HRT
- Updated on 10 Dec 2023
- 1 Minute to read
- Print
- PDF
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Body identical HRT refers to hormones developed by the pharmaceutical industry that are precise duplicates of human hormones and authorised by regulators such as the MHRA.
- Micronised progesterone is body identical progesterone.
- 17 beta-estradiol is body identical oestrogen. This is found in most systemic HRT preparations. Exceptions are for Premarin and Premique which contain conjugated equine estrogens.
- Bijuve® is the first, and only, body-identical capsule which combines 17 beta-estradiol and micronised progesterone.
- Studies suggest a neutral effect of micronised progesterone on VTE risk.
- NICE says it is not known with certainty whether preparations containing micronised progesterone have a different increased risk for breast cancer compared with preparations containing other progestogens, due to insufficient data. For more information, see risks section.
Note:
- Body identical HRT is sometimes called regulated ‘bio-identical’ HRT (rBHRT), although there is a move away from using this term to avoid confusion with compounded bio-identical HRT (cBHRT), which is not regulated.
References and Further Information:
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Guideline. Menopause (update). Draft for consultation, Nov 2023.
- Hamoda H, Panay N, Pedder H et al. The British Menopause Society & Women’s Health Concern 2020 recommendations on hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women. Post Reprod Health. 2020.
- Panay N. Body identical hormone replacement. Post Reproductive Health. 2014.
- Panay N and Fenton A. Bio-identical hormones: what is all the hype about? Climacteric 2010.
- L’Hermite M. HRT optimisation, using transdermal estradiol plus micronised progesterone. A safer HRT. Climacteric 2013.
- Kaemmle L, Stadler A, Janka H, et al. The impact of micronized progesterone on cardiovascular events -a systematic review. Climacteric 2022; 25: 327-336.
- Graham S, Archer D, Simon J, et al. Review of menopausal hormone therapy with estradiol and progesterone versus other estrogens and progestins.
- Archer D, Bernick B, Mirkin S. A combined, bioidentical, oral, 17beta-estradiol and progesterone capsule for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms due to menopause. Expert review of clinical pharmacology. 2019.
- Panay N and Studd J. Progestogen intolerance and compliance with hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women. Human Reproduction Update 1997.
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