BHRT may help relieve some symptoms of menopause. Side effects, however, may include an increased risk of blood clots and stroke. Your doctor can help you decide if it’s right for you.

Menopause may cause a slew of symptoms. There are at-home remedies, and there are prescription hormone therapies, such as bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) or bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT).

BHT might be worth considering if you’re looking for a more natural way to relieve symptoms of menopause.

A note on wording

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) and bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) refer to the same therapy. Likewise, hormone therapy (HT) is the same as hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

This article uses BHT and HT more often than BHRT and HRT.

BHT is a type of HT that may be used to treat symptoms of menopause.

It uses plant-derived hormones chemically identical to those your body produces. In this sense, it’s more natural than other hormone therapies that use lab-made or animal-derived hormones.

It’s claimed that plant-derived hormones are more compatible with the human body than synthetic hormones, potentially reducing your risk of adverse side effects. No studies have confirmed this claim.

According to the National Institute for Health, formulations of BHT can be:

  • oral
  • transdermal creams, gels, or patches
  • vaginally implanted
  • injected

No matter the mode of administration, bioidentical hormones increase your decreasing hormone levels during menopause. It’s this depletion that may be associated with symptoms of menopause.

Since menopause causes a decline in hormone levels, and levels vary from person to person, this therapy is often personalized to your specific hormonal needs.

Your doctor will adjust your dosages and hormones accordingly through tests and symptom assessments.

As your hormone levels fluctuate, you may experience vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.

If these symptoms keep you up at night or cause discomfort during the day, you may want to consider BHT. It may reduce the frequency and severity of such symptoms.

BHT may help relieve vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as:

This may boost your sexual health and libido, which often decline during menopause.

BHT may help with menopause-related insomnia and mood changes, especially when treated with progesterone.

According to 2023 research, BHT may also supportcognitive function, improving memory.

Certain types of HT may increase your risk of:

Because of the increased risk that cancer will come back, according to the American Cancer Society, HT is generally not recommended if you had or have breast cancer.

HT may also have side effects as your body adjusts to the hormones. Your doctor will have a better idea of which side effects you can expect, which may depend on the hormones you receive. Some of the possible side effects may include:

Speak with your doctor about dosage adjustments and management of side effects if you’re experiencing any of these.

Some forms of BHT are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved. Among the FDA-approved active ingredients are:

The FDA regulates the purity and effectiveness of these active ingredients, which have gone through rigorous testing, unlike unregulated formulations.

Brands offer compounded “bioidentical hormone” therapy (CBHT) products that are not FDA-regulated. These are not held to the same testing, purity, and effectiveness standards. Such preparations may include:

Claims that CBHT is safer and more effective than FDA-approved BHT therapies are false. The evidence to support these claims is lacking, and research on the long-term effects is needed.

According to a 2020 statement from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, CHBT should be used only in certain circumstances, such as if you’re allergic to the FDA-approved ingredients.

The cost of BHT will depend on the dosage and medication you receive. A month’s treatment may cost between $200 and $500, but this number may be lower for you.

If you have insurance, speak with your provider about whether they cover BHT. Medicare Part A and Part B typically don’t cover BHT, but Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Medicare Part D may offer additional coverage.

You may also speak with your primary care doctor, OB-GYN, or a menopause specialist for more cost information.

Speak with your doctor about whether the benefits of BHT outweigh the risks. Also, mention whether you manage other health conditions. They’ll factor this into their recommendations.

Some questions you might want to consider asking include:

  • Is BHT safe to use?
  • Does BHT work better than synthetic hormones?
  • Will treatment use hormones identical to mine?
  • Do I need blood tests to determine what my needs are?
  • What side effects can I expect with the hormone(s) I take?
  • Does BHT increase my risk for any health conditions?
  • How long until I see results?
  • Is BHT more expensive than synthetic hormones?

Seeking treatment for menopause shouldn’t be a source of shame. Menopause is a natural transition. Speak with your doctor about what BHT can do for you.

Speak with your doctor about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) or bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) if you’re seeking relief from symptoms of menopause.

Other benefits of BHT may include boosted sexual health and libido, improved sleep, and brain support.

Discuss the side effects and possible adverse effects of BHT with your doctor. Your doctor can help determine whether the benefits of BHT outweigh the risks.

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