A qualitative study of 21 US women found that many turned to compounded bioidentical hormone therapy to manage menopause symptoms due to safety concerns with conventional hormone therapy, frustration with mainstream care, and a desire for individualized treatment.
Among the participants, 11 were current compounded bioidentical hormone therapy (CBHT) users and 10 were former users. Their ages ranged from 39 to 63 years (median = 55 years). Most were White, well-educated professionals who actively sought information and options for managing symptoms.
The researchers, led by Jennifer Jo Thompson, PhD, of the University of Georgia, identified two main categories of motivation for the women's management decisions: factors that pushed them away from conventional hormone therapy (HT) and those that pulled them toward CBHT:
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17 women (81%) expressed fear or uncertainty about the safety of FDA-approved HT. Concerns included cancer risk, side effects, and widely publicized findings from the Women’s Health Initiative trials.
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10 participants (48%) specifically disliked conjugated estrogens such as Premarin and Prempro, citing aversion to animal-derived ingredients and concerns about stronger side effects.
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20 participants (95%) reported distrust of conventional medicine or the pharmaceutical industry. They often described that they felt the system dismissed their concerns or relied too heavily on prescriptions.
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13 participants (62%) had previously tried alternative remedies such as soy, black cohosh, or other herbal supplements but found them ineffective. They reported switching to CBHT to seek better symptom relief.
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16 women (76%) said CBHT effectively managed symptoms like hot flashes, insomnia, memory loss, and anxiety.
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16 participants (76%) said they believed CBHT was safer than conventional HT because it was plant-derived, “natural,” or chemically similar to the body’s own hormones.
Individualized dosing also influenced treatment decisions. Twelve participants (57%) liked that CBHT could be tailored based on hormone testing or symptom patterns. They also appreciated having choices in the delivery method, such as creams, pills, or lozenges. Thirteen women (62%) emphasized the quality of care they received with CBHT: They described longer, more collaborative consultations with providers who listened to their experiences and adjusted treatment plans accordingly.
The authors concluded, “Women are not only seeking alternatives to conventional pharmaceuticals, but alternatives to conventional care where their menopausal experience is solicited, their treatment goals are heard, and they are engaged as agents in managing their own menopause.”
The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
Source: PMC PubMed Central
