The Scare: “Run away from synthetic hormones” is just one example of a slogan born of misplaced faith in so-called “natural” hormones. (65) Because of fears of mass-produced synthetic drugs, many women are turning to “bioidentical hormones” for hormone replacement after menopause. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy, as discussed here, involves a regimen of hormones that are chemically identical to human hormones, like pharmaceuticals, but are instead derived from the plant versions of the same estrogens, testosterones, and progesterones.
This therapy, however, involves an “individualized” regimen of hormones that are unapproved and unregulated by the FDA. (66) The hormones are custom-mixed by a specialized pharmacist after being prescribed by a doctor. (64)
Origin of the Scare: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has long been an option for menopausal women who want relief from their unpleasant symptoms and a lowered risk from potential future illness. Pharmaceutical companies manufacture synthetic hormones that the FDA first tests and approves before ultimately regulating. These drugs are then deemed safe for use by patients for whom doctors prescribe them.
After recent research suggested that HRT might cause more harm than good, many women began searching for alternatives to the traditional pharmaceutical regimen. In October 2006, Suzanne Somers released a book entitled, Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones. This “natural” remedy is supposed to be safer than the traditional hormone regimen prescribed by doctors because the hormones come from plant sources. This book promotes a hormone replacement therapy using plant-derived hormones in an individualized regimen involving unique dosages for each woman. She claims that bioidentical hormones reversed her body’s aging process and can do the same for any woman willing to try the therapy. Although it may sound good coming from the mouth of a celebrity, the therapy Somers promotes in her book was not created by a physician, nor does Somers have any sort of science degree. (67)
Media Coverage: After the release of her book in mid-October, Somers began a nonstop publicity tour during which she appeared on talk shows on every network in the United States as well as Canada. She sold her book and her therapy regimen in the allotted time claiming that she owed essentially everything positive in her life to bioidenticals. On NBC’s Today, Somers told Anne Curry, “I just feel so good...I am perfectly hormonally balanced. I’m a really fun woman to live with. I wake up happy almost every day. And my moods are even, my weight is good, I sleep.” (68) She did not, however, mention the cosmetic surgeries she underwent to preserve her youthful appearance. (69) When interviewed on CBS’s The Early Show, Somers told Rene Syler that she “would run away from synthetic hormones...Bioidentical hormones are biologically identical to the human hormone, an exact replica of what we once made or are still making small amounts of.” (70) Somers, as a convincing and upbeat speaker, promoted her product with these types of televised conversations for an entire week in October. She got her book noticed, and bioidenticals became better known. Today, a Google search for “Bioidentical hormones” yields over 300,000 results, most of which target people looking for a “natural solution” or “alternative” to pharmaceuticals.
The Bottom Line: Bioidentical hormones, though derived from plant hormones, must still be manufactured synthetically, making them no more natural than those from pharmaceutical companies. More importantly, these synthetic drugs lack the history of proper FDA testing that ensures any drug’s safety for human use. In November of this year, the American Medical Association (AMA) released a statement on bioidentical hormone therapy. The physicians called for FDA oversight of this therapy out of concern that “patients are receiving potentially misleading or flawed information about custom compounded bioidentical hormones.” The AMA calls attention to the fact that “there is no scientific basis for claims that the compounded hormone therapies have a different risk-benefit ratio than FDA-approved hormone replacement therapies.” (71) The specific hormones used in Somers’ therapies have not been tested and, therefore, may have adverse effects when used in these new ratios.
Hormone replacement therapy, even without bioidenticals, is a complex issue. Previously thought to be largely beneficial, recent research suggests that women who take these medications might be at a higher risk for heart disease, breast cancer, and stroke. For some women, the benefits to HRT may outweigh the risks, but only a licensed physician should make this decision. (72) Please consult your physician before starting any regimen of medications and be skeptical of those that are not regulated and approved by the FDA.
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