Bioidentical Hormones: Misconceptions and Facts
| Misconception | Fact |
|---|---|
| Bioidentical hormones are natural. | Bioidentical refers to structure; natural refers to source. |
| Bioidentical hormones are custom-compounded. | Custom-compounding is one way to obtain bioidentical hormones. FDA-approved drugs are another. |
| Bioidentical hormones are safe hormones. | All hormones can cause side effects. A “completely safe” hormone does not exist. |
| Conventional/traditional hormones are synthetic hormones. | Conventional hormones may be synthetic or bioidentical. The choice of prescription depends on patient and physician preferences. |
FDA, US Food and Drug Administration.