Bioidentical hormones and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy programs are targeted at menopausal and post-menopausal women, women with hormone imbalances, and women who have had hysterectomies. Though these medications claim to mimic the body's own hormone hormones exactly, the FDA does not recognize or validate these claims. As a result, women who are interested in taking bioidentical hormones need to make themselves aware of the true side effects of taking bioidenticals.
Heart Attack
According to a long-term study conducted by the NCBI Women's Health Initiative, estrogen and progestin therapies lead to increased risk of heart attack. Harvard Health notes that the way the hormones are introduced to the body may influence the severity of this side effect; for instance, bioidentical hormones taken as a pill are processed in the liver, which triggers an enzymatic reaction associated with increased risk of heart attacks.
Unpredictable Hormonal Swings
Taking bioidentical hormones doesn't lead to a predictable outcome in the body's hormone levels or promote hormone stability. Harvard Health notes that there are no set levels of hormones to aim for in prescribing, which can lead to over- or under-prescribing, depending on symptoms. The FDA notes that testing for hormone levels in menopausal women is inaccurate, and as a result outcomes can't be predicted and side effects such as a resurgence of menopausal symptoms may occur.
Stroke
Harvard Health notes that stroke is a side effect of bioidentical and hormone replacement therapies. The NCBI Women's Health Initiative study showed that estrogen alone and estrogen plus progestin treatments both increased stroke risk over time. Bioidentical hormones taken as pills may increase the risk of this side effect compared to bioidentical hormones delivered through skin patches, notes Harvard Health.
Blood Clots
Blood clots are another serious side effect of bioidentical hormone treatments. Harvard Health reports that women taking certain kinds of estrogens had a 78% higher risk of developing blood clots. Protein stimulation in the blood by the estrogens increases clotting factors.
Endometrial Cancer
For women taking bioidentical hormones who have their uterus, endometrial cancer is a potential side effect. This is particularly true of estrogen alone therapies. Harvard Health notes that this side effect can be mitigated by taking an FDA-approved progesterone supplement.
