There’s been a lot of discussion as of late when it comes to bioidentical hormones, and whether or not you should be taking them instead of standard hormone replacement therapy. We’ve gone through dozens of reports and come up with 5 essential, doctor-recommended facts you need to know before doing your own research. By keeping these wise words in mind, you’ll make a much better decision.

#5: Bioidentical Hormone Therapy is Fundamentally Different.

The fundamental difference to remember is that a bioidentical hormone therapy plan uses hormones that are chemically identical to those hormones produced in the human body. Above and beyond all the other information that’s out there, this is the key fact — these hormones are exactly the same as those your body produces.

#4: FDA Approval is Not Universal.

It’s impossible to approve hormone therapy when it’s customized to the exact person. For large batches of drugs from big pharmaceutical companies, sure. But when it’s a compound hormone made by a special pharmacy, there’s no way to send in that one specific hormone and have it approved by the massive FDA.

#3: Make Sure Your Compounding Pharmacy is Reliable.

As a result of #4, it’s essential to make sure the compounding pharmacy you’re dealing with has been fully vetted, either by your doctor, or by a relevant approval board — take a look at the PCAB (Pharmaceutical Compounding Accreditation Board) for a good barometer, and make sure whoever you go with employs a lot of quality assurance.

#2: Oprah is Taking Them!

There’s no question that an endorsement from the reigning queen of television is a boon to any particular product, but in this case, Oprah herself is using bioidentical hormones, and has suggested they made a huge difference for her. Like anything she recommends, just remember that due diligence is always fundamental.

#1: Hormone Replacement Therapy Won’t Solve Everything!

In the end, using bioidentical hormones might help you fight the problems of menopause, but nothing is ever a 100%, catch-all solution. As long as you go into this not expecting all your problems to be solved instantly (there’s no magic pill), you’ll be able to make a rational decision.

If you still have questions about bioidentical hormones - look for answers online. Many bioidentical hormone therapy doctors have their own websites where you will be able to find all you need to know about hormone replacement therapy.