Bioidentical progesterone cream for menopause-related vasomotor symptoms: is it effective?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of bioidentical progesterone cream in the treatment of menopause-related vasomotor symptoms.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search (from time of inception to September 2012) of PubMed, EMBASE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding, Cochrane, and CINAHL was conducted using the terms progesterone, vasomotor symptoms, night sweats, hot flash or flush, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Hand-searching of citations from relevant articles was also performed.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

Articles selected for inclusion described RCTs evaluating the use of bioidentical progesterone cream for the treatment of menopause-related vasomotor symptoms. Studies included were placebo controlled and participants were postmenopausal women experiencing vasomotor symptoms.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Searching identified 3 published RCTs. Only one study, which used a bioidentical progesterone cream specifically compounded for the trial, found that the bioidentical progesterone was more effective than placebo in relieving menopause-related vasomotor symptoms. The 2 studies using manufactured bioidentical progesterone creams found that the creams were no more effective than placebo. Vaginal bleeding and headaches were the most commonly reported adverse effects in the studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Available evidence from RCTs does not support the efficacy of bioidentical progesterone cream for the management of menopause-related vasomotor symptoms. Adverse effects appear to be mild and self-limiting.