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Clinicians concerned about compounded hormone use in menopausal women

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22nd Annual Meeting of NAMS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Compounded hormone use in menopausal women is a major issue in US practices, according to results of a survey of attendees of last year's Annual Meeting of the North American Menopause Society.

Of 318 respondents who completed the survey, 69% reported prescribing compounded hormones to their patients, and more than one-third said compounded hormones accounted for at least 10% of their prescriptions.

More than half (53%), however, noted that they were unsure whether the pharmacist provided an information sheet on the risks and benefits of the product to patients, and 15% said the pharmacist definitely did not.

Despite wide prescribing practices, only 8% of respondents reported personally using compounded hormones.

Additionally, 65 comments by respondents underscored the fact that compounded hormones were an important topic of discussion in their practices. For example, two comments indicated that respondents only prescribe these products for patients who strongly request them and one pushed for FDA approval of transdermal testosterone.

"The results of this survey indicate that among clinicians seeing menopausal women, compounding hormones is a significant issue," Margery Gass, MD, executive director of NAMS, and colleagues wrote in the study abstract. "More data are required to determine the extent of this practice, the need that it fills and the efficacy, safety and financial impact on our society."

For more information:

• Gass M. P-37. Presented at: the 22nd Annual Meeting of the North American Menopause Society; Sept. 21-24, 2011; Washington, D.C.

Disclosure: Dr. Gass reports no relevant financial disclosures.

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