Endocrine Insider
June 10, 2010

(See full issue)

Last week, The Endocrine Society was approached by The Los Angeles Times to provide expert information on bioidentical hormones and hormone therapy.  Despite calls for caution and federal regulation, bioidentical hormones continue to be promoted as safe and beneficial by a number of proponents.  Having taken the lead with the development of its October 2006 position statement on bioidentical hormones, The Endocrine Society remains a leading resource to the media and policymakers for the scientific perspective on the issue.

The Endocrine Society relied on its position statement and on its network of volunteer experts to respond quickly to the reporter’s request.  Vice President – Clinical Science Nanette Santoro, MD, provided expert comment and insight for the article, which ran  Monday, June 7 in the Los Angeles Times. In addition to Dr. Santoro, the reporter also interviewed Cynthia Stuenkel, MD, a member of The Hormone Foundation’s Women’s Health Task Force.

The Society’s 2006 position statement, developed by the Clinical Affairs Core Committee in response to rising concerns about the efficacy and safety of bioidentical hormones, calls for increased regulatory oversight of all bioidentical hormones.  In November 2006, the AMA unanimously and enthusiastically passed a resolution introduced by The Endocrine Society and other concerned organizations supporting this position, and it stands today as AMA policy.  In April 2007, Society President Leonard Wartofsky, MD, testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging regarding the use and regulation of bioidentical hormones.  In January 2008, the FDA issued a warning to seven compounding pharmacies making false claims about the safety and efficacy of bioidentical hormones.