Perhaps you’ve heard the buzz about “bioidentical” hormones; that they’re safer and more effective than FDA-approved hormones.

Uh, no, says Harvard Women’s Health Watch. The buzz is not about health, it’s about hype.

Bioidentical hormones generally are described as compounds with the same chemical and molecular structure as those produced by the body. And, generally, they’re available by prescription: Estrace, Vivelle and Estring, for example, are drugs often prescribed as female hormone replacement therapy.

The “bioidentical” claims Harvard calls into question include...