Hormone replacement therapy used to solely rely on estrogen for menopause relief but recent research has revealed the need for progesterone to “balance” out the growth-promoting effects of estrogen.
Modern hormone replacement therapy now relies on both estrogen and progesterone in a way that mimics the levels seen during a woman’s fertile years.
Supplements are in the middle of this. Since they do not provide bioidentical estrogens but rather, phytoestrogens, they do not have the same full effects as doctor-prescribed estrogen.
Recently, we’ve been getting a lot of questions on whether or not phytoestrogenic ingredients are cancerous and the answer is no.
Phytoestrogens weakly mimic estrogens but they are not estrogens. Recent studies have found that they do not increase the chances of cancer. [Link]
Moreover, Eastern diets are rich in phytoestrogen (isoflavone) rich and cancer rates remain low.
Not everyone can take soy. Soy is not recommended for women with thyroid conditions and most of these supplements contain soy. Do any of them work and not contain soy?
Also, soy in America is not the same as soy in eastern countries. The soy in eastern countries is FERMENTED – very important process. It is the fermentation that prevents the estrogen mimicking and problems associated with that (males developing breasts, increased cancers). In America, most soy is UNFERMENTED – not a good thing!
Remifemin does not have any soy-it is only black cohosh. I saw good (not great-but still helpful) results after two weeks of use. It really did help with insomnia.
Does any one if there is a supplement that does not have soy or black cohosh? I get sick from soy and a headache from straight black cohosh. Thanks.
I avoid soy in part due to it being hormone disrupting, but more because almost all the US soy is genetically modified. GMO soy may be linked to cancer and infertility, if you look at the few studies available.