Estroven & Menopause
As women navigate the symptoms that can occur due to menopause (hot flashes, night sweats), some prefer natural remedies to those requiring medical prescription. Estroven, a product that is made up of various vitamins and herbs is one such alternative. However, since Estroven is unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (due to the fact that it is considered a supplement), side effects and interactions with prescribed medications is largely unknown at this time.
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Menopause Defined
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According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, menopause is defined as menstruation cessation---and ovarian function regression---that occurs naturally. It generally takes place sometime after age 45, but before age 55. And in Western culture, women seem to experience a mean (average) menopause onset at the approximate age of 51.
Estroven Ingredients
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One natural menopause supplement on the market is Estroven, which is available in caplet form. Estroven is taken once a day, several hours prior to bedtime, along with food, which helps to reduce potential stomach upset. It contains only natural ingredients, mostly vitamins.
Vitamins B6 (10 mg), Vitamin B12 ( 6 mcg), Calcium (150 mg), Vitamin E (30 IU), Folate (400 mcg), Niacin (20 mg), Riboflavin (2 mg), Thiamin (2 mg), and Selenium (70 mcg), along with the following ingredients can be found in Estroven: 150 mg of date seed and magnolia bark extract, 55 mg of Isoflavins, 40 mg of black cohosh, and 1.5 mg of boron.
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Phytoestrogens and Estroven
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As women go through menopause, their estrogen level decreases in the ovaries. With this decrease of estrogen in the body, hot flashes and night sweats (as well as other menopause symptoms) can be experienced.
Phytoestrogen, a type of estrogen naturally produced in certain foods and herbs (like those in Estroven), is touted as increasing estrogen levels in the body, thus reducing menopausal symptoms, according to Drugs.com
Phytoestrogens and Menopause Symptoms
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According to the Mayo Clinic, it is unclear whether phytoestrogens can actually reduce menopausal symptoms or not, to date. More importantly, there are concerns that isoflavin supplementation (which is also a component of Estroven) may lead to cancer risk due to weak, but estrogen-type effects it can produce, according to the Mayo Clinic (see link in Resources section below). However, no published data supporting a link between Estroven and cancer exists at this time.
Significant
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Estroven does not require a prescription from a physician, and it is not regulated or tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, according to the online website Drugs.com, no side effects are currently known to exist if the recommended dosage on the labeled product is accurately followed. However, children, pregnant women, nursing mothers or those women seeking to conceive, should not use the product (see link in Resources section below).
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