What Is Estroven?

An Herbal Dietary Supplement for Symptoms of Menopause

By
Abby Norman
Abby Norman
Abby Norman

Abby Norman is a freelance science writer and medical editor. She is also the author of "Ask Me About My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women's Pain (2018)."

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Updated on August 26, 2022
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 by
Anita Sadaty, MD
Anita Sadaty
Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD

Anita Sadaty, MD, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology. She is a clinical assistant professor at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and founder of Redefining Health Medical.

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Estroven is the brand name of several herbal dietary supplements. Since 1997, they have been advertised to ease some of the most frequently experienced symptoms of menopause.

Two main ingredients are found in all Estroven products. One is black cohosh root, a plant found in North America that contains fukinolic acid. Soy isoflavones derived from soybean plants are the other. They do not contain any other manmade or natural hormones.

This article discusses menopause and its symptoms. It explains how Estroven products may help people during menopause, as well as the possible side effects of using them.

black cohosh
Verywell / Gary Ferster

Some Estroven supplements have additional ingredients, depending on which symptoms of menopause they are meant to treat. These ingredients may include:

The symptoms of menopause and their intensity may vary. Different Estroven formulas are sold in a range of products that claim to treat these symptoms, which may include:

  • Insomnia
  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Mood changes and stress
  • Low energy
  • Weight changes

Estroven and Weight Management

The Estroven Weight Management product is formulated to help maintain serotonin levels. The manufacturer says that regulating serotonin, which is produced naturally in the body but decreases with age, can limit feelings of hunger associated with serotonin levels.

Uses for Estroven

Estroven is used to relieve menopause symptoms. After you have your last menstrual period, usually sometime in your 40s or 50s, you begin the next part of the reproductive life cycle called menopause.

Most people enter into menopause naturally due to estrogen and other hormone levels in the body decreasing with age. They also may experience premature menopause, which causes these changes earlier in life because of a health condition, medication, or surgery.

Removal of the ovaries, or the type of damage that can be caused by chemotherapy, also may cause early menopause.

It is sometimes treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). People with menopause symptoms may also benefit from herbal supplements such as Estroven. There is a formula made for pre-menopausal symptoms that you can take before menopause.

More research is needed to determine if these supplements are safe and effective for treating menopause.

Estroven products are meant to ease the symptoms of menopause, which will usually begin in your 40s and 50s. Some supplement formulas come with added ingredients. It's important to remember that there is limited research on the benefits of Estroven.

Estroven Dosage

Estroven is an herbal dietary supplement that comes in the form of a capsule. It can be taken daily with or without food. The best time to take Estroven is with a meal; food may help you to avoid mild stomach upset.

Estroven recommends that its products be used for a minimum of 60 days. Each product should only be used in the correct dose.

Do not take more of any supplement than is listed on the product's packaging label. Be sure to discuss your dosage level with your healthcare provider.

Estroven products do not require a prescription and are available over the counter at most pharmacies and major retailers throughout the United States. The products can also be purchased online.

Precautions

Although it may seem unlikely among people in their menopause phase, Estroven still recommends that its products should not be taken if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or are trying to become pregnant. In addition, children should not be given Estroven.

It's important to remember that the health benefits and safety of Estroven remain unproven by research studies, the results of which remain mixed.

However, one study looked at 129 people taking the ERr 731 found in some Estroven products. They reported fewer hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms after 12 weeks of taking it.

Other research studies have looked at the benefits of black cohosh. A 2021 review that included 35 clinical studies found that the benefits of its use in treating symptoms of menopause outweighed any risks.

Estroven Side Effects

Estroven reports that its products are generally safe and well-tolerated by most people who take them, but little is known about long-term side effects.

Most side effects of products containing black cohosh are mild. They include:

  • Stomach upset
  • Rash
  • Slow heart rate
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness or feeling light-headed
  • Joint pain

The U.S. Pharmacopeia recommends that people with diseases or conditions affecting the liver ask their healthcare provider before taking any supplements that have black cohosh in them.

It's unclear if back cohosh has serious interactions with other drugs you might take. If you are taking prescription medications or receiving care for a disease, such as chemotherapy for cancer, you should tell your healthcare provider before taking this or any other herbal supplement.

There are reports of rare cases of liver damage in people who take products containing black cohosh. Exactly why that's the case is not known.

Summary

Some supplements, including Estroven products, are designed to relieve the symptoms of menopause. They contain black cohosh root and other ingredients, depending on the formula.

These supplements may ease symptoms, such as night sweats or mood swings, but the benefits remain unproven. There is not enough research to confirm they are safe or effective.

Estroven products, and especially its black cohosh ingredient, also may cause side effects or possible drug interactions. It should not be taken without guidance from a healthcare provider.

A Word From Verywell

Hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause are common. Supplements like Estroven may help, but be sure that you know what you're taking and if it's safe for you to do so.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are there other supplements for menopause besides Estroven?

    Yes. Some products used to treat menopause symptoms include evening primrose oil, red clover, and flax seeds. In most cases, the research is mixed on how effective they are. It's a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider about taking them.


    Learn More: Supplements That Can Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  • Can I take Estroven if I'm allergic to soy?

    Probably not. All Estroven products but one contain soy isoflavones that could provoke a reaction in people with soy allergies or sensitivities. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any Estroven product if you're allergic to soy.

    Learn More: Overview of Soy Allergy
  • Are Estroven and estrogen the same thing?

    No. Estroven is an over-the-counter nutritional supplement containing herbs that may help relieve common menopause symptoms. Estrogen is a hormone produced by the body.

    Learn More: The Role of Estrogen in Your Body
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Estroven. Estroven Menopause Relief Weight Management.

  2. Dohou J, Mouret-reynier MA, Kwiatkowski F, et al. A retrospective study on the onset of menopause after chemotherapy: Analysis of data extracted from the Jean Perrin Comprehensive Cancer Center Database concerning 345 young breast cancer patients diagnosed between 1994 and 2012. Oncology. 2017;92(5):255-263. doi:10.1159/000455049

  3. Johnson A, Roberts L, Elkins G. Complementary and alternative medicine for menopause. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2019;24:2515690X19829380. doi:10.1177/2515690X19829380

  4. Shah J, Chandanani S, Reddy J, Kirubamani H, Boruah AM, Jain A, et al. Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of rheum rhaponticum root extract (Err 731) for menopausal symptoms in perimenopausal indian women: An interim analysis. J Mid-life Health. 2021;12(2):108. doi: 10.4103/jmh.jmh_86_21

  5. Castelo-Branco C, Gambacciani M, Cano A, Minkin MJ, Rachon D, Ruan X, et al. Review & meta-analysis: isopropanolic black cohosh extract iCR for menopausal symptoms – an update on the evidence. Climacteric. 2021;24(2):109-119. doi: 10.1080/13697137.2020.1820477

  6. Muqeet Adnan M, Khan M, Hashmi S, Hamza M, AbdulMujeeb S, Amer S. Black cohosh and liver toxicity: is there a relationship? Case Rep Gastrointest Med. 2014;2014:860614. doi:10.1155/2014/860614.

  7. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. Black cohosh.

  8. Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. Phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of flaxseed for the treatment of hot flashes. Published 2017.

  9. Estroven.com. Estroven Complete Multi-Symptom Menopause Relief.

Additional Reading

By Abby Norman
Abby Norman is a freelance science writer and medical editor. She is also the author of "Ask Me About My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women's Pain."

See Our Editorial Process
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