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Natural Menopause Relief: Safe Alternatives to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - 2024 Review

HRT: To Take Or Not To Take?

If you’re dealing with menopause and it’s frustrating symptoms, you would have probably heard of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

However, while some women have experienced positive results from this popular solution…

Others are simply incompatible, or wary because of well-reported side-effects like…

  •  Stroke, blood clots, and heart attack1, 2
  •  Urinary incontinence3
  •  Vaginal bleeding4
  •  Interactions with other medications

Safe & Effective Natural Alternatives to HRT

If you fall into either category…

Don’t fret, it’s not the end of the world. There are several alternatives out there that work just as well to provide comfort and relief.

Supplements (The Preferred Choice)

While there are various alternatives to HRT, there’s a reason why supplements stand out as a preferred choice.

With the right blend of ingredients, supplements can offer a holistic list of benefits which addresses not only the symptoms of menopause, but also promotes overall well-being.

Unlike the targeted approach of HRT

Natural supplements can provide a more comprehensive solution.

Here are some notable ingredients to look out for in a supplement for menopause.

Phytoestrogens are plant-based compounds that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body without the side effects of estrogen therapy. They can be found in a variety of foods, such as soybeans and flaxseeds. But they are most conveniently found in supplements designed to keep menopause symptoms down. Researchers believe that phytoestrogens can bind to estrogen receptors in the body5, which may help to reduce the intensity and frequency of hot flashes.

Studies6, 7 suggest that Vitamins E and B6 could be helpful in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweats.

Multiple studies8, 9 on a variety of probiotic species and strains have seen positive results in reducing reported hot flashes and night sweats. Researchers believe that probiotics mitigate these symptoms by supporting a healthy microbiome.

Lower estrogen levels activate oxidative and inflammatory processes which cause symptoms of menopause, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction in menopausal women. Herbs like curcumin have been found to lower oxidative stress10 and suggest that curcumin supplement could improve menopause symptoms.

Our Top Picks of Natural Supplements: The Recommended Choice

Our Ranking Criteria

Consumers who are searching for natural alternatives should have a peace of mind about the supplements they’re taking.

With that in mind, our health & nutrition experts at Supplement Review scrutinized every single one of these supplements, and ranked them based on…

  • the amount of natural ingredients
  • effectiveness of their formula
  • whether it’s backed by science
  • value for money

We’re not taking any chances with artificial fillers or additives as well.

The top supplements shouldn’t have any fillers, additives or artificial ingredients sneaked into their formula too.

We’ll be doing a detailed breakdown of each and every supplement featured in our Top 5 list below, along with a list of pros and cons so you’ll be able to measure how well they fit in your daily routine.

Our Review of the Top 5 Natural Supplements For Menopause Symptom Relief

Our Review of Provitalize

Provitalize ranks number #1 because it fulfills all of our criteria for the perfect, safe & effective natural menopause supplement.

It’s all-natural, blended to provide a wide range of benefits, formula tuned for absorption, and it’s totally free of artificial ingredients and additives as well.

We like Provitalize because of the holistic approach it takes to address menopausal symptoms. It contains 68.2 billion CFUs of 3 clinically studied probiotic strains (L.Gasseri SBT2055, B.Breve IDCC4401, and B.Lactis R101-8) with proven results in keeping inflammation under control, activating fat and cholesterol metabolism, and reducing fat absorption.

In addition, Provitalize contains 350mg of curcumin, which is not only studied to help with joint aches11, but may also help with fighting obesity12 and reducing hot flashes13 frequency and severity during menopause.

Provitalize is also packed with 350mg of moringa leaves, powerful antioxidants14 which also act as a phytoestrogen. It is also designed with bioavailability in mind – Provitalize contains BioPerine® and DRCaps™. BioPerine® is a patented version of black pepper extract that enhances the bioavailability of curcumin by 2000%15 while DRCaps™ protects the probiotics from stomach acids to ensure that the probiotics reach our gut where they are most effective.

We combed through their website, Google, TrustPilot, and Amazon to find 24,000+ verified customer reviews and over 80% positive reviews. The sheer volume of verified customer reviews and positive ratings is quite rare in a relatively unregulated market, so this gives us confidence that Provitalize makes a great natural alternative menopause supplement for women.

When it comes to refund policies, Provitalize offers an industry-leading money-back guarantee. They do not require bottle returns like most companies do, so you can save on return postage fees. Each one time purchase you make is backed by a 90-day guarantee.

The combination of an all-natural, holistic blend of ingredients, bioavailability formulation, positive customer reviews, competitive pricing and consumer-friendly money-back guarantee speaks volumes about the quality of the supplement, which is why we think it deserves the #1 position in our Top 5.

As with any nutritional supplement, we recommend taking it for at least 90 days so you can experience the full benefits before deciding if it works for you.

Pros

Cons

Our Review of Slim Gut

The Slim Gut Bundle is great if you want an extra digestive boost to the already impressive list of benefits Provitalize provides. This 2-in-1 bundle includes Provitalize & Previtalize, a prebiotic specially designed to enhance the efficacy of Provitalize.

Now, it’s not just a bundle in name. The ingredients in Slim Gut are formulated to work together perfectly.

Also known as synbiotics, the Slim Gut provides both probiotics & prebiotics that are studied to beneficially affect the host by improving the survival and activity of beneficial microorganisms in the gut.16

It contains 500mg of Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which has been studied to foster the growth of good bacteria like bifidobacteria — which coincidentally, is the genus of two of the probiotic strains contained in Provitalize (B.Lactis & B.Breve).17

It contains 350mg of Inulin (from Jerusalem Artichoke), which has been studied to help with weight management, supporting a healthy blood sugar level and preventing cravings.18

It also contains 100mg of Xylooligosaccharides (XOS), which has been studied to counteract the effects of a high-fat diet in mice. Namely, taking XOS has helped with lipid metabolism and inflammation.19 According to reviews, many customers who tried the Slim Gut bundle after Provitalize saw faster & more effective results as compared to taking Provitalize alone. Customers who buy the Slim Gut Bundle will also enjoy a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Pros

Cons

Every serving (4 capsules) of Hormone Harmony contains 1,455.5mg of a proprietary blend (maca root, ashwagandha root, chaste tree berry, chamomile flower, rhodiola rosea, fennel seed, american ginseng root, rosemary leaf, gymnema sylvestre leaf).

The ingredients look to be generally safe, and are free of gluten, nuts, soy, sulfates, dairy or animal products.

Hormone Harmony is produced in Australia and owned by an Australian company. We like that Hormone Harmony has combined multiple ingredients backed by scientific studies to improve menopausal symptoms.

However, Hormone Harmony is one of the pricier options on the market, which is why we placed it in the 3rd spot.

Despite the higher price tag, customers are generally quite satisfied with the product, similar to other menopause supplements on the market. Because of its price, we recommend trying this product after you’ve exhausted all alternatives.

Pros

Cons

Our Review of Happy Hormones

Each serving of Happy Hormones (2 capsules) contains a 1,256mg proprietary blend of herbal ingredients (black cohosh, wild yam, chinese liquorice, gymnema sylvestre, maca root, purple passionflower, red raspberry leaf, sage, dandelion, red clover, chaste tree, silla).

We are generally skeptical about the brand as they label ingredients with their scientific name, making it hard for consumers to verify the ingredients without having to do a search on each and every ingredient.

Happy Hormones ingredients are generally well-studied. This includes red clover aerial parts, black cohosh root, dong quai root, and sage leaf. These ingredients generally have been shown to help address hormonal imbalance and alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women.

Happy Hormones isn’t sold on Amazon, but it has a 4.7-star rating on Google, which gives us confidence that the product works for most women. Reported side effects include mild stomach discomfort and water retention.

However, despite the blend of natural ingredients, Happy Hormones does contain silica as a supplement lubricant/filler, and goes against our criteria for a natural menopause supplement alternative. This is why we’ve put it at the 4th spot.

Pros

Cons

Our Review of Relizen

Each serving (2 tablets) of Relizen contains 300mg of their Purified Cytoplasmic Blend (pollen + pistil extract Pl-82, pollen extract GC-FEM).

However, their blend is registered, and we are unable to verify the exact kind of pollen and pistil used in their formula.

Relizen’s formula has been extensively tested for safety, and the fully plant-based ingredient list means you will not likely experience any side effects.20

While some users report immediate relief and promising results after a 90-day consumption, the lack of transparency in the proprietary blend makes it impossible to verify the research behind the ingredients.

Even though there are studies and tests done on the ingredients, we find it lacking in diversity.

Plus, Relizen has the most amount of fillers and artificial ingredients on this list, which include (isomalt, maltodextrin, cellulose, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, silica, polysorbate 80). These two reasons are why we’ve decided to place them in the 5th spot.

Pros

Cons

OR

Nancy Grace
Researcher and Science Writer
Nancy specializes in science journalism and factual information in the fields of health, medicine, and nutrition. She spends hours each week pouring through 100s of medical journals and research studies to increase accessibility to the depths of information by the everyday person.

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