TODAY’s Never Have I Ever series offers guidance about procedures and practices our trusted health experts would never participate in. Discover why they should be avoided and which healthy practices you should turn to instead.
Menopause has been historically under-researched and under-treated, leaving many women in the dark when searching for solutions for their symptoms. The wellness industry has tried to meet that need with a growing array of dietary supplements for brain fog, hot flashes and more.
“Supplements, I think, offer a lot of women a ray of hope,” Dr. Heather Hirsch, internist specializing in menopause care and author of “The Perimenopause Survival Guide,” tells TODAY.com.
Since many supplements are marketed as natural, “they don’t seem as aggressive as prescription medications,” Hirsch says. And supplements don't require a prescription, so you can buy them online or over the counter.
Although she understands the temptation to rely on supplements in menopause, taking them can be risky, Hirsch says. So, she's urging women to consult a trusted provider for research-backed treatments before reaching for one of the many menopause supplements that probably won’t do much of anything, she says.
Never Have I Ever: Taken Menopause Supplements
Hirsch recommends avoiding supplements generically labeled as "for menopause."
There can be a place for supplements in treating menopause symptoms, she says — for example, magnesium to combat trouble sleeping — but don't do so without consulting your doctor first.
It's also important to note that dietary supplements aren’t approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before they hit shelves, so the inside may not match what’s on the label. And menopause supplements in particular can be risky for some breast and endometrial cancer patients, TODAY.com previously reported.
What's more, there’s no supplement available to replace the estrogen, progesterone and testosterone lost during menopause, which drives many of the symptoms. Instead, menopause supplements including, creams and capsules, are over-inflating their abilities and downplaying their risks, Hirsch says.
Why?
“There’s just no good evidence,” says Hirsch.
Many menopause supplements simply haven’t been researched, as TODAY.com previously reported, and some, such as those containing phytoestrogens derived from plants, can be dangerous, particularly in those who have a history of estrogen-derived cancers, such breast and endometrial cancer.
In some cases, a person in menopause might actually have a deficiency that requires supplementation, but it's best to talk to your doctor before trying a new supplement.
More often than not, the most noteworthy effect of menopause supplements is placebo, Hirsch says — that initial phantom feeling of relief will eventually subside, which can leave patients feeling even more vulnerable than before.
What to Do Instead
Talk to your doctor, says Hirsch. Supplementation is a matter that requires nuance and supervision.
In some cases, she’ll allow a patient to continue taking a supplement, depending on the severity of their symptoms. But she might alter their dose, how often they take it or recommend a brand that has been third-party tested to ensure their safety.
If your perimenopause or menopause symptoms are moderate to severe, “I’m really going to recommend (seeing) a clinician and potentially get some FDA-approved treatment," says Hirsch. These treatments might include menopausal hormone therapy, proven to manage a number of menopause symptoms, from hair loss to painful sex, hot flashes and night sweats.
And for those who can’t rely on hormone therapy — including those with certain cancers, history of stroke, blood clots or cardiovascular disease — there are FDA-approved non-hormonal options, as well as lifestyle changes, they can incorporate into their day-to-day, TODAY.com reported previously.
