Best Female Hormone Balance Supplements
We did the research and testing — find out if a hormone balance supplement may be the solution to your bothersome symptoms.
Photo by Innerbody Research
From hot flashes and mood swings to acne, weight changes, headaches, depression, and much more, the symptoms some women experience from female hormone fluctuations can run the gamut from frustrating to debilitating. If that sounds familiar, it can help to know you aren’t alone. For example, it’s estimated that over 90% of women experience at least some premenstrual symptoms, and all women assigned female at birth (AFAB) will eventually go through the hormonal changes — and often the symptoms — associated with menopause.1 2
If you’re looking for a way to manage your symptoms, a female hormone balance supplement may be able to help. Whether you’re seeking support for a specific concern or for better female hormone health in general, our research and testing led us to five standout options.
For those in a hurry, check out our summary of recommendations below. Otherwise, read on to learn more about how we chose our top picks.
Summary of recommendations
- Best for general female hormone support: Ritual Women’s Multivitamin
- Best budget pick: Rainbow Light Women's One High Potency Multivitamin
- Best for PMS: Thorne Meta-Balance
- Best for PMDD: Triquetra Health Plant 5-HTP
- Best for PCOS: O Positiv FLO Cycle Support Vitamin Capsules
- Best for endometriosis: Rainbow Light Women's One High Potency Multivitamin
- Best for menopause: Thorne Meta-Balance
Studies show that nearly all of the vitamins and minerals in Ritual’s formulas contribute to proper hormone balance in women.
Ritual isn’t the least expensive supplement brand, but when you buy from this company, you’re buying products whose ingredients are traceable to their origins and provided in quantities that can make a difference without becoming excessive. This full-picture approach to safety and effectiveness made Ritual’s Women’s Multi our top overall pick. You can buy it directly from Ritual or from the company’s store on Amazon, but you can save more money by buying it directly on Ritual.
Jump to:
Why you should trust us
Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions involving staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.
For our guide to the best female hormone balance supplements, we pored over 80+ studies, journals, and other academic literature on the multitude of ways female hormone fluctuations or changes can impact your health and well-being. We also thoroughly investigated the currently available data on the use of supplements for these concerns and applied that knowledge to inform our picks. On top of that, our team purchased the products we chose in order to gather useful information about the customer experience.
Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.
How we evaluated supplements for female hormone balance
When evaluating supplements for female hormone support, we considered a handful of essential criteria, including how safe, effective, costly, and convenient they are. Though all of our picks performed well overall, some stood out from the crowd in certain ways. The following sections break down the details of how our picks fared.
Safety
Winner: Ritual Women’s Multivitamin
Unlike prescription drugs, supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA before being sold.3 Because of this, it’s up to supplement manufacturers to ensure a product is safe for consumers. And while all of our picks should be safe for most healthy adults who aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding, Ritual stands out from the pack in a few ways. For instance, the company goes to great lengths to make sure all of its ingredients are traceable — this means that the origin, suppliers, manufacturers, and other factors are all transparent and made viewable to the public.
Ritual’s supplement is also one of the two picks on our list (the other being Thorne) to not contain any notable allergens. Rainbow Light contains latex allergens, Triquetra contains mushrooms, and O Positiv contains carob. (To be fair, carob allergies are pretty rare, but those who are allergic to legumes may still have a reaction.)
Finally, Ritual maintains a “less is more” approach to its supplements, only giving people the nutrients needed to fill in common gaps. Too much vitamin or mineral content can be dangerous, especially if you over-supplement fat-soluble nutrients, like vitamin A, that aren’t excreted in the urine when there’s excess.4
Effectiveness
Winner: O Positiv FLO Cycle Support Vitamin Capsules
While all of our picks contain ingredients that have at least some positive scientific support, those in the Cycle Support supplement from O Positiv have a particularly impressive amount of potential for those dealing with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Inositol, especially, has performed well in studies as a way to relieve symptoms as effectively as metformin, which is considered the gold standard treatment for PCOS.5 O Positiv also delivers its inositol in the ideal 40:1 myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol ratio, which appears to be efficacious in restoring ovulation in PCOS patients.6 Additionally, research shows that folate may also be beneficial for PCOS due to its potential to reduce levels of inflammation and oxidative stress.7
Of course, our pick from O Positiv isn’t the only potentially effective female hormone support supplement in this guide. When it comes to the effectiveness of our other picks:
- The 5-HTP in Triquetra’s supplement may boost serotonin just as well as an SSRI (a common PMDD treatment).8
- The ingredient Pycnogenol in Thorne Meta-Balance “significantly” reduced hot flashes, night sweats, reduced libido, and other symptoms in perimenopausal women.9
- Nearly all of the vitamins and minerals found in Ritual (such as vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin B12) appear to be linked to the production of female hormones,10 better fertility,11 and improved pregnancy outcomes.12
- When added to a common endometriosis treatment called dienogest (DNG), DIM — found in Rainbow Light — improved treatment outcomes, particularly by reducing pelvic pain and bleeding.13
Cost
Winner: Rainbow Light Women's One High Potency Multivitamin
Female hormone balance supplements can range from fairly affordable to rather expensive, but cost-saving factors like available discounts, bulk purchase deals, and subscriptions can add up to impressive savings. Taking a supplement intended to balance your hormones is likely a long-term commitment, so choosing a cost-effective option that fits into your budget is important. We chose Rainbow Light as our winner for cost due to its low up-front cost and low cost per dose. The chart below offers a quick cost comparison of our picks.
As you can see, even at its most expensive, Rainbow Light is about the same price as Ritual, Thorne, and O Positiv. But keep in mind that the $40+ price point gets you 150 days’ worth of Rainbow Light and only 30 days of the other options. Triquetra’s Health Plant 5-HTP comes in second for cost with a month’s supply being only about $24, or $0.80 per serving. Thorne Meta-Balance, however, is always the most expensive product, whether you subscribe or purchase it once — and the subscription discount applies only to subsequent deliveries, not your first purchase.
Convenience
Winner: Rainbow Light Women's One High Potency Multivitamin
Though none of the supplements in this guide should be particularly inconvenient for most people, our choice from Rainbow Light stands out for convenience in a few ways.
First, it’s the only one of our picks with a single-pill dose; Ritual, Thorne, and Triquetra’s supplements require you to take two, and O Positiv’s dose is three. If you’re not a fan of adding a bunch of pills to your daily regimen, then Rainbow Light’s one-a-day supplement could be a good option.
Second, while all of our picks have some sort of satisfaction or money-back guarantee, Rainbow Light offers a 60-day “no return required” one. This means you can get a refund from the company without having to go through the hassle of shipping the items back. In contrast, Thorne’s 60-day satisfaction guarantee requires you to submit a “Guarantee Request” to customer service, wait for approval, and then mail your product, proof of purchase, and guarantee approval number to Thorne’s product returns department.
Finally, the Rainbow Light Women's One High Potency Multivitamin is available in multiple quantities, up to 150 tablets per bottle. Unlike our other picks, which are mainly only available in 30-serving bottles that will last you a month, Rainbow Light’s 150-count option gives you roughly a five-month supply. And if you choose to subscribe, the company has subscription delivery intervals that match up with the available bottle sizes, meaning you shouldn’t end up either short or with a surplus. (Subscription intervals that don’t quite line up with product quantities are surprisingly common in our experience.)
How our top female hormone balance supplement picks compare
To help you quickly compare and contrast our top female hormone balance supplement picks, the chart below breaks down some of their most important details, including pricing, dosing, and more.
Below, we’ve added a picture comparing the sizes of the capsules and tablets of our top picks.
Photo by Innerbody Research
How do female hormone changes impact health?
Hormones, in general, play a major role in maintaining your health and well-being. There are over 50 hormones that affect hundreds of processes throughout your body — metabolism, mood, blood pressure, body temperature, sexual function, and more.14
When it comes to sex hormones, males and females actually have the same ones (estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone), but their production, concentrations, and interactions with the rest of the body are different.15 So, even though we’re focusing on female hormones in this guide, we’ll still be discussing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone — all of which are produced by the ovaries in people assigned female at birth (AFAB).14
Pivoting to their effects on health, it’s worth clarifying that you don’t need to have a diagnosable hormone imbalance to experience bothersome symptoms due to or exacerbated by female hormone fluctuations. For example, as explained in a 2024 review, those with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) typically have normal female hormone levels throughout their menstrual cycle.16
With that being said, the breakdown below details some of the ways female hormone changes — including imbalances, natural fluctuations, and more — can uniquely impact the health of AFAB individuals.
As touched on earlier in this guide, an estimated nine out of ten women experience at least some mild premenstrual symptoms a week or two before their period.1 However, only two out of every ten women suffer from the more distressing premenstrual syndrome, or PMS.17 The symptoms of PMS can be physical, emotional, or both and may include breast swelling or tenderness, acne, bloating, headaches, joint pain, food cravings, digestive upset, irritability, mood swings, crying, trouble sleeping, and more.18
Similar to most of the other conditions mentioned in this guide, experts don’t know the exact cause of PMS, but it’s widely believed that the changes in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle are a factor.18
Though PMDD is technically a severe form of PMS, the condition is more complex than that implies.19 20 Considered a depressive disorder in the DSM-5,21 PMDD often comes with typical PMS signs — like bloating, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and food cravings — but it also presents with symptoms that can have a profound negative impact on daily functioning, such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, anger, mood swings, insomnia, difficulty concentrating (brain fog), or even suicidal thoughts.22
While researchers are unsure of the cause, they note that the brains of patients with PMDD react in an abnormal way to the normal hormone fluctuations of the menstrual cycle (particularly during the luteal phase right after ovulation).16 These hormone fluctuations also impact the function of neurotransmitters, namely serotonin. Because of this and their positive performance in research, SSRI antidepressants are the first-line treatment for PMDD.16
Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a hormonal imbalance caused by the ovaries producing excess androgens (e.g., testosterone, androstenedione, DHEA, or DHT). Some common symptoms include irregular periods, abnormal body or facial hair growth, acne, weight gain, thinning hair, and infertility.23
Contrary to the condition’s name, you don’t need to have ovarian cysts to have PCOS.24 A diagnosis is made when you experience at least two of the three diagnostic criteria, which are irregular periods, high androgen levels, and multiple ovarian cysts that can be seen on an ultrasound. So you can still have PCOS with irregular periods and high testosterone but no ovarian cysts.23
Amenorrhea is when you’ve either never gotten your first period by age 15 (primary) or you’ve missed your period for three or more months (secondary).25 Though it can be caused by a female hormonal imbalance, we don’t recommend taking a supplement specifically for amenorrhea since many of its potential causes are medical conditions that warrant a doctor’s guidance or intervention. Some of those possible causes include, but aren’t limited to, certain medications, stress, poor nutrition, adrenal disorders, genetic or chromosomal problems, structural issues with the uterus or vagina, pituitary disorders or tumors, PCOS, ovarian tumors, kidney disease, chronic illness, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and issues with the hypothalamus.25 26
You should only consider a supplement for amenorrhea symptom management after the underlying cause is determined — and your doctor confirms it’s safe for you to take one. For example, if the root cause of your amenorrhea is kidney disease, many common herbal ingredients in supplements should be avoided due to the risk of dangerous complications or worsening of kidney health.27
Endometriosis is, as stated by researchers, “an estrogen-dependent gynecological condition, defined as the presence and growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity.”28 It affects roughly 10% of menstruating women in the United States and is considered a “benign gynecological disease” (meaning the tissue growth is noncancerous).28 29
However, for many women with endometriosis, this “benign” condition is anything but that, as several common symptoms include some form of — in some cases debilitating — pain that may worsen over time, such as painful periods, pain during or after sex, and painful bowel movements or urination.30 The Endometriosis Foundation of America explains that endometriosis is “a disease of menstruation” and that managing monthly hormone fluctuations may, in turn, help some people manage their symptoms.31
All AFAB women will eventually go through the hormonal changes of menopause, whether it’s natural, surgical (oophorectomy), or premature (primary ovarian insufficiency).2 There are three stages of nonsurgical menopause: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. Technically, you can only be perimenopausal or postmenopausal because “menopause” itself is more like a single point in time than a phase.32 It’s when you’ve officially gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, meaning they’ve stopped for good, and you’ve transitioned from perimenopause to postmenopause. (Simply put, these stages are basically before and after the permanent “pause” of menstruation.)
Though most menopause symptoms — like hot flashes and mood swings — are attributed to the hormonal fluctuations of the “menopause transition” or perimenopause phase, women in postmenopause can also experience unpleasant health effects from the resulting hormonal changes, particularly because of lower estrogen levels in the body.32
Who are female hormone balance supplements for?
Female hormone balance supplements can be for adults assigned female at birth (AFAB) — not pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant — who are suffering from bothersome symptoms due to either a female hormone imbalance, a condition worsened by female hormone fluctuations, or the hormone changes of menopause or monthly menstruation. These supplements may also be helpful for those without a specific concern who are simply seeking to support their overall female hormone health and balance.
However, even if female hormone balance supplements sound like a good solution, we recommend speaking with your doctor first to ensure that they’re safe for you.
Who should look elsewhere?
Besides being assigned male at birth (AMAB), there are some groups of people that should consider avoiding these supplements or trying something else, including those who:
- Are on hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- Have hormone-sensitive cancers
- Take medication for a hormone-related condition (thyroid disease, diabetes, etc.)
- Are pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant
- Have an autoimmune condition
Since a couple of our top picks in this guide are multivitamins, we feel it’s worthwhile to explain that we’re not suggesting the people in the above groups avoid taking a daily multi. Rather, it’s just that certain ingredients found in our picks, including those that happen to also be multivitamins, may be risky for those individuals to take. For example:
- Boron (Ritual; 18+ and 50+ formulas) could act like estrogen and worsen hormone-sensitive cancers.33
- Ashwagandha (Rainbow Light; both formulas) may alter thyroid hormones, exacerbate autoimmune conditions, or lead to miscarriage.34
- Gingko (Rainbow Light 50+ formula) could “distort the final effect of the hormone agent” in those using estrogen HRT, according to a 2014 review.35 It may also be unsafe during pregnancy.36
- Black cohosh (Rainbow Light 50+ formula) is considered unsafe during pregnancy, as it may act as an abortifacient and lead to miscarriage.37
Are female hormone balance supplements safe?
When taken as directed, female hormone balance supplements should generally be safe for healthy adults who aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding. That being said, we’d be remiss not to acknowledge the likelihood that not everyone seeking support from one of these products falls under the “healthy” (i.e., without medical concerns) umbrella. So, with that in mind, some of the possible risks involved with taking various female hormone balance supplements include, but aren’t limited to:
- Interference with medications,34 such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT),35 birth control, antidiabetics, thyroid hormones, immunosuppressants, antihypertensives, sedatives, and others38
- Negative effects on autoimmune conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), hormone-sensitive conditions (e.g., endometriosis, uterine fibroids), or certain cancers33 34
- Miscarriage or other complications in those who are pregnant34 36 37
- Serotonin syndrome (a rare but potentially life-threatening drug reaction) if certain ingredients, like 5-HTP, are taken alongside antidepressants, dextromethorphan, tramadol, meperidine, or triptans8 39
As we’ve mentioned before, it’s recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting any new supplements — even if you’re perfectly healthy.
Do female hormone balance supplements work?
While female hormone balance supplements can help you manage your systems, it's important to clarify that they can't treat or cure any medication conditions.
Insider Tip: Some nonspecific symptoms (like fatigue or mood swings, for example) can also be caused by serious health issues, like tumors, adenomas, damage to an endocrine gland, or an autoimmune condition.40 Because of this, it’s important to speak with your doctor before trying a supplement to manage hormone-related symptoms, especially when the cause is unknown. If the root cause happens to be something serious, a supplement may interact poorly with or mask the problem and lead to further complications down the line.
Still, there’s supportive, positive research for several common ingredients found in female hormone balance supplements, such as the ones in our top picks. Below, we’ll break down some details of a few commonly seen hormone-supporting ingredients. (To learn more about these and other inclusions in our recommended products, there’s additional information in each item’s dedicated section further down.)
They may not be the first ingredients you think of when it comes to hormone balancing, but certain vitamins and minerals — including boron, vitamin B, vitamin D, and vitamin E41 — play a big part in helping your body produce sex hormones.42 Additionally, vitamin D levels in the body appear to have a link to the level of reproductive hormones like anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and others, but more research is needed.10
According to Dr. Sobia Khan, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Specialized Women's Health, “[Chasteberry] helps with conditions where your estrogen and progesterone levels rise and fall.” This berry may also promote fertility, lower prolactin (in those with hyperprolactinemia), and improve menstrual regularity.43 44
DIM is a phytonutrient found in various cruciferous vegetables (like cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, and so on) that has antiandrogenic potential.45 To put it simply, DIM may help balance your hormones by altering how estrogen is processed in the body and improving its metabolism.46 47
Additionally, because of its effects on estrogen metabolism, DIM may be able to reduce menopausal hot flashes and night sweats.48 And a small trial from 2023 found that the compound may help with menopause-related weight gain, as 300mg per day for 30 days led to a “significant decrease in body fat percentage” versus placebo.49
In a 2017 meta-analysis of inositol for PCOS, researchers noted, “Many hormonal and reproductive impairments associated with this disorder seem relieved by the supplement.” The results of the analysis specifically highlighted that inositol supplementation improved subjects’ metabolic profiles and reduced their hyperandrogenism.54
Ritual Essential Multivitamin for Women 18+ and 50+
Best for general hormone balance
Photo by Innerbody Research
Pros
- All ingredients can positively influence female hormone health
- Made traceable; all ingredients’ origins, suppliers, and places of manufacture detailed
- Free from major allergens
- Available in formulas for ages 18+ and 50+
- Mint essence masks “vitamin-y” taste
- Bulk subscriptions can reduce price per bottle
- 30-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase
- Subscribe to save 20% on first order
Cons
- Boron could worsen endometriosis or other estrogen-sensitive conditions
- Subscription discount goes down to 10-16% on refills
- Guarantee doesn’t apply to subsequent orders
- Multivitamin for Women 50+ costs more than 18+ one without major formula difference
Ritual is a supplement brand that takes a “less is more” approach to making multivitamins, aiming to give customers only the vitamins and minerals they need to fill in common nutritional gaps. But even with a minimalist approach, the company’s Essential Multivitamin for Women is still our choice for the best general female hormone balance supplement.
Whether you opt for the 18+ formula or the 50+ one, your supplement will contain vitamins and minerals that have the potential to support or better your hormone health. So, if you just want something for everyday, all-around female hormone support, then Ritual could be the choice for you. However, if you’re dealing with a specific hormone-related concern, like PMDD or PCOS, then Ritual’s vitamins may not be the supplement you’re looking for.
Key ingredients
Vitamins and minerals can influence the production and behavior of your hormones in many ways. The following list explains how the ingredients in Ritual’s Multivitamins for Women (both the 18+ and 50+ formulas) could promote better overall female hormone health:
- Vitamin D: May be linked to the production of certain reproductive hormones along with the sex hormones estradiol and progesterone10 55
- Vitamin E: Could potentially improve female fertility and reproductive health11
- Folate: Essential for preventing birth defects in pregnancy and may both increase progesterone levels and lower the risk of anovulation (not ovulating)56
- Vitamin B12: Optimal levels could improve ovarian health, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes12
- Magnesium: May reduce premenstrual symptoms, such as cravings, depression, and anxiety (but magnesium performs a bit better with the inclusion of vitamin B6)57
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Could improve fertility, reduce pregnancy complication risk, and potentially help postpartum depression, menopause symptoms, and more58
- Boron: Increases the bioavailability of sex hormones and vitamin D59
- Vitamin K2: Might be able to modulate estrogen function, but more research is needed60
Insider Tip: Though the dose of boron in Ritual’s multis for women isn’t particularly high (0.7mg is about the same amount you’d get from a cup of grape juice or a medium apple), women with endometriosis may want to avoid supplementing with any of this trace mineral.61 Boron might act like estrogen, meaning it could worsen estrogen-sensitive medical conditions like endometriosis.33
Pricing details
In the past, shopping directly from Ritual meant signing up for a subscription; there were no one-time purchase options or discounts for recurring deliveries. However, the company has recently changed this up, and now one-time buys and subscription discounts have been added. Here’s how the costs for Ritual’s Essential Multivitamin for Women break down:
| Essential Multivitamin (18+) | Essential Multivitamin (50+) | |
|---|---|---|
| One-time price | $37.00 | $44.00 |
| Monthly subscription (first order) | $26.40 (20% off) | $31.20 (20% off) |
| Monthly subscription (subsequent orders) | $33.00 (10% off) | $39.00 (11% off) |
| Quarterly subscription (first order) | $74.40 (20% off) | $88.80 (20% off) |
| Quarterly subscription (subsequent orders) | $93.00 (16% off) | $111.00 (15% off) |
Unfortunately, as you can see, Ritual’s “Subscribe and Save 20%” statement on its product pages isn’t exactly the most honest. Yes, you can technically save 20% on a subscription, but only for the first delivery. After that, the discount basically gets cut in half for monthly subscriptions and reduced by a fourth for quarterly ones. This subscription policy is almost the exact opposite of the one from Triquetra Health, which starts you off with a 10% discount and then raises it to 15% on refills.
Additionally, Ritual’s products are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase. This isn’t as long or flexible as the guarantee from Rainbow Light (60 days, no return required, and it doesn’t have to be your first purchase), but we do appreciate that Ritual’s guarantee exists at all to give new customers some peace of mind.
Rainbow Light Women's One High Potency Multivitamin
Best budget pick and best for endometriosis
Photo by Innerbody Research
Pros
- Several ingredients have the potential to alleviate certain endometriosis symptoms
- Vitamins, minerals, and blend ingredients can support general female hormone health
- The daily dose is only one tablet
- Far less expensive up front and on a per-dose basis than our other picks
- Convenient 60-day “no return required” money-back guarantee
- Subscribe to save 10%
Cons
- Contains latex allergens (from papaya)
- Herbal ingredients may be unsafe if mixed with certain medications or health conditions
- Strong “vitamin-y” taste and smell
- Proprietary blends obscure some ingredient amounts
Rainbow Light’s Women's One High Potency Multivitamin contains not only the same potentially beneficial vitamins and minerals as Ritual (plus others) but also three blends with fruits, vegetables, and botanicals that could support women with endometriosis. So, while we said Ritual’s multi was likely better suited for people without a specific female hormone concern, this supplement from Rainbow Light could be both for those seeking general support and for those with a specific concern — in this case, endometriosis.
Before moving on to the standout ingredients, we feel it’s important to point out that the biggest drawbacks of Rainbow Light Women’s One are the potential interactions or reactions that can arise from some of the blend’s ingredients, like ashwagandha and papaya fruit latex. It also has some high servings of vitamins and minerals, which the average adult likely doesn’t need that much of.62 The doses aren’t unsafe — as long as you don’t take other supplements with the same nutrients — but they are a bit higher than what’s necessary for most adults.
That said, let’s take a look at how certain ingredients in this supplement may support those with endometriosis.
Key ingredients
Since experts don’t yet know the exact cause(s) of endometriosis, identifying the most effective nonprescription options for symptom relief can be challenging. However, several botanicals and other ingredients have shown promise in studies over the years. Here are the notable ones that are also found in Rainbow Light Women’s One:
The Organic Rainbow Superfoods Blend contains broccoli and kale, both of which are cruciferous vegetables that contain DIM. As mentioned earlier in this guide, DIM can promote better estrogen metabolism and balance female hormones.47 And since endometriosis is “an estrogen-dependent” condition, according to researchers, it stands to reason that DIM may be able to help.28
To support this, a 2018 study investigated whether or not adding DIM to a common treatment for endometriosis, dienogest (DNG), could improve outcomes. The authors found that the DNG-DIM combination therapy reduced pelvic pain “significantly” compared to DNG alone, and bleeding patterns were also “significantly improved by addition of DIM to the DNG treatment.”13
Dubbed “the grape antioxidant” in a 2015 review,63 resveratrol may be able to suppress cell proliferation, assist in the scavenging of dysfunctional cells, reduce inflammation, lower oxidative stress, and regulate estrogen levels (depending on the dose).64 However, most studies on resveratrol for endometriosis have been in cells or animals, so more human research is needed.
In a 2012 animal study, researchers found that stress might “contribute to the development and severity of endometriosis” through “disturbances created in the immune and neuroendocrine systems.”65 This means that reducing stress could possibly help with endometriosis management. And the results of several clinical trials show that ashwagandha is a promising option for reducing feelings of anxiety and stress.66
Additionally, as mentioned in a 2021 review on female infertility and herbal medicine, ashwagandha may also be able to balance reproductive hormones.67 However, the study was on rats, so human trials investigating this are necessary before we can confirm or deny this possibility.
Two separate pieces of research (a 2014 study and a 2016 review) on oral ginger for painful menstrual periods found that it reduced pain better than a placebo and worked just as well as zinc sulfate and mefenamic acid (an NSAID).68 69 Moreover, a 2021 study gave ginger to rats with endometriosis, and the treatment appeared to reduce the overall progression of the condition, but it didn’t seem to reduce inflammation.70
Additionally, it’s important to point out that the Women’s One 50+ option does not contain grape extract, and it has a 15mg smaller Superfoods Blend (which contains the cruciferous vegetables). While the 50+ vitamin could still be a worthwhile choice, the original Women’s One Multivitamin has a bit of an edge over it for potential endometriosis relief. However, for those seeking menopause relief, the addition of black cohosh and ginkgo in the 50+ formula could be beneficial.
Pricing details
Rainbow Light is available in four different quantities, each of which you can either purchase once or subscribe to for 10% off. The costs break down like this:
| One-time | Subscription (10% off) | |
|---|---|---|
| 30-count | $14.99 | $13.49 |
| 60-count | $23.39 | $21.05 |
| 120-count | $39.99 | $35.99 |
| 150-count | $42.99 | $38.69 |
Rainbow Light offers a money-back guarantee, like all of our other picks, except it doesn’t require you to send back your product; it’s a 60-day “no return required” guarantee. However, Thorne and O Positiv do share the same 60-day guarantee length.
Thorne Meta-Balance
Best for PMS and best for menopause
Photo by Innerbody Research
Pros
- Free from common allergens
- Most ingredients have supportive research for relief of PMS and menopause symptoms
- Free ground shipping on all orders
- 60-day satisfaction guarantee
- Save 10% on subscription refills
Cons
- Subscription discount doesn’t kick in until subsequent orders
- Wild yam doesn’t have much of any supportive evidence behind it
- Highest per-serving cost of our top picks, even with subscription discount
From test kits and multivitamins to amino acids, fish oil, and more, Thorne has an impressive variety of supplements to suit almost any concern. But our focus in this guide is on its Meta-Balance product, which is intended for balancing hormones and supporting mood. It has fewer ingredients than some other similar supplements, but they still have a fair bit of positive support behind them.
Key ingredients
It may be a little surprising to see that our top pick for both menopause and PMS is the same supplement, but — despite being sold for menopause — Thorne Meta-Balance contains ingredients that actually have a fair bit of potential to help each concern.
Though it’s mainly used in menopause supplements as a way to reduce hot flashes and night sweats, black cohosh may also be able to reduce PMS and menstrual pain (more research is needed).53 Currently, most research on black cohosh is on its use for menopause symptoms. For example, results from a 2013 trial showed that black cohosh “significantly” improved all measured menopause symptoms (vasomotor, sexual, physical, and psychiatric).71
As we touched on earlier, chasteberry may be able to relieve menopause symptoms by reducing how often hot flashes and night sweats occur. This could be due to chasteberry containing phytoestrogens. Additionally, it may be beneficial for PMS mood swings and inflammation.43
In a 2011 study, perimenopausal women suffering from symptoms who took Pycnogenol for two months experienced a statistically significant reduction in hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irregular periods, reduced libido, and vaginal dryness.9 For PMS symptoms, a 2008 study found Pycnogenol significantly lowered menstrual pain in those with dysmenorrhea.72
The only ingredient in this supplement that has little to no positive data behind its use is wild yam, which experts say has “no scientific evidence” to support it being used for menopause — and there’s even less information on it for PMS.38
Pricing details
Thorne’s pricing is pretty straightforward; you can either buy a supplement once or subscribe for monthly deliveries (and save 10%). However, the subscription discount only applies to refill orders, not your initial purchase. This means that both a subscription and a single purchase of Meta-Balance will initially cost $45, but your subscription refills will be $40.50 instead.
The money-back guarantee from Thorne is also fairly standard. It’s a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, and you’ll need to request approval in the event you’re unhappy with a product. Only if you’re approved can you get your refund. Seeing as you have the chance for your refund request to be rejected, we do prefer Rainbow Light’s more flexible, customer-friendly guarantee.
Triquetra Health Plant 5-HTP
Best for PMDD
Photo by Innerbody Research
Pros
- May provide similar serotonin-boosting benefits as an SSRI antidepressant
- B6 content helps body metabolize 5-HTP
- Lion’s mane could improve mood
- HSA/FSA eligible when buying direct
- Subscribing (Amazon or direct) can save you up to 15% off recurring deliveries
Cons
- Unsafe for those taking antidepressants, sedatives, or carbidopa
- Mushroom content makes product unsuitable for those with allergies
If you’re unable to take a prescription antidepressant or would prefer an over-the-counter alternative for managing your PMDD symptoms, then Triquetra Health’s Plant 5-HTP could be an option worth considering. This plant-based supplement relies on 5-HTP, vitamin B6, and lion’s mane mushrooms to support a healthy mood and serotonin levels.
However, if you’re already on an antidepressant for treatment, then you should avoid this supplement, as it could lead to a dangerous, potentially fatal condition known as serotonin syndrome. This is because, like many antidepressants, supplementary 5-HTP raises the amount of serotonin in the brain, so the combination could result in dangerous levels of the neurotransmitter.8 39
With that being said, let’s take a look at how 5-HTP’s ability to boost serotonin could be beneficial for those dealing with PMDD.
Key ingredients
There are three key ingredients in this supplement, and they each have the potential to relieve certain PMDD symptoms or possibly make them a bit easier to manage. They include:
- 5-HTP: This chemical is the midway point between tryptophan and serotonin; in early studies, it performed as effectively as SSRI antidepressants in people with mild-to-moderate depression — and with fewer side effects, in some cases.8
- Vitamin B6: Though some research suggests vitamin B6 could help alleviate some of the emotional symptoms of PMDD,73 the small amount in this supplement is most likely added to help the body better metabolize the supplemental 5-HTP into serotonin.74
- Lion’s mane: More research is needed, but lion’s mane appears to have the potential to relieve depressive symptoms, as well as reduce inflammation.75
Pricing details
You can buy Triquetra Health Plant 5-HTP directly from the company’s website, or from its official Amazon storefront. Currently, we recommend the latter option, as the supplement tends to go on sale more frequently there. For example, at the time of this writing, you can buy a bottle for about $20, or nearly $4 off the usual $23.99 price. Both Amazon and the company website offer subscriptions with discounts, so you’ll save on a subscription either way. Triquetra’s discount is 15% off, while Amazon’s is 10-15% off (depending on how many items you typically get in a subscription delivery from Amazon).
The biggest drawback of purchasing this supplement from Amazon is that you won’t be able to get a refund. Triquetra’s 30-day money-back guarantee only applies to direct purchases. So, if you’re unsure about the product, then buying direct may be better, but if you’re confident in your purchase and would prefer to save some money up front, then Amazon could be ideal.
O Positiv FLO Cycle Support Vitamin Capsules
Best for PCOS
Photo by Innerbody Research
Pros
- Inositol is a very promising supplement for PCOS symptom management
- Folate may improve fertility, as well as reduce inflammation
- DIM appeared to regulate a patient’s menstrual cycle in a case report
- A 40:1 ratio of myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol is considered the ideal ratio for PCOS
- Bulk purchases can reduce costs
- Subscriptions take 15-18% off
Cons
- Rarely, those with a legume allergy may react to carob
- Research specifically on DIM for PCOS is lacking
- Serving is three capsules
O Positiv (sometimes stylized as “O+”) is a supplement brand dedicated to women’s health. Though it can be a little confusing, the company has multiple products with the same first part of its name. For instance, the supplement we’re detailing is called FLO Cycle Support, but there’s also FLO PMS Vitamin and FLO Endocrine Superfood. With “FLO” being the most prominent word on all of the packaging, it seems a bit too easy to get them confused with one another — thankfully, they’re at least colored different shades of pink.
Insider Tip: These supplements appear to be undergoing a gradual name change. The original name was “O Positiv FLO Ovarian Support,” not “FLO Cycle Support” (the first of which you can see on the bottle our testers received), but only the O Positiv website reflects this change; third-party sellers, like Amazon and Target, still call them “Ovarian Support.” Rest assured, the ingredients are the exact same — you just may have to search for different terms depending on where you purchase them online.
Naming confusions aside, FLO Cycle Support contains four star ingredients that hold an impressive amount of potential for relieving bothersome PCOS symptoms.
Key ingredients
Though O Positiv calls this supplement “Cycle Support Vitamin Capsules,” there’s really only one vitamin in the whole product: folate (vitamin B9). In a 2021 review, researchers noted that folate had a positive effect on glycemic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress parameters in women with PCOS.7 And a separate 2022 review explained that B vitamins, particularly B12 and folate, had a beneficial effect on conception and fertility in women with PCOS.76
Regarding inositol, a 2023 review on its use for PCOS dubbed it an “effective and safe treatment in PCOS” that performed just as effectively as the “gold standard treatment,” metformin.5 On top of that, O Positiv happens to use a 40:1 myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol ratio in its supplement, which researchers explain is “the best for PCOS therapy aimed at restoring ovulation and normalizing important parameters in these patients.”6
DIM, while promising for hormone balance in general, has only one PCOS-related piece of research available at the time of this writing. It’s a 2019 case report about a patient with PCOS who, with the use of DIM and acupuncture therapy, experienced a normalized menstrual cycle and a reduction in unwanted hair growth.77
Pricing details
Unlike our other picks, O Positiv’s pricing structure for Cycle Support is a little bit more complicated. There are a couple of different factors involved when purchasing from O Positiv, like bulk purchase discounts and varying subscription deals. The chart below covers the pricing details.
| One-time purchase | Subscription | |
|---|---|---|
| One bottle | $42.99 | $34.99 |
| Two bottles | $75.98 ($37.99 each) | $63.98 ($31.99 each) |
| Three bottles | $108.00 ($36.00 each) | $90.00 ($30.00 each) |
Second only to Rainbow Light’s policy, O Positiv offers customers a 60-day risk-free “happiness guarantee” on up to two bottles of product. However, depending on customer service's instructions, you may or may not have to return the products.
Alternatives to female hormone balance supplements
Female hormone balance supplements may not be for everyone — you may even feel that they aren’t quite right for you. If that’s the case, there are other options out there that could be better suited to your needs.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Though it may be considered a more “intensive” route than a supplement, hormone replacement therapy, or “HRT,” is a relatively safe and effective option for those dealing with certain hormone-related concerns (typically menopause, when discussing HRT for female hormones). Research has shown that HRT can relieve symptoms like vaginal dryness, hot flashes, night sweats, and low libido.78 79
It’s worth noting that HRT is quite a bit more expensive than a female hormone balance supplement, with one of our favorite services, Winona, charging the following:
- Estrogen body cream: $89 per month
- Estrogen and progesterone body cream: $89 per month
- Estrogen patch: $149 per month
- Estrogen tablet: $54 per month
- Progesterone body cream: $89 per month
- Progesterone capsule: $39 per month
- Vaginal estrogen cream: $89 per month
If you want to learn more about Winona, and HRT in general, you can check out our full review.
Eating well and exercising
We’ve all heard this recommendation before — but research shows that diets higher in unsaturated fats, whole grains, vegetables, and fish lead to improved fertility outcomes in both men and women. On the other hand, diets high in saturated fats and sugar are associated with poorer fertility.80 As summed up by researchers in a 2024 paper on nutrition and hormonal health in adolescent girls, “A balanced diet rich in essential nutrients plays a pivotal role in maintaining hormonal equilibrium, preventing reproductive disorders, and safeguarding fertility.”81
As for exercise, physical activity appears to reduce the levels of circulating sex hormones, independent of menopausal status.82 This could indicate that regular exercise may lower the risk of breast cancer in high-risk individuals.83 Even if you aren’t looking to reduce your risk of breast cancer, staying active can lower your body’s stress hormones and boost your mood.84
Speaking with your doctor
While this can be considered an “alternative” to taking female hormone balance supplements, it should also be a prerequisite before starting one. Since some hormone concerns can be caused by things a supplement can’t fix — like tumors or autoimmune conditions — it’s important to speak with your doctor first to get those ruled out and make sure a supplement would be safe for you.40
After discussing your symptoms and concerns, your doctor will likely want to run some tests to check various biomarkers and see if anything is out of the ideal range. These tests could just be for hormone levels, but may also include things such as a complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), and others to make sure your symptoms aren’t caused by something else.
At-home testing
If you’d rather not wait for testing, can’t afford traditional testing due to a lack of insurance, or would like to come prepared with lab results before an appointment with your doctor, then at-home test kits could be an option. Three of our favorite at-home testing companies — Everlywell, LetsGetChecked, and myLAB Box — all offer kits that measure various aspects of AFAB women’s health, including a wide range of female hormones. However, these tests do have certain limitations and won’t always cover everything a medical provider would like to check (your doctor may want you to have a pelvic exam or ultrasound, for example), but they can still be a good starting point or a way to begin a dialogue during your appointment.85
FAQ about female hormone balance supplements
Sources
Innerbody 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.
Office on Women’s Health. (n.d.). Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). OASH.
Johns Hopkins. (n.d.). Introduction to menopause. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). FDA 101: Dietary supplements. FDA.
National Library of Medicine. (2023). Vitamins. MedlinePlus.
Greff, D., Juhász, A. E., Váncsa, S., Váradi, A., Sipos, Z., Szinte, J., Park, S., Hegyi, P., Nyirády, P., Ács, N., Várbíró, S., & Horváth, E. M. (2023). Inositol is an effective and safe treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology: RB&E, 21, 10.
Nordio, M., Basciani, S., & Camajani, E. (2019). The 40:1 myo-inositol/D-chiro-inositol plasma ratio is able to restore ovulation in PCOS patients: comparison with other ratios. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 23(12), 5512-5521.
Alesi, S., Ee, C., Moran, L. J., Rao, V., & Mousa, A. (2021). Nutritional supplements and complementary therapies in polycystic ovary syndrome. Advances in Nutrition, 13(4), 1243-1266.
Mount Sinai. (n.d.). 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Errichi, S., Bottari, A., Belcaro, G., Cesarone, M. R., Hosoi, M., Cornelli, U., Dugall, M., Ledda, A., & Feragalli, B. (2011). Supplementation with Pycnogenol improves signs and symptoms of menopausal transition. Panminerva medica, 53(3 Suppl 1), 65-70.
Chu, C., Tsuprykov, O., Chen, X., Elitok, S., Krämer, B. K., & Hocher, B. (2021). Relationship between vitamin D and hormones important for human fertility in reproductive-aged women. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 12, 666687.
Md Amin, N. A., Hamimah, S., Arshad, A. H., Abdul Aziz, N., Abdul Nasir, N. A., & Ab Latip, N. (2022). Are vitamin E supplementation beneficial for female gynaecology health and diseases? Molecules, 27(6), 1896.
Agbalalah, T., Robert, F. O., & Amabebe, E. (2023). Impact of vitamin B12 on the reproductive health of women with sickle cell disease: A narrative review. Reproduction & Fertility, 4(3), e230015.
Morales-Prieto, D. M., Herrmann, J., Osterwald, H., Kochhar, P. S., Schleussner, E., Markert, U. R., & Oettel, M. (2018). Comparison of dienogest effects upon 3,3′–diindolylmethane supplementation in models of endometriosis and clinical cases. Reproductive Biology, 18(3), 252-258.
Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Hormones. Cleveland Clinic.
Lauretta, R., Sansone, M., Sansone, A., Romanelli, F., & Appetecchia, M. (2018). Gender in endocrine diseases: Role of sex gonadal hormones. International Journal of Endocrinology, 2018, 4847376.
Hantsoo, L., & Payne, J. L. (2023). Towards understanding the biology of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: From genes to GABA. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 149, 105168.
Harvard Medical School. (2017). Premenstrual dysphoria disorder: It's biology, not a behavior choice. Harvard Health Publishing.
National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Premenstrual Syndrome. MedlinePlus.
Burnett, T. (2024). What's the difference between premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual syndrome (PMS)? How is PMDD treated? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER).
Johns Hopkins. (n.d.). Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). (2016). DSM-IV to DSM-5 premenstrual dysphoric disorder comparison. Mental Illness.
Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Cleveland Clinic.
Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Cleveland Clinic.
Louie, M. (2023). Can you have polycystic ovarian syndrome — without ovarian cysts? Mayo Clinic Press.
Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Amenorrhea. Cleveland Clinic.
Vellanki, K. & Kramer, H. (2019). Amenorrhea and estrogen disorders in women with kidney disease. Endocrine Disorders in Kidney Disease, 127-138.
National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.). Herbal supplements and kidney disease. National Kidney Foundation.
Chantalat, E., Valera, C., Vaysse, C., Noirrit, E., Rusidze, M., Weyl, A., Vergriete, K., Buscail, E., Lluel, P., Fontaine, C., Arnal, F., & Lenfant, F. (2020). Estrogen receptors and endometriosis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(8), 2815.
Macmillan, C. (2023). Endometriosis is more than just ‘painful periods’. Yale Medicine.
Mayo Clinic. (2024). Endometriosis. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER).
Endometriosis Foundation of America. (2018). Endometriosis symptoms: Abnormal periods. Endometriosis Foundation of America.
Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Menopause. Cleveland Clinic.
National Library of Medicine. (2024). Boron. MedlinePlus.
National Library of Medicine. (2024). Ashwagandha. MedlinePlus.
Zabłocka-Słowińska, K., Jawna, K., Grajeta, H., & Biernat, J. (2014). Interactions between preparations containing female sex hormones and dietary supplements. Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine: Official Organ Wroclaw Medical University, 23(4), 657-663.
Bernstein, N., Akram, M., Yaniv-Bachrach, Z., & Daniyal, M. (2021). Is it safe to consume traditional medicinal plants during pregnancy? Phytotherapy Research, 35(4), 1908-1924.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. (2022). Black cohosh. MSKCC.
Mount Sinai. (n.d.). Wild yam. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Spadaro, A., Scott, K. R., Koyfman, A., & Long, B. (2022). High risk and low prevalence diseases: Serotonin syndrome. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 61, 90-97.
Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Hormonal imbalance. Cleveland Clinic.
Feduniw, S., Korczyńska, L., Górski, K., Zgliczyńska, M., Bączkowska, M., Byrczak, M., Kociuba, J., Ali, M., & Ciebiera, M. (2022). The effect of vitamin e supplementation in postmenopausal women — a systematic review. Nutrients, 15(1), 160.
University of California, Los Angeles. (2023). 3 ways to increase estrogen naturally. UCLA Health.
Cleveland Clinic. (2022). What Is chasteberry, and what can it do? Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials.
Arentz, S., Abbott, J. A., Smith, C. A., & Bensoussan, A. (2014). Herbal medicine for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and associated oligo/amenorrhoea and hyperandrogenism; a review of the laboratory evidence for effects with corroborative clinical findings. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14, 511.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. (2023). Diindolylmethane. MSKCC.
Fan, S., Meng, Q., Xu, J., Jiao, Y., Zhao, L., Zhang, X., Sarkar, F. H., Brown, M. L., Dritschilo, A., & Rosen, E. M. (2013). DIM (3,3′-diindolylmethane) confers protection against ionizing radiation by a unique mechanism. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(46), 18650-18655.
Thomson, C. A., Chow, H. H. S., Wertheim, B. C., Roe, D. J., Stopeck, A., Maskarinec, G., Altbach, M., Chalasani, P., & Thompson, P. A. (2017). Effect of diindolylmethane on estrogen-related hormones, metabolites and tamoxifen metabolism: Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, 26(3), 435.
Deecher, D. C., & Dorries, K. (2007). Understanding the pathophysiology of vasomotor symptoms (Hot flushes and night sweats) that occur in perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause life stages. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 10(6), 247-257.
Godínez-Martínez, E., Santillán, R., Sámano, R., Chico-Barba, G., Tolentino, M. C., & Hernández-Pineda, J. (2023). Effectiveness of 3,3'-diindolylmethane supplements on favoring the benign estrogen metabolism pathway and decreasing body fat in premenopausal women. Nutrition and Cancer, 75(2), 510-519.
Johnson, T. L., & Fahey, J. W. (2012). Black cohosh: Coming full circle? Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 141(3), 775-779.
Wuttke, W., Jarry, H., Haunschild, J., Stecher, G., Schuh, M., & Seidlova-Wuttke, D. (2014). The non-estrogenic alternative for the treatment of climacteric complaints: Black cohosh (Cimicifuga or Actaea racemosa). The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 139, 302-310.
Mehrpooya, M., Rabiee, S., Larki-Harchegani, A., Fallahian, M., Moradi, A., Ataei, S., & Javad, M. T. (2018). A comparative study on the effect of “black cohosh” and “evening primrose oil” on menopausal hot flashes. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 7, 36.
Mount Sinai. (n.d.). Black cohosh. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Unfer, V., Facchinetti, F., Orrù, B., Giordani, B., & Nestler, J. (2017). Myo-inositol effects in women with PCOS: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Endocrine Connections, 6(8), 647-658.
Lerchbaum, E. (2012). Mechanisms in endocrinology: Vitamin D and fertility: A systematic review. European Journal of Endocrinology, 166(5), 765-778.
Gaskins, A. J., Mumford, S. L., Chavarro, J. E., Zhang, C., Pollack, A. Z., Wactawski-Wende, J., Perkins, N. J., & Schisterman, E. F. (2012). The impact of dietary folate intake on reproductive function in premenopausal women: A prospective cohort study. PLoS ONE, 7(9), e46276.
Fathizadeh, N., Ebrahimi, E., Valiani, M., Tavakoli, N., & Yar, M. H. (2010). Evaluating the effect of magnesium and magnesium plus vitamin B6 supplement on the severity of premenstrual syndrome. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 15(Suppl 1), 401-405.
Saldeen, P., & Saldeen, T. (2004). Women and omega-3 Fatty acids. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, 59(10), 722-746.
Pizzorno, L. (2015). Nothing boring about boron. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal, 14(4), 35-48.
Otsuka, M., Kato, N., Ichimura, T., Abe, S., Tanaka, Y., Taniguchi, H., Hoshida, Y., Moriyama, M., Wang, Y., Shao, R., Narayan, D., Muroyama, R., Kanai, F., Kawabe, T., Isobe, T., & Omata, M. (2005). Vitamin K2 binds 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 4 and modulates estrogen metabolism. Life Sciences, 76(21), 2473-2482.
National Institutes of Health. (2022). Boron — fact sheet for health professionals. NIH.
National Institutes of Health. (2022). The scoop: Winter 2022 — multivitamins — do you need one? And which one should you choose? NIH.
Singh, C. K., Liu, X., & Ahmad, N. (2015). Resveratrol, in its natural combination in whole grape, for health promotion and disease management. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1348(1), 150-160.
Jiang, T., Chen, Y., Gu, X., Miao, M., Hu, D., Zhou, H., Chen, J., Teichmann, A. T., & Yang, Y. (2023). Review of the potential therapeutic effects and molecular mechanisms of resveratrol on endometriosis. International Journal of Women's Health, 15, 741-763.
Cuevas, M., Flores, I., Thompson, K. J., Ramos-Ortolaza, D. L., Torres-Reveron, A., & Appleyard, C. B. (2012). Stress exacerbates endometriosis manifestations and inflammatory parameters in an animal model. Reproductive Sciences, 19(8), 851-862.
National Institutes of Health. (2024). Ashwagandha: Is it helpful for stress, anxiety, or sleep? NIH.
Akbaribazm, M., Goodarzi, N., & Rahimi, M. (2021). Female infertility and herbal medicine: An overview of the new findings. Food Science & Nutrition, 9(10), 5869-5882.
Kashefi, F., Khajehei, M., Tabatabaeichehr, M., Alavinia, M., & Asili, J. (2014). Comparison of the effect of ginger and zinc sulfate on primary dysmenorrhea: a placebo-controlled randomized trial. Pain Management Nursing: Official Journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses, 15(4), 826-833.
Chen, C. X., Barrett, B., & Kwekkeboom, K. L. (2016). Efficacy of oral ginger (Zingiber officinale) for dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM, 2016, 6295737.
Filho, J. M. M., Neto, J. N., Gomes, L. M. R. S., Ramos, I. S. F., Oliveira, S. S. R., Melo, G. C. F., Silva, L. A., Moura, E. C. R., & Leal, P. D. C. (2021). Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Ginger) as a complementary option for clinical treatment of endometriosis: An experimental study in rats. Journal of Medicinal Food, 24(4), 342-347.
Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi, S., Shahnazi, M., Nahaee, J., & Bayatipayan, S. (2013). Efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa L.) in treating early symptoms of menopause: A randomized clinical trial. Chinese Medicine, 8, 20.
Suzuki, N., Uebaba, K., Kohama, T., Moniwa, N., Kanayama, N., & Koike, K. (2008). French maritime pine bark extract significantly lowers the requirement for analgesic medication in dysmenorrhea: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 53(5), 338-346.
Maroufi, M. & Marofi, M. (2006). The efficacy of vitamin B6 for treatment of premenstrual dysphoric. Annals of General Psychiatry, 5, S306.
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2025). PubChem compound summary for CID 144, 5-hydroxytryptophan. National Library of Medicine.
Chong, P. S., Fung, L., Wong, K. H., & Lim, L. W. (2019). Therapeutic potential of Hericium erinaceus for depressive disorder. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(1), 163.
Thornburgh, S., & Gaskins, A. J. (2022). B vitamins, polycystic ovary syndrome, and fertility. Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Obesity, 29(6), 554-559.
Alois, M., & Estores, I. M. (2019). Hormonal regulation in pcos using acupuncture and herbal supplements: A case report and review of the literature. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal, 18(5), 36-39.
Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Hormone therapy for menopause symptoms. Cleveland Clinic.
Harvard Medical School. (2021). Yes, you can have better sex in midlife and in the years beyond. Harvard Health Publishing.
Panth, N., Gavarkovs, A., Tamez, M., & Mattei, J. (2018). The influence of diet on fertility and the implications for public health nutrition in the United States. Frontiers in Public Health, 6, 211.
Calcaterra, V., Verduci, E., Stagi, S., & Zuccotti, G. (2024). How the intricate relationship between nutrition and hormonal equilibrium significantly influences endocrine and reproductive health in adolescent girls. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1337328.
Ennour-Idrissi, K., Maunsell, E., & Diorio, C. (2015). Effect of physical activity on sex hormones in women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Breast Cancer Research: BCR, 17(1), 139.
Kossman, D. A., Williams, N. I., Domchek, S. M., Kurzer, M. S., Stopfer, J. E., & Schmitz, K. H. (2011). Exercise lowers estrogen and progesterone levels in premenopausal women at high risk of breast cancer. Journal of Applied Physiology, 111(6), 1687-1693.
Harvard Medical School. (2020). How does exercise reduce stress? Surprising answers to this question and more. Harvard Health Publishing.
University of California, Los Angeles. (2024). 7 signs of a hormonal imbalance — and what to do about it. UCLA Health.
Copyright © Innerbody Research 1997 - 2025. All Rights Reserved.
