Estroven is an over-the-counter dietary supplement targeted at menopausal women, according to Drugs.com. The supplement uses a blend of proprietary herbal formulations and naturally occurring ingredients to address symptoms of menopause at all stages. Estroven.com notes that the supplement blend includes soy isoflavones, black cohosh, calcium, boron, Vitamins E, B-6, and B-12, folic acid, and two specialized herbal blends. Though naturally occurring, these ingredients may pose health risks to users.
Stomach Problems
According to Drugs.com, Estroven has the potential to cause stomach problems. This is especially true if the supplement is taken on an empty stomach, as the black cohosh in Estroven has been linked to stomach and gastric complaints by the Office of Dietary Supplements.
Shifts in Hormonal Levels
Menopause marks a period where there is a natural decrease in hormone levels, especially estrogen and other reproductive levels. Estroven may counteract the natural decline of estrogen and throw off the body's hormonal levels. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, this may be caused by the black cohosh in the formulation. Black cohosh has estrogenlike effects, but studies of its effects on hormonal levels have yielded mixed results, pointing to a health risk for estroven users. The same is true for soy isoflavones, another key ingredient that mimics estrogen, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Liver Damage
The Office of Dietary Supplements notes that the black cohosh in Estroven can cause liver damage. The most extreme case reported involved a woman who experienced complete liver failure, but this is considered a rare outlier. In most cases, jaundice, discolored urine and abdominal pain mandate immediately stopping Estroven use, preventing ongoing liver damage.
Invasive Breast Cancer
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements and the Linus Pauling Institute, long-term use of products like Estroven that include black cohosh, soy isoflavones, and other estrogen-mimicking agents has been linked to increased risk of invasive breast cancer. The Office of Dietary Supplements notes that most claims of safety for these ingredients are based on short-term studies that don't accurately reflect Estroven's true health risks for women, and the Linus Pauling Institute notes that research specifically targeting breast cancer and soy has yielded conflicting results.
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