Profemin is a supplement created from a proprietary blend of botanicals. The manufacturer claims that this natural product can help to reduce or relieve the symptoms of menopause effectively without the use of hormones. Women dealing with perimenopause may also experience relief with this product.
If you take one capsule in the morning and another at night, then you can receive relief from acute or chronic pain, anti-inflammatory action in the body, and improved gynecological health. Some women may even experience improvements to their circulatory function.
Profemin claims on their website that a double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that their supplement could provide significant improvements to the major symptoms of menopause and perimenopause for over 96% of those who received it.
If you’re wondering if Profemin could help you with your health needs, then here are the pros and cons that you’ll want to consider.
List of the Pros of Profemin
1. The ingredients of Profemin are registered as being likely safe when taken by mouth.
There are three primary ingredients of Profemin: angelica gigas nakai, cynanchum wilfordii, and phlomis umbrosa. These products are found in other supplements around the world, and are generally approved for use. That means you can rest assured that when you take Profemin that you’re receiving something that was made to be helpful instead of harmful.
2. It can alleviate many of the symptoms of menopause.
Profemin receives accolades for its ability to alleviate several menopause symptoms by taking the supplement twice per day. Women report that they experience fewer issues with insomnia, tiredness, nervousness, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness after taking this product for several days. It may have an analgesic effect for some women where it can provide help with general moodiness and depression, aches, and even chronic pain. It even helps with the cold sweats at night.
3. Profemin is a supplement which acts very quickly.
Most women see the results of this product in 4-6 weeks, which means you may need to purchase two standard-sized bottles before you will experience improvements. Many people report that they began to see changes in as little as 7 days. Since each lot of Profemin goes through an independent laboratory for testing to ensure its purity and quality, you have a safe and hormone-free way to reduce symptoms and general moodiness for a price that is less than what you’d pay for a prescription and a visit to the doctor.
4. It helps you to start feeling like yourself again.
Menopause can cause hormonal imbalances that can become severe in some situations. Some women find it to be nearly impossible to continue following their usual lifestyle because of the changes happening to their body. Profemin provides assistance on multiple levels, offering natural support for your emotional and physical well being. Even if the only benefit is psychological confidence, then you can have the power to reclaim your life without experience severe swings in how you feel.
5. Profemin can help in other situations too.
Women who experience certain forms of breast cancer may experience hormonal swings that are similar to the symptoms of menopause. In this specific situation, Profemin may be helpful in the reduction of the bothersome hot flashes and vaginal symptoms that appear. You will need to discuss the option for a natural supplement as part of your treatment plan with your doctor, but it could be a way to start feeling better without the need to stack several prescription medications together to achieve a similar result.
6. It may help to get you off of low-dose antidepressants.
One of the treatment options that doctors have available to them with menopause is the use of a low-dose antidepressant. These medications work to stop the bothersome hot flashes that many women experience during this time in their life, and are useful for those who may be unable to use hormone therapies because of the current status of their health. Although this prescription can help to treat mood disorders at the same time, some women find that a natural treatment method works better for them. In that situation, Profemin might be an excellent choice to consider.
List of the Cons of Profemin
1. It can make the symptoms of menopause worse instead of better.
Although there are plenty of reviews which show women enjoying Profemin because of its ability to provide relief for their menopause symptoms, there are also some reviews that indicate it does not work. Some people report that it makes their hot flashes worse, both in occurrence and intensity, and that it can be challenging to sleep more than usual. Even if there is not an increase in the number of symptoms, it is not unusual for women to report that they don’t receive any benefits after taking it for up to six weeks.
2. Some women gain weight while taking Profemin.
Profemin might be effective for some women when battling the symptoms of menopause or perimenopause, but it can come with a few side effects as well. Some people report that they started to gain weight when taking this product without making changes to their lifestyle. During the first two months of using the supplement, reports vary from a total of five pounds up to 15 pounds of additional weight. You can limit this issue somewhat with diet and exercise adjustments, but it is something that must be taken under consideration.
3. The cost of Profemin is quite high.
If you purchase Profemin directly, then you’ll receive a 1-month supply (60 capsules) for about $60. You can save a little if you purchase in bulk, but the price is an extensive investment for some families, especially since there is no guarantee that it will work. Considering that there are other supplement blends that use the same ingredients without the high cost, some women might find an alternative product to be a solution if they’re not concerned about taking Profemin’s proprietary blend.
4. There are some side effects that you will need to consider.
WebMD offers this warning when taking angelica gigas nakai: “If you take angelica, wear sunblock outside, especially if you are light-skinned. It might make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.”
There are also some hematological and liver effects to consider when taking this product. A similar supplement called EstroG-100™ or Estromon®, had women using the supplement for 90 days under two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Although the European Food Safety Authority said that the studies did not raise safety concerns with the limited chemical parameters investigated in relation to the products, the toxicological effects which appeared in the 90-day repeated dose study did not receive further investigation.
EstroG-100 is a mixture of 35% angelica gigas nakai, 32.5% phlomis umbrosa, and 32.5% cynanchum wilfordii – the same ingredient combination.
5. Scientific evidence is limited for supplements helping menopause symptoms.
Although products like Profemin must bring case studies as evidence to show that their product works, the purpose of the work is somewhat biased. If the manufacturer is paying to see a specific result, then the data can shift toward that outcome. Independent research is still ongoing, and to date, no supplement has shown that it can consistently work better than a placebo product in symptom management. Since the ingredients may cause other side effects or interact negatively with your current medication, it could be unsafe in some situations to take this product.
6. It may contain methoxsalen.
Angelica and the family of plants from which it comes can include methoxsalen as part of the ingredient profile. When it is given as a drug, then it can induce phototoxic effects in some people. Doctors prescribe it as a way to treat vitiligo, eczema, and psoriasis because it modifies the way that skin cells receive UVA radiation. That change helps to clear up the disease, which then offers clearer skin.
If women receive too much methoxsalen, then someone with a history of liver problems or high blood pressure are at a higher risk for inflammation. It may also cause irreparable damage to the skin and liver. You should also cover your eyes with UVA protection items to reduce the possible risk of injury. Dizziness, headaches, and nausea may also occur.
It should be noted that methoxsalen is classified as an IARC Group 1 carcinogen, but it is only cancerous when combined with UVA radiation.
Conclusion of the Profemin Pros and Cons
Profemin may provide relief for some of the symptoms of menopause or perimenopause. Although there are manufacturer-provided research studies which suggest that the supplement can work, there is no evidence from randomized control trials currently available. The current summary of evidence as provided by the Susan G. Komen Foundation even suggests that the ingredients have no benefit over placebo for hot flashes, but could cause breast tenderness, stomachaches, and diarrhea.
Because of the cost of this supplement, you may wish to follow these options to help find relief from the hot flashes you experience.
- Avoid foods that are hot or spicy.
- Stop smoking and quite drinking caffeinated products.
- Limit your alcohol intake whenever possible.
- Keep an ice pack under your pillow.
- Adjust the temperature of your home to work with how you feel.
The pros and cons of Profemin are challenging to judge because product reviews serve as the primary foundation of evidence as to whether it works or not. Before making any changes to your treatment plan for menopause, make sure to speak with your doctor about whether this supplement could be useful for your needs.