For something that affects every woman, menopause is surprisingly poorly understood – including what it actually is. Technically, menopause is a single moment: twelve months after your last period. But the transition that surrounds it, and the symptoms that come with it, can span years on either side of that point.
Understanding what’s actually happening – and what’s available to support you through it – is your starting point. Because the women who navigate this transition best are usually the ones who walk into it knowing what to expect.
What the Menopause Transition Actually Involves
The menopause transition is driven by a gradual decline in oestrogen and progesterone production as the ovaries wind down their reproductive function [1]. This process typically unfolds across three phases:
- Perimenopause – the years leading up to the final period, often beginning in the mid-to-late 40s, during which hormone levels fluctuate irregularly. This is usually when symptoms first appear [6].
- Menopause – the end of your menstrual cycle, or when 12 consecutive months have passed without a period. The average age in South Africa is around 51 [6].
- Post-menopause – the years that follow, during which hormone levels stabilise at a lower baseline. Some symptoms persist into this phase; others ease [6].
The hormonal fluctuation of perimenopause is what makes it particularly difficult to navigate – symptoms can come and go, intensify and subside, in ways that feel unpredictable. Understanding that this is a biological process with a recognisable pattern, not a series of unrelated complaints, is often the first thing that brings a sense of control back [1].
Read more about perimenopause and navigating the midlife transition in our Her Health™ episode with Dr Fumane Kokoali.
The Symptoms Most Women Experience
Hot flushes are the most commonly reported symptom of the menopause transition, affecting a significant proportion of women at some point across the perimenopause and post-menopause years [2]. They are caused by changes in the hypothalamus – the brain region that governs temperature regulation – which becomes more sensitive to small shifts in core body temperature when oestrogen levels fluctuate [1].
But the symptom picture is rarely just one thing. Alongside hot flushes and night sweats, many women navigate poor sleep, fatigue, joint discomfort, mood changes, and vaginal dryness – often simultaneously, and often without a clear explanation that connects them [6].
These symptoms are not separate problems. They are different expressions of the same underlying hormonal shift. That context matters – because it means addressing the root of the disruption, rather than each symptom in isolation, is a more coherent approach.
The Case for a Non-Hormonal Option
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) remains an effective and evidence-based option for many women navigating the menopause transition. But it may not be the right choice for everyone – and it is not the only option available.
For women who prefer a non-hormonal approach – or for whom hormonal therapy is not appropriate – the supplement category has historically been difficult to navigate. Many products are built around single herbs at doses that don’t reflect the amounts used in clinical research, or around phytoestrogens such as soy isoflavones and red clover, which work through oestrogenic activity and may not be suitable for women with hormone-sensitive conditions.
What distinguishes a non-hormonal mechanism of action is that it works on the neurological drivers of menopausal symptoms – the brain’s temperature-regulation and mood-signalling pathways – rather than through direct action on oestrogen receptors. Women with hormone-sensitive conditions, or those currently managing other health considerations, should always speak to their healthcare provider before beginning any new supplement.
Three Roots. One Studied Blend.
Phytofemme™ MenoBalance™ is built around EstroG-100® – a patented, standardised blend of three East Asian root extracts that has been evaluated in multiple randomised, placebo-controlled human trials. Importantly, it is the combination that has been studied – not a single isolated compound – which is unusual in a category where many products dose one herb and extrapolate.
The three roots, and what each contributes to the blend:
Cynanchum wilfordii – modulates serotonergic and dopaminergic activity in the hypothalamus, the brain region that governs thermoregulation, mood, and sleep. It also appears to support healthy HPA axis function, which may help address the cortisol dysregulation that can amplify hot flushes, sleep disruption, and mood instability during the transition.
Phlomis umbrosa – traditionally associated with circulatory support and an adaptogenic profile, it contributes to the blend’s anti-inflammatory and balancing action.
Angelica gigas – provides constituents including decursin and decursinol angelate, which support collagen synthesis and mucosal tissue integrity through pathways independent of oestrogen signalling. This is the mechanism that underpins the observed improvements in vaginal dryness and skin health across the clinical research.
Together, these three roots work across multiple pathways simultaneously – which is why the research on the combination produces multi-symptom results, rather than relief in one isolated area.
What the Research Found
The clinical evidence behind EstroG-100® spans multiple randomised, placebo-controlled human trials, across women at different stages of the menopause transition.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in postmenopausal women, hot flush frequency was significantly lower in the EstroG-100® group than in the placebo group from week six onward – across mild, moderate, and severe hot flushes [3].
In a 12-week placebo-controlled trial across 64 women at different points in the menopause transition – from perimenopause through to post-menopause – those receiving EstroG-100® saw their total Kupperman Menopausal Index score fall from 29.5 to 11.3, compared to a much smaller reduction in the placebo group (29.2 to 23.7). Improvements were statistically significant across every symptom domain measured: hot flushes, sleep, mood, fatigue, joint discomfort, and vaginal dryness – without changes in weight or serious side effects [5].
A supporting study in 60 women with moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms found significant improvement in physical, urogenital, and psychological symptom domains from six weeks, with highly significant improvement by 12 weeks. Of the 60 participants, 96.5% reported satisfaction with their treatment outcomes [4].
In the largest placebo-controlled trial of EstroG-100® to date, 96 women aged 40–70 with menopausal symptoms were randomised to 514 mg EstroG-100® or placebo for 12 weeks across multiple centres. Total Kupperman Menopausal Index score improved significantly in the EstroG-100® group versus placebo, with meaningful reductions across a broad symptom range including mood, fatigue, joint and muscle discomfort, and sensory symptoms [7].
Across the research, oestrogen-sensitive markers remained unchanged, and adverse effects were mild and comparable to placebo – consistent with the non-hormonal mechanism.
Phytofemme™ MenoBalance™
Phytofemme™ MenoBalance™ delivers EstroG-100® at 514 mg per capsule – the same daily amount used across the published clinical research.
Each capsule supports [3,4,5,7]:
- Hot flushes and night sweats – the most prevalent vasomotor symptoms of the transition
- Sleep – reduced night-time disruption
- Fatigue – daily energy and stamina support
- Joint comfort – addressing one of the less-discussed but commonly reported symptoms
- Mood balance – through the blend’s hypothalamic neurotransmitter activity
- Vaginal comfort – via Angelica gigas’s mucosal tissue support pathway
Building Your Stack – Optional Depth
MenoBalance™ is designed to stand alone as meaningful support. The stack below is optional depth – for women who want to address the broader physiological changes that accompany the menopause transition. None of it is required; MenoBalance™ remains the foundation.
- Phytopure® Magnesium Complex – supports sleep quality, muscle recovery, and cardiovascular health, all of which are relevant during the transition
- Phytomist® D3+K2 – bone density support, particularly important as oestrogen decline accelerates bone turnover in the post-menopause years
- Biomax® Purest Omega 3 – omega-3 fatty acids for anti-inflammatory support and cardiovascular health
- Phytofemme™ Hair, Skin and Nails – for women experiencing hair and skin changes alongside other transition symptoms
The principle here is: build, don’t replace. Each addition to the stack addresses a specific aspect of the transition – but none of them alone does what MenoBalance™ does. Start there, and add from a place of informed choice.
🎧 Hear It from the Experts
Her Health™ has covered the menopause transition in depth with leading specialists. Listen to Episode 17 – Perimenopause and the Midlife Reset here or Episode 4 – Unlocking Hormonal Health here for conversations that go deeper on what’s happening in the body – and what supports it.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking prescription or chronic medication.
