How PeriMenoFriend^® works

Perimenopause isn't a steady decline in oestrogen. It's a fluctuation - levels swing high and low, often within the same week, and it's the swings rather than the decline itself that drive the symptoms.

PeriMenoFriend® provides phytoestrogens from six botanicals, led by red clover. These are plant compounds shaped closely enough to oestrogen to interact with the same receptors in your body, though far more gently. They bind to one of the two oestrogen receptor types, which is why their effect is subtle rather than systemic.

Pooled results from twelve clinical trials found women taking red clover isoflavones had fewer hot flushes. Sage has been used for centuries specifically for sweating, and in one clinical study, hot flushes became steadily less frequent across eight weeks. Hormone balance was the most improved area reported by women in our own study.

The mood changes of perimenopause are not imagined. Oestrogen influences serotonin and GABA - two of the systems that regulate emotional balance - so when oestrogen fluctuates, your mood fluctuates.

Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that helps modulate the body's stress response rather than sedating it. In one study of 100 perimenopausal women, eight weeks of taking ashwagandha reduced menopause symptom scores against placebo. Shatavari works in a similar way and has been used in Ayurvedic practice for women's health for centuries.

Magnesium supports your nervous system and psychological function, and magnesium levels fall when you're under sustained stress, so it's important to support through perimenopause. For additional magnesium support, we recommend our Magnesium Glycinate, 300mg.

Brain fog is the single most common perimenopause symptom. In our survey, more women reported brain fog than reported hot flushes, and when asked which symptoms were hardest to live with, brain fog ranked above hot flushes and night sweats.

There are oestrogen receptors throughout the brain, particularly in the hippocampus, which handles memory and word-finding. Phytoestrogens in PeriMenoFriend® provide support for oestrogen as it fluctuates, which in turn helps address brain fog and memory coming and going.

Vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 provide daily support for your psychological function and are involved in making the neurotransmitters your brain uses to think clearly. Vitamin B5 addresses mental performance specifically.

Broken sleep in perimenopause can come from being woken up with night sweats, and the drop in progesterone which has a naturally calming effect, makes it harder to fall back asleep.

Lemon balm has a long history of use for sleep. In a placebo-controlled study, 87% of people taking it reported their sleep improved, against 30% on placebo. Hops have been used for restless nights for generations, and are a source of the most oestrogen-like plant compound yet identified in the botanical world.

Magnesium helps your muscles and nervous system relax, which is why it is commonly taken in the evening. If sleep is your main concern, take both capsules in the evening.

Fatigue in perimenopause can be caused by multiple factors - disrupted sleep, fluctuating hormones, stress, and the extra cognitive load leading to feelings of exhaustion.

Vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and magnesium all fuel your energy. B vitamins are water-soluble, and your body can't store a surplus so they need replacing daily, which is part of why consistency matters more than dose.

Thyroid problems become more common in midlife and can contribute to several symptoms with perimenopause, including fatigue, weight changes, and low mood. Selenium and the iodine in sea moss both support a healthy thyroid function.

Oestrogen protects your bones and as it declines through menopause, bone is broken down faster than it's rebuilt, and the sharpest loss in bone density happen in the years around your last period, which makes perimenopause the most important window for investing in your bones.

Vitamin D3 is essential for your body to absorb calcium, and Vitamin K2 then activates the proteins that bind that calcium into bone. The two work together and if you need extra support for bones, we recommend our Vitamin D3 & K2.

Joint aches are a common perimenopausal symptom due to declining oestrogen which has an anti-inflammatory effect and helps maintain the cartilage and connective tissue in your joints. As oestrogen declines, joints can feel stiff. For comprehensive musculoskeletal support we recommend OsteoFriend.

Collagen production falls with oestrogen and around 30% of skin collagen is lost in the first five years after your final period. Thinning hair, brittle nails, and duller skin are common signs of the oestrogen decline through perimenopause.

Vitamin C is vital for your body to build collagen, while Zinc supports the constant cell renewal that skin and nails depend on, and selenium adds additional support for hair and nails.

Dryness isn't only about your face. The same thinning affects the vaginal and urinary tissues, and sea buckthorn is included for that reason. In a study of 116 postmenopausal women, three months of sea buckthorn improved the health of vaginal tissue.

Two thirds of women in our research reported their gut health noticeably changed once perimenopause symptoms began, most often bloating, wind and constipation. For most of those women, it was daily or near-daily.

Your gut bacteria include a group of organisms that help regulate how oestrogen is recirculated rather than excreted. As oestrogen fluctuates, that relationship shifts - hormones alter the gut, and the gut alters hormone levels.

Dandelion root supports digestion and the flow of bile, and has been used in European herbal practice for centuries. If digestive symptoms are prominent for you, we recommend Gut Works® alongside PeriMenoFriend®.