Advancements in the Menopause Market

Today's women entering menopause are still dealing with the same dreaded hot flashes and mood swings, though an expanding base of remedies and treatments for symptoms is helping to make their transition through menopause go a lot smoother. Not only are more women seeking help from various natural hormonal supplements and ingredients, but they are seeking it at a younger age as awareness of natural options for perimenopause has grown. Perimenopause is the transition that generally occurs several years before menopause when ovaries gradually begin to produce less estrogen.

"Happily, I think we?re at a point where there isn?t such a stigma attached to discussing menopause, or its related cousin, perimenopause," said Cheryl Myers, head of scientific affairs and education for EuroPharma Inc. "It is simply a normal part of life, and it is a good thing that people can be more open about what they need to feel healthy and vibrant, and not feel ruled or defined by their symptoms."

Myers attributes the increased openness toward discussing menopause and the growing interest in natural products to the expansion of the women's health industry in recent years. Many treatments that feature natural ingredients such as black cohosh, soy isoflavones and vitamin D, have grown in popularity in recent years. Vitamins, supplements, herbs and homeopathic ingredients for menopause brought in $32,232,138 in the conventional channel this past year, a 19.3-percent increase in 52 weeks ending? May 5, 2012 versus the prior year,, according to SPINS.

?Euromonitor International's industry analyst Stephanie Prymas said supplements are the most popular form of treatment, but manufacturers are also releasing ingredients that address menopause in functional foods and beverages. In addition to a growing base of products, there is a growing base of consumers. "Worldwide, over the past five years, the age bracket during which women typically undergo menopause (40 to 59) grew nearly five times faster than the 39-and-under group," Prymas said.

?Perhaps the most popular ingredient for treating menopausal symptoms is black cohosh, according to Myers. Black cohosh, a perennial plant native to North America, brought in $22,905,500 this year in the conventional channel, an 8.9-percent increase in 52 weeks ending? May 5, 2012, versus the prior year, according to SPINS. "I?d say that black cohosh is probably the most recognizable natural ingredient for menopause," Myers said. "In fact, even people who don?t use it are most likely familiar with black cohosh and the reasons women use it. It has become so mainstream that people can find it in big box stores, chain pharmacies and just about everywhere."

Prymas said supplements containing black cohosh typically focus on the herbal aspects, particularly as gentler alternatives to hormone replacement therapy, which she noted is the only treatment FDA recognizes as a hot flash treatment.

Along with black cohosh, soy isoflavones have proven to be a popular natural remedy for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Isoflavones brought in $5,063,032 in the conventional channel, a 35.8-percent increase in 52 weeks ending? May 5, 2012, versus the prior year, according to SPINS.

Source: http://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/articles/2012/08/advancements-in-the-menopause-market.aspx

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