As women, we know that managing our own health hasn’t always been easy. Comprehensive health education for women has been sorely lacking for decades, and there’s still a gap in our scientific understanding between women’s health needs and men’s. But today, women’s health – within the contexts of everyday health, reproductive stages, and athletics – is evolving with further study and acknowledges that women are metabolically different from men.

At Thorne, we continue to be a leader in women’s health. Women represent 60 percent of our customers worldwide and fill 38 percent of the leadership roles across Thorne HealthTech – far above both the U.S. and global averages. That’s why we are committed to formulating high-quality, science-backed supplements that seamlessly fit in with your lifestyle and address your personal experience as a woman.

No matter your age or your health goals, Thorne offers a wide range of products that support you through every phase – menstrual health, family planning, pregnancy, menopause, and more.

1. Ovarian Care – For family planning and menstrual regularity*

Plan for the future with a formula that supports your natural fertility.

Ovarian Care offers a unique blend of nutrients and plant extracts for women seeking support for menstrual regularity, fertility, and hormone balance (especially testosterone).*

Two forms of inositol support fertility, in part by improving insulin sensitivity.*1 When the body becomes insulin resistant, problems can arise, such as hormone imbalance and menstrual irregularity. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common cause of female infertility, is associated with insulin resistance. Ovarian Care contains a 40:1 ratio of myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol, the ratio found to be most effective for supporting women with PCOS.*2 And a well-absorbed form of CoQ10 is provided to support healthy oocytes (eggs) and protect against age-related decline in their quality.*3

Ovarian Care is also formulated with folate (as 5-MTHF), a key nutrient for fetal spine and brain development. Having sufficient folate also promotes fertility.*4 Although folate can be found in vegetables – especially green leafies – deficiencies are common. Our bodies need to convert folate to its active form – known as 5-MTHF – to drive the methylation cycle, an important whole-body process that turns various biological switches on and off. But up to 60 percent of U.S. adults have a genetic mutation that makes it difficult to convert dietary folate to 5-MTHF. Look for supplements, like Ovarian Care, that contain 5-MTHF, the most active and bioavailable form of folate. 

Interested in learning more? Read about the biomarkers that affect fertility or check your own fertility biomarkers with Thorne’s Fertility Test.

2. Prenatal DHA – To support mom and baby

Support a healthy pregnancy and the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system.*

Thorne’s Prenatal DHA contains two essential omega-3 fatty acids – DHA and EPA – with an emphasis on DHA. DHA is especially important during pregnancy because it is essential for fetal development of the brain, nervous system, and vision. It accumulates in the brain up to about age three and plays a role in problem solving and attention.*

Pregnant women should eat foods rich in DHA (the best sources are fatty fish and other types of seafood) because the body doesn't make enough of the essential nutrient on its own. However, some types of seafood can contain high levels of mercury, which can accumulate in the bloodstream over time and damage a baby’s developing brain and nervous system.5 Because of this, a DHA supplement can be a good addition for your daily routine.

DHA also can benefit mothers by positively impacting the length of the pregnancy. A recent study found that mothers who took 1,000 mg of DHA during pregnancy had a lower chance of a preterm birth than mothers who consumed lower amounts.*6

And the benefits don’t end there. The total percentage of DHA and EPA in your red blood cell membranes are used to calculate your omega-3 index. Research indicates there might be an inverse correlation between your omega-3 index level and postpartum depression. Women with a low index (reflective of low omega-3 fatty acids) during pregnancy tend to have the highest incidence and severity of depression in the first six months after giving birth.7

Consider pairing Prenatal DHA with Thorne’s prenatal multi Basic Prenatal for comprehensive nutrient support during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and when trying to conceive.

3. Women’s Daily Probiotic – For vaginal and urinary tract support*

Introducing Thorne’s new probiotic that helps maintain a healthy vaginal microbiome and urinary tract.*

Thorne’s Women’s Daily Probiotic is a comprehensive blend that includes two well-studied proprietary probiotic blends along with two single Lactobacillus strains – for a total of eight Lactobacillus strains. The eight strains of Lactobacilli include those most commonly found in a healthy vagina. Unlike the gut microbiome that is healthiest when it has a richly diverse population of beneficial flora, the vaginal microbiome is healthiest when it’s less diverse and dominated by beneficial strains of Lactobacilli.

Women’s Daily Probiotic supports a balance of beneficial vaginal bacteria in women of all ages, whether alone or in conjunction with antibiotic use.*8 Research shows the various Lactobacillus strains can reduce unwanted bacterial strains or yeast (like from Candida) in the vagina and urinary tract, mitigating issues associated with vaginal bacterial imbalance like discharge and odor.*9 And during menopause and after, when estrogen decreases, Lactobacilli also decrease. Providing supplemental probiotics during this time can help maintain healthy vaginal tissue and urinary tract comfort.*10

4. Iron Bisglycinate – To support low iron levels

Support your monthly cycle with an iron supplement that fights fatigue and weakness.*

Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, a red blood cell protein that transports oxygen throughout the body. If an iron deficiency is left unchecked, then the red blood cell count can decline, leading to iron-deficiency anemia.

Women of menstruating age are more likely to have an iron deficiency or anemia because they lose iron through their monthly period. As a result, they have a higher recommended daily intake of iron.

Pregnant women are also at greater risk of an iron deficiency due to an increased oxygen demand from the developing baby. By the end of pregnancy, one in five U.S. women develops an iron deficiency, and worldwide, 40 percent of pregnant women have anemia.11 

A woman’s diet can make her even more susceptible to iron deficiency. Individuals with a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle need more iron than meat eaters because the iron found in vegetarian sources (also known as non-heme iron) is not as easily absorbed as the iron in animal products (heme iron).

5. Hormone Advantage – For PMS support and hormone regulation*

Balance your estrogen levels with a health solution designed for both men and women.* 

In women, a high estrogen level in relation to other sex hormones can lead to weight gain, moodiness, and low energy. A common type of hormone imbalance is estrogen dominance, when the level of estrogen is high relative to the level of progesterone. This can affect the menstrual cycle, causing irregular, heavy, or uncomfortable periods and PMS symptoms like breast tenderness, mood changes, and bloating.

Hormone Advantage, containing extracts from broccoli and pomegranate, helps the body detoxify excess estrogen, improving the ratio of healthy-to-less-healthy estrogens.*12 Ingredients in this formula support metabolism of estrogen in the liver from DIM and SGS, and provides additional antioxidant support from pomegranate.* When supplemented long-term, Hormone Advantage supports breast, cervical, and uterine health.*

6. Meta-Balance – For menopause support*

Help control the menopause chaos with botanical extracts that balance hormones, promote skin health, and support mood.*

Menopause marks the end of reproductive fertility – officially when 12 consecutive menstrual periods have been skipped. Estrogen levels drop, halting the monthly maturation and release of a woman’s eggs. Symptoms of this biological transition include irregular or no menses, hot flashes, night sweats, sleeplessness, brain fog, and mood swings.

Thorne’s Meta-Balance features the key ingredient Pycnogenol®, along with several traditional women’s health botanicals. Pycnogenol, an extract from French maritime pine bark, has been clinically studied for easing several menopause-related symptoms13 and for supporting skin elasticity.*14 Ingredients in Meta-Balance also offer long-term support by promoting healthy bone density and urinary tract health while supporting normal cognitive and cardiovascular function.*

If you're experiencing symptoms of menopause, then consider taking Thorne’s Menopause Test. For more on menopause, this article covers frequently asked questions as you approach menopause.

Women’s health products

Interested in other women’s health products? Explore our women’s health suite. For more on the latest women’s health topics, follow our Take 5 Daily blog.

References

  1. Asimakopoulos G, Pergialiotis V, Anastasiou E, et al. Effect of dietary myo-inositol supplementation on the insulin resistance… : study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2020;21(1):633. Published 2020 Jul 9. doi:10.1186/s13063-020-04561-2
  2. Nordio M, Basciani S, Camajani E. The 40:1 myo-inositol/D-chiro-inositol plasma ratio is able to restore ovulation in PCOS patients: comparison with other ratios. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019;23(12):5512-5521. 
  3. Xu Y, Nisenblat V, Lu C, et al. Pretreatment with coenzyme Q10 improves ovarian response and embryo quality…: a randomized controlled trial. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2018;16(1):29.
  4. Cueto HT, Riis AH, Hatch EE, et al. Folic acid supplementation and fecundability: a Danish prospective cohort study. Eur J Clin Nutr 2016;70(1):66-71.
  5. Advice about eating fish. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/media/102331/download. [Accessed December 19, 2022.]
  6. Carlson S, Gajewski B, Valentine C, et al. Higher dose docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy and early preterm birth: A randomised, double-blind, adaptive-design superiority trial. EClinicalMedicine 2021;36:100905. 
  7. Markhus MW, Skotheim S, Graff IE, et al. Low omega-3 index in pregnancy is a possible biological risk factor for postpartum depression. PLOS One 2013;8(7):e67617.
  8. Vujic G, Jajac Knez A, Despot Stefanovic V, et al. Efficacy of orally applied probiotic capsules… : a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2013 May;168(1):75-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2012.12.031.
  9. Martinez RC, Franceschini SA, Patta MC, et al. Improved… vulvovaginal candidiasis with fluconazole plus probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14. Lett Appl Microbiol 2009;48(3):269-274. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2008.02477.x. 
  10. Beerepoot MA, ter Riet G, Nys S, et al. … urinary tract infections: a randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial in postmenopausal women. Arch Intern Med 2012;172(9):704-712. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.777.
  11. Auerbach M, Landy H. Anemia and pregnancy. American Society of Hematology. http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Anemia/Pregnancy.aspx. [Accessed December 18, 2022.]
  12. Vivar O, Saunier E, Leitman D, et al. Selective activation of estrogen receptor-beta target genes by 3,3'-diindolylmethane. Endocrinology 2010;151(4):1662-1667. doi:10.1210/en.2009-1028
  13. Kohama T, Negami M. Effect of low-dose French maritime pine bark extract on climacteric syndrome in 170 perimenopausal women. J Reprod Med 2013;58(1-2):39-46.
  14. Marini A, Grether-Beck S, Jaenicke T, et al. Pycnogenol® effects on skin elasticity and hydration coincide with increased gene expressions of collagen type I and hyaluronic acid synthase in women. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2012;25:86-92.