The trial will last a full year, long enough to minimize any placebo effects, which generally occur during the first three to six months. Neither the patients nor the investigators will know which of the four test compounds each woman is receiving. Only 10 to 25 percent of postmenopausal women take hormone replacement therapy. Although such drugs are widely prescribed in the United States, significant numbers of women choose not to fill their prescriptions or discontinue use of the medication within the first year. According to Geller, many women avoid taking these drugs because of the fear of cancer or side effects, like breast tenderness and breakthrough bleeding.
Black cohosh is a wildflower native to forests in North America.
It has been used for a variety of other purposes as well, for example, to treat snakebites. Studies recently conducted in Europe suggest that the herb can be used to treat menopausal symptoms, but none of the studies met strict guidelines for clinical trials. Red clover is a small perennial herb with fleshy red or white flowers that is native to Europe, central Asia and northern Africa. It contains isoflavones, which are being studied as possible agents to fight cancer. A few studies have also suggested that isoflavones may help reduce vasomotor symptoms.