Products we won't recommend

Every recommendation on this site is set by the evidence first, and the commercial relationship — if any — second. Our editorial policy and evidence grading method explain the process; this page lists the specific categories we reject outright, and why.

The standard we hold every claim to

The Federal Trade Commission's staff guidance on health product advertising requires that health and safety claims be truthful, not misleading, and backed by competent and reliable scientific evidence before an ad ever runs, and holds advertisers responsible for substantiating every claim they make, directly or by implication. We hold ourselves to that same bar before recommending anything, whether or not it would earn us a commission.

Categories we reject

• Custom-compounded "bioidentical" hormone products marketed as safer or more natural than FDA-approved hormone therapy. ACOG's 2023 clinical consensus recommends against routinely prescribing these when FDA-approved options exist, given the lack of standardized testing and a marketing framing that isn't backed by evidence. See our full explainer: bioidentical vs. compounded hormones.
• At-home hormone testing kits marketed to self-diagnose menopause stage or guide treatment decisions. Clinical guidelines do not support using these tests to identify perimenopause or menopause in the way they're commonly marketed.
• Hormone pellets marketed with unverified dosing claims, outside of a monitored clinical setting.
• "Hormone balance" supplements that imply a multi-ingredient blend can correct hormonal fluctuation. This phrase itself fails basic scrutiny — see our evidence verdict on these products specifically.
• Diet pills, "metabolism boosters," and detox products marketed for menopausal weight gain. We cover what's actually linked to midlife weight changes, and what has real evidence, on our weight gain page — none of it is a pill.
• "Vaginal rejuvenation" devices and procedures marketed for genitourinary symptoms, where evidence doesn't support the claims made.
• Any product using before-and-after claims, fake urgency, countdowns, or invented scarcity — regardless of category, this marketing style itself is disqualifying under our editorial policy.

What this doesn't mean

Rejecting a category as commonly marketed isn't the same as saying every individual product or ingredient within it is worthless for everyone. Our Does It Work? evidence directory grades specific products and ingredients individually, with the nuance the evidence actually supports — strong, moderate, limited, not supported, or harm concern. The categories above are ones where the marketing claims themselves, as a pattern, outrun any version of the evidence we've been able to verify.

Something we missed?

If you've seen a product marketed in a way that concerns you, or one you think deserves its own evidence verdict, reach out through our contact page. Before trying anything new, our symptoms checklist can help you pin down what you're actually trying to treat.