Research
Pine bark extract for Menopause: Evidence, Interactions and Cautions
Pine bark extract is an ingredient used in menopause supplements marketed to women. Below is what it has actually been studied for, how strong that evidence is, the drug interactions and cautions on record, and the primary source our grade rests on — all drawn from the HerWellReport ingredient dataset.
Also sold as: Pycnogenol; French maritime pine bark extract; Pinus pinaster bark extract
What the evidence says about Pine bark extract
Three randomised trials in menopausal women have been reported — 155 women on 200 mg a day for six months, 70 women on 100 mg a day for eight weeks, and 156 women on 60 mg a day for 12 weeks — each describing improvements in menopausal symptom questionnaires. The review collecting them was written by an author affiliated with the branded product, the trials used different doses, durations and questionnaires, and Memorial Sloan Kettering notes that systematic reviews have concluded the evidence for Pycnogenol is insufficient and that large-scale studies are needed. Pine bark extract is not mentioned anywhere in the Menopause Society's 2023 nonhormone therapy position statement, so it was not assessed.
The grade "early for menopausal symptoms; none for stress incontinence" means: early — Pilot or preliminary human data only; not enough to rely on. none — No human trial evidence we could find for this use. Grades are explained in full on our methodology page.
Read the primary source this grade rests on (opens in a new tab).
Pine bark extract drug interactions
- warfarin and other anticoagulants
- antiplatelet drugs
Who should be careful with Pine bark extract
- Can inhibit platelet clumping and may raise bleeding risk alongside blood-thinning medicines
- may cause irritability and lower energy
Read more on HerWellReport
- Best Menopause Supplements: What Is Actually In Them
- Why Does My Bladder Still Feel Full After I Pee? Causes in Women, and When It Needs a Doctor
- Bladder Supplement Side Effects and Drug Interactions: The Full List
This entry is generated from row "Pine bark extract" of the HerWellReport ingredient dataset (v2.1, updated 2026-09-23). The dataset is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 — how to cite it. Ingredient evidence is not evidence for any finished product, and nothing here is medical advice.