{"id":36975,"date":"2022-09-14T06:10:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-14T06:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/?p=36975"},"modified":"2026-05-31T11:11:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T11:11:36","slug":"saw-palmetto-for-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bensnaturalhealth.com\/blog\/prostate-health\/saw-palmetto-for-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Saw Palmetto for Women: What are the Benefits?"},"content":{"rendered":"Saw palmetto is a popular herbal supplement that men and women can take for several different health conditions.\n\n\n\n\n\nMany people swear by saw palmetto, but is it beneficial for women?\n\n\n\n\n\nWe know saw palmetto extracts are commonly used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).\n\n\n\n\n\nIt is an excellent aid for men with urinary problems.\n\n\n\n\n\nOne of the reasons is that saw palmetto prevents the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone.\n\n\n\n\n\nIs this feature useful for women, too?\n\n\n\n\n\nHow much should you take if you\u2019re a woman, and what are the benefits?\n\n\n\n\n\nKeep reading to learn more about the benefits and uses of saw palmetto for women.\n\n\n\n\n

What is saw palmetto?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nSaw palmetto<\/a>, also known as Serenoa repens, is a native plant of North America. It grows in coastal marshes, prairies, and sandy soils.\n\n\n\n\n\nIt’s commonly found in Florida, Georgia, and parts of Alabama. Its berries grow in clusters and look like other berries found in palm trees.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe fruit and seeds of saw palmetto are often used medicinally and are popular for their benefits in benign prostatic hyperplasia supplements. The berries are dried and made into tea or tincture.\n\n\n\n\n\nSaw palmetto berries contain components known as estrones, which behave like a hormone and can be found in other plants as well. It also has beta-sitosterol<\/a>, fatty acid content, protein, carbohydrates, polysaccharides, and amino acids.\n\n\n\n\n\nSaw palmetto supplements are usually available in pill form. However, you can also prepare a tea or infusion with berries. For that purpose, you can find them dried and as ground fruit.\n\n\n\n\n\nYou can also consume saw palmetto berry powder in smoothies and other foods, but the most common use is as a natural supplement for BPH.\n\n\n\n\n\nMore recently, the herb has been used in hair care and saw palmetto cream products, especially for women with alopecia (1).\n\n\n\n\n
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Can women take saw palmetto?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nIn recent years, women have increasingly turned to natural products for their health. Saw palmetto is a popular natural remedy for prostate health, but it is not only reserved for men.\n\n\n\n\n\nMost people consider saw palmetto a supplement for men\u2019s health. They believe that women will experience saw palmetto side effects* if they take a supplement meant for men.\n\n\n\n\n\nBut that\u2019s not the case for saw palmetto.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe supplement counters testosterone activation into dihydrotestosterone, which may benefit women with an excess of testosterone.\n\n\n\n\n\nHowever, studies show that women should not take saw palmetto while pregnant because it can lead to uterine contractions. Thus, pregnancy is the only contraindication of saw palmetto for females (2).\n\n\n\n\n

Is saw palmetto good for women?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nSaw palmetto blocks the conversion and activation of testosterone in males and females. This sex hormone can be found in women because the adrenal glands produce it.\n\n\n\n\n\nHigh testosterone levels can cause hair loss, facial hair, and other masculine traits in women. By changing the hormonal profile, saw palmetto is often used to treat female hormone imbalance, such as PMS and menopause.\n\n\n\n\n

Does saw palmetto help women’s hair loss?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nMen usually have much higher levels of testosterone than women, and this testosterone affects hair growth. Simply put, testosterone stimulates body hair growth, but too much testosterone causes alterations in hair follicles and leads to alopecia.\n\n\n\n\n\nThere is an enzyme in the hair follicles of the scalp known as 5-alpha-reductase. When testosterone comes into contact with this enzyme, it is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).\n\n\n\n\n\nThis metabolite of testosterone is responsible for shrinking the hair follicle and causing baldness. An increase of DHT in the scalp is associated with androgenic alopecia. The hair loss process is gradual and starts with a thinning stage in which the hairs become brittle and prone to falling.\n\n\n\n\n\nSaw palmetto inhibits DHT through multiple enzyme blocks and interactions. That\u2019s how saw palmetto works for hair loss<\/a> in men and women.\n\n\n\n\n\nMany studies have evaluated saw palmetto and its effects on male pattern baldness<\/a>. Some have compared saw palmetto and finasteride<\/a>, which is considered the mainstream therapy. The studies show that saw palmetto is a promising agent to reverse hair loss in women.\n\n\n\n\n\nHowever, we should remember that the thinning process mentioned above takes a very long time and sometimes results in irreversible destruction of the hair follicles. Thus, the recovery process usually takes longer and depends on the severity, extension, and type of hair loss.\n\n\n\n\n\nUnlike finasteride, saw palmetto does not have side effects<\/a> such as sex drive problems or impotence. As such, it is an excellent option to try if you\u2019re looking for natural remedies for hair loss<\/a> (3).\n\n\n\n\n

How does saw palmetto affect female hormones?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\nSaw Palmetto contains sterols, which are compounds with hormone-like effects. Some sterols modulate estrogen levels, while others interact with androgens.\n\n\n\n\n\nSaw palmetto sterols and other components affect female hormones through various mechanisms:\n\n\n\n\n