This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results vary. Consult your physician before starting any new supplement regimen.
One of the most common questions from women exploring the Estera range is simple: what is the difference between Phase II and Phase III, and which one should I be taking? Both are Pharmanex formulas for women in midlife, but they are made for different stages and built on different ingredients.
Both formulas are in stock at NuBodyRx: Estera Phase II — Women's Transitions Formula, $99.00 · Estera Phase III — Women's Maintenance Formula, $99.00. Free US shipping over $99.
What Nu Skin says about each formula
The clearest answer comes from Nu Skin's own descriptions, quoted here word for word.
Estera Phase II — Women's Transitions Formula
“Estera Phase II Transition Formula is designed for women during perimenopausal years. Transition Formula ingredients work with the liver to promote a healthy ratio of estrogen metabolites and to help relieve menopause symptoms.”*
— Nu Skin, US product page for Pharmanex® Estera® Phase II (SKU 01003637)
Directions: As a dietary supplement, take one (1) capsule with eight (8) ounces of liquid daily.
Built on: soy isoflavones (genistein, daidzein), red clover isoflavones (formononetin, biochanin A), black cohosh, DIM (diindolylmethane), flaxseed lignans and chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus).
Shop: Estera Phase II — Women's Transitions Formula ($99.00)
Estera Phase III — Women's Maintenance Formula
“Estera Phase III is for women in their postmenopausal years. Maintenance Formula is designed to help promote healthy estrogen metabolites and support healthy cardiovascular, bones, cognitive function, and a normal lipid profile.”*
— Nu Skin, US product page for Pharmanex® Estera® Phase III (SKU 01003638)
Directions: As a dietary supplement, take two (2) capsules daily, preferably one capsule with your morning and evening meals.
Built on: calcium citrate, vitamin D3, vitamin K2, soy isoflavones and methylfolate.
Shop: Estera Phase III — Women's Maintenance Formula ($99.00)
Those two sentences are the whole of what the manufacturer asserts about these formulas. Anything beyond them — a percentage, a timeframe, a promise about how you will feel in six weeks — is somebody's marketing rather than Nu Skin's claim, wherever you happen to see it.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Estera Phase II | Estera Phase III |
|---|---|---|
| Stage it is made for | Perimenopausal years | Postmenopausal years |
| Soy isoflavones | Yes | Yes |
| Red clover isoflavones | Yes | No |
| Black cohosh | Yes | No |
| DIM | Yes | No |
| Chasteberry | Yes | No |
| Flaxseed lignans | Yes | No |
| Calcium citrate, D3, K2 | No | Yes |
| Methylfolate | No | Yes |
| Daily serving | 1 capsule | 2 capsules |
| Price at NuBodyRx | $99.00 | $99.00 |
How to tell which stage you are in
Nu Skin distinguishes the two formulas by stage rather than by age, and the boundary between them is a clinical one. Perimenopause is the run-up: periods still happen, but the timing and the flow change, often for several years. Menopause itself is a single point — twelve consecutive months without a period. Everything after that point is postmenopause.
So the practical test is whether your periods have stopped for a full year. Before that, Nu Skin's description points to Phase II. After it, Phase III.
Two honest caveats. A hysterectomy, an IUD or hormone therapy can remove the signal entirely, in which case the twelve-month rule tells you nothing. And this is a supplement decision rather than a medical one — if you are unsure which side of the line you are on, that is a question for your physician rather than for a supplement label, and it is worth asking before you choose, because the two formulas contain almost entirely different ingredients.
Can you take both?
They are made as sequential formulas, not concurrent ones — Phase II for the perimenopausal years, Phase III for the postmenopausal years. Each is a complete daily formula for its own stage.
Phytoestrogens, lignans and DIM — what the ingredient names mean
Three ingredient families run through the Estera range, and the names are not self-explanatory.
- Isoflavones — phytoestrogens found in soy and red clover. Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant compounds with a molecular structure similar to human estrogen.
- Lignans — phytoestrogens found in flaxseed, converted by gut bacteria into enterolignans.
- DIM (diindolylmethane) — a compound the body produces when it digests indole-3-carbinol, which occurs naturally in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.
Full supplement facts are printed on each product label and on the product pages. We do not reproduce per-serving amounts here, because the label is the authoritative source for those.
Who should speak to a physician first
Estera is a dietary supplement, not a hormone replacement therapy, and it contains no synthetic hormones. It is not a substitute for prescribed treatment. Speak to your physician or pharmacist before starting either formula if any of the following applies to you:
- You have a soy allergy or sensitivity — both formulas contain soy isoflavones.
- You have a history of a hormone-sensitive condition.
- You have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You take prescribed hormone therapy or hormonal contraception.
- You take a blood thinner — Phase III contains vitamin K2.
What happened to Estera Phase I?
Estera Phase I Women's Balance Formula is no longer part of the current US range, so we cannot supply it, and we would rather say so plainly than take an order we cannot fill. There is no direct replacement in the range: Phase II is the next formula up, but Nu Skin describes it for a different stage of life, so it is worth a conversation with your own doctor rather than a straight swap on our say-so. The Women's Health range shows everything we currently stock.
Pairing either formula
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Estera Phase II and Phase III?
The stage each is made for, and the ingredients behind it. Nu Skin describes Phase II as designed for women during perimenopausal years, and Phase III as for women in their postmenopausal years. Phase II is built on soy and red clover isoflavones with black cohosh, DIM, flaxseed lignans and chasteberry; Phase III on calcium citrate, vitamin D3, vitamin K2, soy isoflavones and methylfolate.
How many capsules a day?
Phase II is one capsule daily with eight ounces of liquid. Phase III is two capsules daily, preferably one with your morning meal and one with your evening meal.
Is Estera a hormone replacement therapy?
No. Estera is a dietary supplement built on plant-derived phytoestrogens, not synthetic hormones, and it is not a substitute for prescribed hormone therapy. Women considering HRT should consult their physician.
Is Estera Phase I still available?
No. Phase I Women's Balance Formula is no longer part of the current US range and we cannot supply it. Phase II and Phase III remain available.
Where can I buy Estera Phase II and Phase III?
Both are available at NuBodyRx.com with guaranteed authenticity, fast US shipping, free US shipping over $99, a 90-day money-back guarantee, and no membership or distributor account required. See how to buy Nu Skin without a distributor.
Shop Estera & Women's Health →
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Quoted claims are Nu Skin's own, taken verbatim from their US product pages.