October is Menopause Awareness Month
Let’s talk about menopause.
And save 15% when you buy the two together.
Menopause is more than hot flashes. It can change your bladder, your iron, your gut and your sleep, and most women are told very little about any of it. This month we are explaining all of it, plainly, on this page. We are also putting Human Bioidentical Lactoferrin and SSAV (Super-Strength Aloe Vera) 180 capsules together at 15% off.
The Menopause Bundle
Human Bioidentical Lactoferrin (30 capsules) + SSAV 180 capsules
$158.00 $134.30 for both · You save $23.70
No code needed. The saving comes off automatically in your cart.
Through Saturday, October 31, 11:59 PM Mountain Time · One-time purchases
Not ready to buy? Start with the guide ↓
★ 4.9 from 3,082 verified reviews · Hormone-free · Family-owned since 1993
Menopause, by the numbers
How to get the October saving
- 1Add bothOne click puts Human Bioidentical Lactoferrin (30 capsules) and SSAV 180 capsules in your cart.
- 2Save $23.7015% of the $158.00 pair comes off the SSAV 180 line automatically. There is no code to enter.
- 3Check out as usualThe saving is for one-time purchases. Free US Ground shipping starts at $150, measured after discounts.
Stocking up? The saving applies to every pair in your cart, so two of each saves $47.40.
Why these two, and why in October
Menopause changes more than your cycle. Your iron stores, your gut and your bladder can all feel it, and those are the three areas these two products are designed to support. Two products, two different jobs, and neither contains hormones.
Iron balance
Heavy or irregular periods in perimenopause can run iron stores down, and low iron can feel a lot like hormonal tiredness. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein your body already makes. Ours may help support healthy iron balance.
A balanced gut
The community of bacteria in your gut shifts at menopause, and bloating or slower digestion often follow. Lactoferrin may help support a balanced gut microbiome.
Everyday energy
Broken sleep and low iron stores are two common reasons midlife tiredness lingers. Lactoferrin may help support everyday energy.
Daily bladder comfort
As estrogen falls, the tissue of the bladder and urethra becomes thinner and more sensitive. SSAV is designed to support daily bladder comfort, and it is the only Aloe Vera supplement named in the International Painful Bladder Foundation’s global IC/BPS guidelines.
Human-identical, not from cow’s milk
| Feature | Our Lactoferrin (effera®) | Most lactoferrin sold today |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Fermentation | Cow’s milk |
| Structure | Identical to the lactoferrin your body makes | Bovine lactoferrin, a different protein |
| Dairy-free | Yes | No |
| Vegan | Yes | No |
| How much | One capsule a day | Varies by brand |
Each Lactoferrin capsule also carries a small amount of our SSAV as a carrier to enhance absorption.
What we do not claim. Researchers are studying how lactoferrin interacts with estrogen pathways. That research is early, and we would rather tell you so. Our supplements are not hormone therapy and do not replace it.
Please note. Lactoferrin can raise iron levels. If you take an iron supplement, immunosuppressants or antibiotics, talk to your doctor first.
Read more: The Lactoferrin study everyone cites was never a clinical trial · Who should check before taking Lactoferrin
Menopause, explained plainly: what changes, and what may help
Most women in the US reach menopause around age 52, and the transition before it can run for several years. Hot flashes get the headlines. The changes that go unmentioned are often the quieter ones: more trips to the bathroom, UTIs that keep coming back, tiredness that sleep does not touch, joints that ache for no clear reason.
Desert Harvest has spent 33 years with women whose bladders are sensitive. This guide puts what we have learned, and what the research says, in one place. Every section links to a longer article if you want to go deeper.
The three stages, in plain English
Perimenopause. The years before your final period. Estrogen rises and falls unevenly, cycles change, and symptoms often start here, for some women in their late 30s or early 40s. Most women begin this transition between 45 and 55.
Menopause. A single point in time: 12 months after your last period. You only know you have reached it in hindsight.
Postmenopause. Everything after that day. Hot flashes often ease over time. Changes driven by lower estrogen, in the bladder, vaginal tissue and bones, tend to continue, which is why they are worth knowing about early.
Symptoms, by body system
There is no single menopause. Here is what tends to change, grouped the way your body experiences it.
Hot flashes, night sweats and sleep
Night sweats break sleep into pieces, and broken sleep makes everything else harder. Waking at 3 a.m. is one of the most common complaints we hear.
Energy and iron
Tiredness in midlife is easy to blame on hormones alone. Low iron stores can feel the same, and a ferritin test can tell the two apart.
Menopause and iron: why am I so tired? · Menopause and your immune system
Brain fog, mood and heart rhythm
Losing a word mid-sentence is common and usually temporary. A racing or fluttering heart is also common, and it always deserves a check with your doctor.
Joints, muscles and bones
Researchers now have a name for the aches: the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause. Bone density also changes faster in the years around menopause.
Gut and digestion
Your gut bacteria help process estrogen, and that community shifts at menopause. Bloating and slower digestion often follow.
Skin
Less estrogen means less collagen and a thinner skin barrier, so skin can feel drier and itchier.
Body shape
Fat tends to move toward the middle, even when the scale barely changes.
Bladder and pelvic floor
The changes most women are never told about. They have their own section, below.
Menopause and your bladder
Estrogen receptors sit in the bladder, the urethra and the vaginal tissue around them. When estrogen falls, those tissues become thinner and drier, and the friendly vaginal bacteria that help keep the area balanced decline. Researchers group these changes under one name: genitourinary syndrome of menopause, or GSM. Studies estimate that between 27% and 84% of postmenopausal women have symptoms of it, and many never mention them to a doctor.
What GSM can feel like
Dryness, burning or irritation. Needing to go urgently, or often. Discomfort during sex. UTIs that keep returning.
GSM: the menopause symptom nobody names
Why UTIs become more common after menopause
With less estrogen, the vaginal pH rises and protective bacteria thin out, and the bladder may not empty as completely. Guidelines from the American Urological Association list vaginal estrogen as an option for recurrent UTIs after menopause. That is a conversation for your provider, and it can sit alongside daily habits and botanical support.
Why UTIs get more common after menopause
Urgency, frequency, leaks and night waking
The pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder change too. Light leaks when you laugh or lift, a sudden need to go, and waking at night to use the bathroom are all common, and all worth raising.
When it feels like more than a UTI
Some women first notice bladder pain or pressure in perimenopause, while their urine tests keep coming back clean. If that sounds familiar, you are not imagining it. Ask your provider about interstitial cystitis / bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and pelvic floor dysfunction, which can look alike.
Pelvic floor dysfunction vs. bladder pain · Desert Harvest SSAV for IC/BPS
SSAV (Super-Strength Aloe Vera) 180 capsules
Designed to support daily bladder comfort.
$68.00
View product →
Heather's UTI Defense
Calluna vulgaris (heather), a complementary botanical that may help support urinary tract wellness.
$40.00
View product →
Lunation® underwear
Period and bladder-leak underwear for light leaks.
$38.00
View product →
Where Desert Harvest fits
No supplement replaces a conversation with your doctor, and none of ours contain hormones. Here is what each one is designed to do, and what it is not.
Human Bioidentical Lactoferrin, with effera®
Lactoferrin is a protein your body already makes. Ours is effera®, which is structurally identical to human lactoferrin and made by fermentation, so it is vegan and dairy-free. Most lactoferrin sold today comes from cow's milk. A small amount of SSAV rides along to enhance absorption. One capsule a day.
- May help support healthy iron balance
- May help support a balanced gut microbiome
- May help support everyday energy
Researchers are also studying how lactoferrin interacts with estrogen pathways. That research is early, and we would rather tell you so: the Lactoferrin study everyone cites was never a clinical trial.
Please note: Lactoferrin can raise iron levels. If you take an iron supplement, immunosuppressants or antibiotics, talk to your doctor first. Who should check before taking Lactoferrin
Shop Lactoferrin →SSAV (Super-Strength Aloe Vera)
Our 200:1 Aloe Vera concentrate: freeze-dried, anthraquinone-free, with no fillers. It is the only Aloe Vera supplement named in the International Painful Bladder Foundation's global IC/BPS guidelines, and it has been a staple in the IC/BPS community for over 30 years. Six capsules a day from the 180-capsule bottle.
Shop SSAV 180 →Why the two pair well
SSAV for daily bladder comfort. Lactoferrin to help support iron balance and everyday energy. Two products, two different jobs, and many of our customers take both.
In October the two are 15% off together: $158.00, now $134.30.
Also worth knowing about
Calcium & Vitamin D3
May help support bone health.
$22.00
Magnesium
A mineral many midlife diets run short on. May help support sleep quality and muscle function.
$20.00
Collagen
May help support skin and joints.
$30.00
Probiotic
May help support a balanced gut.
$25.00
Shop all Women's Health & Menopause Support →
What we do not claim. Our supplements are not hormone therapy and do not replace it. They are not weight-loss products. If a symptom is new, severe or getting worse, see your doctor first.
Hormone therapy and other options
For many women, menopausal hormone therapy is the most effective option for hot flashes and night sweats. In November 2025 the FDA announced it would remove the boxed warning from hormone therapy labels. Low-dose vaginal estrogen is a separate, local option often discussed for GSM and recurrent UTIs. Non-hormonal prescriptions exist too. Supplements, food, movement, sleep and pelvic floor physical therapy can sit alongside any of these. Your provider can help you weigh them for your own health history.
World Menopause Day, October 18
This year the International Menopause Society chose chronic pain at midlife as its theme for World Menopause Day, including joint and muscle pain, migraine and chronic pelvic pain. Bladder and pelvic pain belong in that conversation, and many of our customers know that firsthand.
Bring a symptom diary to your appointment
Two to four weeks of notes turns "I just feel off" into something your provider can use: what you felt, when, how strong it was, what you ate and drank, how you slept, and how often you used the bathroom.
What our customers say
"So far, I've noticed better bathroom regularity and an overall sense of balance!"
"Best quality (and I've tried every aloe Vera capsule out there) and great customer service. I've been their customer for over 10 years!"
Common questions
Do I need a discount code for the Menopause Bundle?
No. Put Human Bioidentical Lactoferrin and SSAV 180 capsules in your cart and $23.70 comes off automatically. The Add both button does it in one click.
Can I get the bundle saving on a subscription?
No. The October saving is for one-time purchases. You can still subscribe to either product on its own, and subscriptions ship free in the US and Canada.
Does the Menopause Bundle ship free?
Free US Ground shipping starts at $150, measured after discounts. One bundle is $134.30, so add a second bundle or another product to reach it.
At what age does menopause start?
In the US the average age is 52, and most women begin the transition between 45 and 55. Menopause before 45 is called early menopause, and before 40 it is called premature menopause. Both are worth discussing with a doctor.
How long does menopause last?
Menopause itself is one day: 12 months after your last period. The transition before it usually lasts several years, and symptoms such as hot flashes can continue for years afterward. Bladder and vaginal changes often continue because estrogen stays low.
What is the difference between perimenopause and menopause?
Perimenopause is the run-up, when hormones fluctuate and periods become irregular. Menopause is the point 12 months after your final period. Everything after it is postmenopause.
Why do I get more UTIs after menopause?
Lower estrogen raises vaginal pH and reduces the protective bacteria that help keep infection-causing bacteria in check, and the bladder may not empty as completely. Recurrent UTIs after menopause are common, and your provider can talk you through options such as vaginal estrogen.
Why do I need to pee more often, or wake at night to go?
Thinner, more sensitive bladder and urethral tissue and a changing pelvic floor can bring urgency, frequency and night waking. A short bladder diary helps your provider see the pattern. If you also have pain and your urine tests are clean, ask about IC/BPS.
What is genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM)?
GSM is the medical name for the group of vaginal, urinary and sexual changes caused by lower estrogen: dryness, burning, urgency, discomfort during sex and recurrent UTIs. It is common and often goes unmentioned.
Can menopause make you tired?
Yes. Broken sleep from night sweats is one cause. Low iron stores are another that is easy to miss, so ask your doctor whether a ferritin test makes sense for you.
Can menopause cause joint pain?
Yes. Researchers call it the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause: aching joints, stiffness and changes in muscle and bone as estrogen falls. New joint pain is still worth checking with your doctor.
Is lactoferrin a hormone?
No. Lactoferrin is a protein found naturally in the body. Ours, effera®, is identical in structure to human lactoferrin, made by fermentation, vegan and dairy-free. It contains no hormones.
Can I take Lactoferrin and SSAV together?
Yes, many of our customers do: one Lactoferrin capsule a day alongside SSAV. In October they are 15% off together as the Menopause Bundle. Check with your doctor first if you take medication.
Who should check with a doctor before taking Lactoferrin?
Anyone who is pregnant or nursing, takes an iron supplement, immunosuppressants, antibiotics or blood thinners, or has an iron-overload condition such as hemochromatosis. If you have a history of a hormone-sensitive condition, ask your doctor too.
The Menopause Bundle, through October 31
Human Bioidentical Lactoferrin + SSAV 180 capsules. $158.00, now $134.30 for both. No code.
Questions first? Call us at (800) 222-3901. We are happy to talk it through.
Keep reading
GSM: the menopause symptom nobody names
Read the article →
Perimenopause vs. menopause: symptoms and stages
Read the article →
Why UTIs get more common after menopause
Read the article →
Menopause and iron: why am I so tired?
Read the article →
Menopause brain fog
Read the article →
The estrobolome
Read the article →
Magnesium and menopause
Read the article →
Menopause and your immune system
Read the article →
Human vs. bovine Lactoferrin
Read the article →
By topic
Stages and symptoms: Perimenopause vs. menopause
Bladder and pelvic floor: GSM · UTIs after menopause · Pelvic floor vs. bladder pain
Energy, sleep and mind: Iron and fatigue · Immune system · Magnesium · Brain fog
Joints, bones, gut, skin: Estrobolome
Lactoferrin and SSAV: Human vs. bovine · The study that was never a trial · Who should check first
Sources
- National Institute on Aging, What Is Menopause?
- The Menopause Society, menopause symptoms
- Genitourinary syndrome of menopause: epidemiology and diagnosis (PMC review)
- American Urological Association, recurrent uncomplicated UTI guideline
- The musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause, Climacteric 2024
- International Menopause Society, World Menopause Day 2026
- Office on Women's Health, menopause basics
Questions? Call us at (800) 222-3901.
Last reviewed: October 2026
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.
Valid October 1, 2026 at 12:00 AM through October 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM Mountain Time, on desertharvest.com only. Applies to Human Bioidentical Lactoferrin (30 capsules) with SSAV (Super-Strength Aloe Vera) 180 capsules; the saving is applied automatically at checkout, once per Lactoferrin + SSAV 180 pair. One-time purchases only; not valid on subscription or AutoShip orders. Cannot be combined with order-level discount codes. Free US shipping on orders of $150 or more is measured after discounts. Offer excludes gift cards and previous purchases. Desert Harvest reserves the right to modify or cancel this promotion at any time. Shipping Policy · Refund Policy · Terms of Service.