Drug & supplement interaction

Wild Yam + Conjugated Estrogens

Conjugated Estrogens brand names: Premarin, Cenestin, Enjuvia, Premarin Vaginal Cream.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Wild Yam has a moderate interaction with Conjugated Estrogens. Theoretically, wild yam might increase or decrease the effects of estrogen.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Wild Yam and Conjugated Estrogens

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ESTROGENS

Why this applies to Conjugated Estrogens

Conjugated Estrogens falls under ESTROGENS — the group Wild Yam interacts with.

Theoretically, wild yam might increase or decrease the effects of estrogen.
Wild yam root shows estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects in vitro. Theoretically, wild yam might interfere with hormone therapy.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the honest picture with wild yam and conjugated estrogens (Premarin and similar): in test-tube studies, wild yam has shown both estrogen-like and anti-estrogen activity. Because it could push in either direction, the concern is that it might either add to or work against your prescribed estrogen. This is a theoretical worry based on lab data, not something proven in real people, so I don't want to alarm you.

If wild yam nudged your estrogen levels up, you could notice more breast tenderness, bloating, nausea, or spotting. If it worked against your therapy, your hot flashes or vaginal dryness might creep back. Since the direction isn't predictable, please run it by your pharmacist or doctor before combining them, rather than stopping anything on your own.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Eagon PK, Elm MS, Hunter DS, et al. Medicinal herbs: modulation of estrogen action. Era of Hope Mtg, Dept Defense; Breast Cancer Res Prog, Atlanta, GA 2000;Jun 8-11.
  2. Rosenberg Zand, R. S., Jenkins, D. J., and Diamandis, E. P. Effects of natural products and nutraceuticals on steroid hormone-regulated gene expression. Clin Chim.Acta 2001;312(1-2):213-219. PubMed
  3. Zeng M, Zhang L, Li M, et al. Estrogenic effects of the extracts from the Chinese Yam (Dioscorea opposite Thunb.) and its effective compounds in vitro and in vivo. Molecules. 2018 Jan 23;23(2). Pii: E11. PubMed
  4. Lu J, Wong RN, Zhang L, et al. Comparative analysis of proteins with stimulating activity on ovarian estradiol biosynthesis from four different Dioscorea species in vitro using both phenotypic and target-based approaches: implication for treating menopaus

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Wild Yam Also Interacts With Other Medications

Wild Yam has 40 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Conjugated Estrogens one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 40 No known interaction 2,790 (incl. Conjugated Estrogens)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Wild Yam

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Wild Yam. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Conjugated Estrogens

This page covers Wild Yam only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Conjugated Estrogens page lists 207 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), St. John's Wort (major), Tiratricol (major) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 172 moderate · 31 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Conjugated Estrogens page

“Conjugated estrogens (Premarin, Cenestin) are hormone replacement, most often for menopause symptoms, and the 207 supplements here warrant real care before adding any of them. Most of the risk runs through drug processing: 121 entries involve the CYP3A4 enzyme that clears estrogen, which is how St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Conjugated Estrogens interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Wild Yam as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,014 real supplement products containing Wild Yam, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Wild Yam. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Conjugated Estrogens too, on top of Wild Yam — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Wild Yam and Conjugated Estrogens Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Wild Yam
Top 25%

#211 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Conjugated Estrogens
Steady interest

#1,486 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Wild Yam

What is Wild Yam?

  • Menopausal symptoms
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Hormone balance (popular belief)
  • Digestive cramps
  • Joint and muscle discomfort

Wild yam is a root traditionally used for menopausal symptoms, cramps, and as a so-called 'natural' hormone supplement, but solid human evidence for these uses is lacking. Despite popular claims, your body cannot convert its compounds into hormones like progesterone, so creams marketed that way usually don't work as advertised. Talk with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Read the full Wild Yam monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Wild Yam

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Wild Yam — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
40Moderate
0Minor
2,789No known interaction
40 Moderate 2,789 No interaction
Moderate

40 interactions

No interaction 2,789 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Wild Yam against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,789 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Wild Yam list.

See the full Wild Yam interactions page
See every supplement checked against Conjugated Estrogens, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Wild Yam monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Conjugated Estrogens supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Conjugated Estrogens, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Wild Yam and Conjugated Estrogens Together: Common Questions

Can you take Wild Yam with Conjugated Estrogens?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Wild Yam and Conjugated Estrogens interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Conjugated Estrogens and Wild Yam?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.