Evening Primrose Oil For Menopause
A rich source of gamma-linolenic acid, the omega-6 fatty acid that plays a direct role in hormonal balance, skin hydration, breast comfort and inflammatory regulation during the menopause transition. One of the most widely used and well-tolerated natural supports for women's hormonal health.
Some filters could not be applied and were reset.
-
Sale Herbs Of Gold Evening Primrose Oil $36.45 Regular price $53.95Add to cart -
Sale Blackmores Evening Primrose Oil $31.45 Regular price $54.99Add to cart -
Sold out Natures Way Evening Primrose Oil $53.95 Regular price $59.99 -
Sale Melrose Organic Evening Primrose Oil with Strawberry $29.95 Regular price $37.95Add to cart -
Sale Blackmores Evening Primrose Oil + Fish Oil $37.45 Regular price $48.99Add to cart -
Sold out Good Health Evening Primrose Oil $32.95 Regular price $49.95 -
Sale Ultra Nature Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) $35.95 Regular price $47.95Add to cart -
Sold out Healthy Care Evening Primrose Oil 1000mg $25.45 Regular price $35.98 -
Henry Blooms Evening Primrose Oil 1000mg $44.95 Add to cart -
Sold out Natures Way Evening Primrose Oil Nature’s Way 1000mg + Starflower $24.95 Regular price $39.95
Evening Primrose Oil For Menopause Information
Evening primrose oil (EPO) is pressed from the seeds of the evening primrose plant. It is a natural source of GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), an omega-6 fat. It also helps relieve inflammation and maintains general health and wellbeing. We stock capsules, vegetarian softgels and an organic liquid from brands including Blackmores, Herbs of Gold and Melrose. Our qualified naturopaths and nutritionists offer a free 10-minute consultation, so you can get expert help to choose.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
Related ranges: Natural Menopause Supplements, Evening Primrose Oil Products and Womens Hormone Supplements.
| Format | GLA per capsule or teaspoon | Brand | Price | Cost per 100 mg of GLA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 mg capsules | 100 mg a capsule | Blackmores | About $31 for 190 | About 17 cents |
| 1,000 mg vegetarian softgels | 100 mg a softgel | Herbs of Gold | About $36 for 200 | About 18 cents |
| Organic liquid with strawberry | 443 mg in a 5 mL teaspoon | Melrose | About $30 for 200 mL | About 17 cents |
| EPO with fish oil | 50 mg a capsule, plus 150 mg of omega-3 | Blackmores | About $37 for 100 | About 74 cents (the price includes the fish oil) |
Prices are current for items in stock on 26 October 2026.
What Evening Primrose Oil Can Help With
Most of our evening primrose oils are listed medicines, which carry an AUST L number. Listed medicines can only use product claims from a government list of permitted claims.[1] Our range supports:
- Dry skin: Blackmores Evening Primrose Oil helps decrease skin dryness and maintains skin health and skin hydration. Herbs Of Gold Evening Primrose Oil supports skin hydration, in vegetarian softgels. A 12-week trial in healthy adults compared 3 g of EPO a day with a placebo (a dummy capsule). Skin moisture, elasticity and roughness improved with EPO by week 12.[2]
- Inflammation: Blackmores Evening Primrose Oil and Blackmores Evening Primrose Oil + Fish Oil help relieve inflammation.
- PMS: Melrose Organic Evening Primrose Oil with Strawberry helps reduce the symptoms of premenstrual tension.
- General wellbeing: both Blackmores oils maintain general health and wellbeing.
If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.
Evening Primrose Oil and Menopause
The Blackmores, Herbs of Gold and Melrose evening primrose oils we stock support skin, inflammation, PMS and general wellbeing. For menopause symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, explore our Natural Menopause Supplements and look for those claims on the label. Our naturopaths can help you choose in a free 10-minute consultation.
Want omega-3 as well? Blackmores Evening Primrose Oil + Fish Oil gives you GLA and omega-3 in one capsule, and helps relieve inflammation.
How to Take Evening Primrose Oil
- Follow the label: most capsule labels give 2 to 6 capsules a day with food. Some split the day's dose across two or three meals. The Melrose liquid is one 5 mL teaspoon a day, best with food, and it goes in the fridge once opened.
- Count your GLA: each 1,000 mg Blackmores or Herbs of Gold capsule gives 100 mg of GLA. Compare the GLA in a day's dose.
- Give it time: in the skin trial, skin moisture and elasticity improved by week 12,[2] so give it about three months.
- Store it well: keep it below 25 or 30°C, as the label says, and away from sunlight.
Side Effects and Who Should Check First
Side effects are usually mild, such as an upset stomach, nausea or diarrhoea.[3][4] Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start if any of these apply:
- You have epilepsy: EPO may lower the seizure threshold and affect epilepsy medicines.[5]
- You take warfarin or another blood thinner: a Cochrane review notes that EPO may increase bleeding in people taking warfarin.[4]
- You have surgery coming up: both Blackmores labels say some products should be stopped at least two weeks before elective surgery.
- You take other medicines: herbs and supplements can interact with them.[3]
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding: both Blackmores labels ask you to check with your health professional first.
- You have had breast cancer: ask your treating team before you take any supplement.
- You have phenylketonuria: Blackmores Evening Primrose Oil contains phenylalanine.
How to Choose an Evening Primrose Oil
- Start with your goal: for dry skin, choose a product with skin claims. For omega-3 as well, choose EPO with fish oil. For PMS, Melrose carries a PMS claim.
- Compare GLA per dose: a Blackmores or Herbs of Gold capsule gives 100 mg. EPO with fish oil gives 50 mg a capsule, and the liquid gives 443 mg in a teaspoon.
- Pick your format: gelatin capsules, vegetarian softgels or a liquid you can add to a smoothie.
- Look for an AUST L number: it tells you the product is a listed medicine on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.
- Check the allergens: some contain soy, sulphites or fish, and gelatin capsules are not vegetarian.
- Ask us: book a free 10-minute consultation with one of our naturopaths.
Why Buy Your Evening Primrose Oil from Mr Vitamins
- Free advice from qualified naturopaths and nutritionists, in store and online, with no obligation to buy.
- Trusted since 1992, with eight stores across Sydney, the Hunter region and the Sunshine Coast.
- Free Click & Collect in store. Free standard shipping over $120 in NSW and the ACT, and over $150 in QLD, VIC, SA, TAS and WA. NT shipping is calculated at checkout.
- Rated 4.7 stars from more than 3,200 customer reviews.
- At current prices, two Blackmores Evening Primrose Oil capsules a day cost about 33 cents. The four-capsule skin dose costs about 66 cents.
Explore more in our Womens Hormone Supplements and Fish Oil Supplements ranges.
References
- Australian Government (2025) Therapeutic Goods (Permissible Indications) Determination (No. 1) 2025 (F2025L00450). Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00450/asmade (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
- Muggli, R. (2005) 'Systemic evening primrose oil improves the biophysical skin parameters of healthy adults', International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 27(4), pp. 243-249. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-2494.2005.00274.x. Researcher: AdviServ Consulting, Switzerland. The trial used Efamol evening primrose oil. Funding: not stated.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2024) Evening primrose oil. Updated November 2024. Available at: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/evening-primrose-oil (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
- Bamford, J.T., Ray, S., Musekiwa, A., van Gool, C., Humphreys, R. and Ernst, E. (2013) 'Oral evening primrose oil and borage oil for eczema', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 4, CD004416. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004416.pub2. Researchers: lead author at the University of Minnesota Medical School, USA. Funding: not stated. The lead author's earlier research was funded by the Miller-Dwan Foundation and repaid by Efamol, which supplied products for that study.
- Australasian Menopause Society (2025) Complementary medicines and therapies for hot flushes [information sheet]. Updated April 2025. Available at: https://hub.menopause.org.au/Play?pId=d0181b8c-d27c-4f8c-bc8b-dd9b247eb4dd (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
- Jean Hailes for Women's Health (2026) Menopause. Available at: https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/ (Accessed: 25 October 2026).
- Ahmad Adni, L.L., Norhayati, M.N., Mohd Rosli, R.R. and Muhammad, J. (2021) 'A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of evening primrose oil for mastalgia treatment', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6295. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18126295. Researchers: Universiti Sains Malaysia. Funding: no external funding; no conflicts of interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is GLA and why does it matter during menopause?
GLA, or gamma-linolenic acid, is an omega-6 fatty acid found in high concentrations in evening primrose oil. The body uses GLA to produce prostaglandins, hormone-like compounds that regulate inflammation, fluid balance, skin health and smooth muscle function. During menopause, the enzyme responsible for converting dietary fats into GLA becomes less efficient as oestrogen declines, making direct supplementation through evening primrose oil an increasingly relevant strategy for women managing the physical symptoms of hormonal transition.
Can evening primrose oil help with hot flushes?
The evidence here is more modest than for some other menopause interventions, but some research does support a reduction in hot flush frequency and severity with consistent use of evening primrose oil over several weeks. Its primary mechanism is not direct oestrogen-like activity but rather prostaglandin regulation and anti-inflammatory support, which influences the vascular reactivity underlying hot flushes. It tends to work better as part of a broader hormonal support protocol than as a standalone intervention for hot flushes specifically. Our naturopaths can advise on whether it is the most appropriate option for your presentation.
Does evening primrose oil help with menopause-related skin changes?
Yes, and this is one of its most consistently supported applications. GLA plays a direct role in maintaining the skin's moisture barrier and supporting structural integrity from within. As oestrogen-driven skin hydration and collagen synthesis decline through menopause, supplementing with a reliable source of GLA can meaningfully support skin moisture retention, reduce dryness and improve overall skin quality. It works on the structural and inflammatory aspects of skin health rather than simply providing a topical moisture effect, making consistent internal supplementation the most effective approach.
How much evening primrose oil should I take during menopause?
Effective doses in research on menopausal symptoms typically range from 3000mg to 6000mg per day of the oil, depending on GLA concentration. Because GLA content varies significantly between products, looking at the actual GLA per capsule rather than the total oil weight is the more meaningful measure. Higher-strength formulas allow therapeutic doses to be reached with fewer capsules. Our naturopaths can help you identify the right dose and format for your specific needs and existing supplement protocol.
Can I take evening primrose oil alongside other menopause supplements?
Evening primrose oil generally combines well with other menopause supports. It works on complementary pathways to omega-3 fatty acids and the two are commonly taken together for balanced fatty acid support across both inflammatory and hormonal regulation. It also pairs well with magnesium, B vitamins and herbal menopause formulas. As with any supplement combination, particularly for women on medications, we recommend speaking with one of our naturopaths to ensure your full protocol is working together effectively.