Select phytoestrogen pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use for preventing or reducing one or more symptoms associated with pre menopause, menopause, and/or post menopause are described herein. These select phytoestrogen formulations are composed only of two or more plant-derived estrogenic molecules and/or their structural analogues and exhibit binding preference to ER.beta. over ER.alpha. and agonist activity in the brain. These ER.beta.-selective phytoestrogen formulations cross the blood-brain-barrier and promote estrogen-associated neurotrophism and neuroprotection mechanisms in the brain, without activating proliferative mechanisms in the reproductive tissues and are therefore devoid of other estrogen-associated problematic aspects. The formulations can be administered enterally, transdermally, transmucosally, intranasally or parenterally. The formulations preferably contain combinations of compounds, and can be formulated for daily, sustained, delayed or weekly/monthly administration. In a preferred embodiment, these are administered to women who are in menopause or post menopausal, most preferably early in menopausal.