When your doctor told you to avoid soy products, it’s because he was referring to natural estrogens. Black cohosh isn’t exactly an estrogen but there is evidence that it activates estrogens within the body. This is why products like estroven include doses of soy and black cohosh, there are many other natural products that create estrogens or activate them in the body. If you read about phytoestrogens, it is amazing what you can learn. They are definitely a mixed curse/blessing. I think life is a balance ours is just a little more precarious. The formula you take is definitely less dangerous to you than estrogen replacement therapy would be.