Estrogen Dominance Symptoms Top Causes & How To Find Balance

Estrogen dominance is a term used to describe the hormone state caused when levels of estrogen in the body become much greater than those of progesterone. Most people’s bodies naturally produce a balance between these two hormones, which is why estrogen dominance symptoms can be as mild and minor or as severe as they are.

When someone has too much estrogen or not enough progesterone, this can cause a variety of side effects and symptoms that can sometimes be difficult to identify. Common signs and symptoms of estrogen dominance include excessive facial or body hair growth, mood swings, abdominal cramping or bloating, headaches, fatigue, anxiety, breast swelling and tenderness, depression, increased acne or oily skin, and brain fog/memory problems.

The good news is that by understanding the causes behind hormone imbalances and addressing them correctly with lifestyle changes or through bioidentical hormone therapy you can restore your hormone balance and get it under control.

In this guide, we will give you detailed information about what causes estrogen dominance as well as tips for finding balance for healthy hormone levels.

What is Estrogen Dominance?

Estrogen dominance is a condition caused by an imbalance between the hormones estrogen and progesterone. It often occurs when estrogen levels are too high relative to progesterone. Estrogen dominance can cause a variety of symptoms, and it often occurs in women as they enter perimenopause and menopause.

This article will discuss the symptoms, causes, and treatments of estrogen dominance and how to find balance.

Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance is a state in which a woman has too much estrogen in relation to the amount of progesterone present. This can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms. Symptoms of estrogen dominance may vary from woman to woman and may be mild or severe depending on the individual’s hormone levels and overall health.

Common symptoms of estrogen dominance include:

-Heavy menstrual periods with intense cramping
-PMS symptoms such as bloating, mood swings, and breast tenderness
-Fibroids, endometriosis, cysts
-Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
-Infertility
-Low libido
-Hirsutism (excess hair growth)
-Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
-Insomnia and fatigue
-Anxiety and depression

If you are experiencing these issues along with any of the above mentioned signs or symptoms it is important to seek help from your healthcare provider right away. Lab tests can help determine the cause of your symptoms so you can receive appropriate treatment.

Causes of Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance is a medical condition that occurs when estrogen levels in the body are higher than normal. It can be caused by a number of factors, including lifestyle choices, genetics, and environmental exposures.

If left untreated, it can lead to various health issues, so understanding the causes is important. Let’s take a closer look at the causes of estrogen dominance so you can better understand this condition.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors such as pollution and toxic waste can have a notable effect on estrogen dominance. Pollution from industrial runoff, agricultural spraying, and household chemicals may be found in the air, water, and soil. This pollution affects our bodies when it accumulates in lunch meat, dairy products, and fish.

Endocrine disruptors (chemical compounds found in many household items) have been found to affect the synthesis of hormones like estrogen and have been linked to an increase in hormone-related diseases.

Additionally, synthetic forms of estrogen such as Ethinyl estradiol (found in birth control pills) can tire out the liver, leading to an unbalanced hormonal state. Women who are exposed to all or some of these environmental influencers may experience estrogen dominance as well other overall imbalances in hormonal functioning.

Studies have suggested that reducing exposure to endocrine disruptors through dietary changes (including eating organic food when possible) can reduce the risk of several health conditions associated with estrogen dominance; however, further research is needed to properly assess this link.

In addition to considering how environmental influences might contribute to upper-level estrogen dominance, healthcare providers may also explore underlying conditions like liver dysfunction that could affect a patient’s ability to regulate their hormones efficiently.

Hormonal Imbalances

Estrogen dominance is the term used to describe an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone, resulting in a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms. This condition can be caused by various factors, including lifestyle, nutrition, hormonal changes, medications, stress, and physical problems.

Hormonal Imbalances
The most common root cause of estrogen dominance is a hormonal imbalance due to either a loss or overproduction of hormones. Estrogen levels may be too high due to conditions like fibroids or ovarian cysts or too low due to menopause or prematurely induced menopause. In some cases, this hormonal imbalance occurs naturally as the body ages. When hormones are out of balance, it can cause symptoms such as breast pain and tenderness, abnormal bleeding patterns, and facial hair growth. Additionally, low progesterone levels can contribute to estrogen dominance due to the failure of the ovaries to produce enough progesterone during certain times in life such as pregnancy or perimenopause.

Environmental Exposures
Exposure to environmental toxins that mimic estrogen can also lead to excess estrogen in your body. These include certain pesticides and endocrine disruptors like BPA from plastics which have been linked with many reproductive issues including breast cancer and infertility. Additionally, pollutants like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) found in air pollution have been linked with increased estrogen levels leading to a host of health issues beyond reproductive health such as diabetes and heart disease.

Nutritional Factors
An unhealthy diet can contribute significantly towards imbalanced hormones which can result in symptoms like menstrual irregularities and other PMS-like symptoms if left unchecked for too long. Eating processed foods which often contain additives and preservatives that raise insulin levels has been linked with an increase in estrogens leading to more chronic symptoms like fatigue and brain fog if not addressed on time through dietary changes alone or with supplementation under medical supervision where needed. Additionally, some food sources such as red meat contain a type of fat called arachidonic acid which has been linked with increased risk for hormone-related concerns including estrogen dominance so opting for leaner proteins like fish may be beneficial here depending on your overall health status.

Diet and Nutrition

Diet and nutrition can also play a major role in developing estrogen dominance. Estrogen is stored in fat cells, so if you’re carrying around extra body fat, that’s more of a place for this hormone to accumulate.

Furthermore, excess calories – even those from healthy sources such as avocado and nuts – can really add up over the course of a few months or years. Your body starts to store the majority of these additional calories as fat and thus estrogen will begin to accumulate.

In addition to calorie imbalance, there are certain foods or dietary habits that are known to increase your estrogen levels. These include:

-Eating conventionally farmed animal products (which contain hormones fed to animals)
-Consuming too many unhealthy plant-based fats like margarine, refined vegetable oils, and fried foods
-Drinking alcohol
-Excessively consuming caffeine from teas, coffee, or energy drinks
-Eating processed foods with additives

Finally, one of the most common causes of estrogen dominance is insufficient amounts of fiber in the diet. This is because fiber helps keep your “gut flora” balanced which can then help regulate your hormones more efficiently.

If you suspect estrogen dominance due to diet and nutrition factors make sure to focus on adding more fiber-rich foods into your meals such as broccoli, avocados, and black beans (among others). These will not only help balance out your hormones but also protect you against other chronic diseases including obesity and heart disease.

Diagnosing Estrogen Dominance

Diagnosing estrogen dominance is a crucial step in finding balance in your health and body. It is important to recognize the symptoms and determine the underlying causes of estrogen dominance in order to properly treat it. This section will discuss the signs and symptoms of estrogen dominance, as well as the potential causes and treatments.

Blood Tests

Blood tests measure the levels of hormones present in your body. Many women initially diagnose their estrogen dominance from home with a saliva test due to its convenience. Blood tests are usually performed in a medical lab and are for more severe or chronic cases of estrogen dominance.

It will give you a better overall picture of your testosterone and estrogen levels, as well as any other related hormones present in your body.

Blood tests measure hormone levels in nanograms per deciliter (ng/dl). Comparing those levels to normal ranges is an effective way to determine if further testing is needed or if the hormone imbalance is present. Your doctor may also take into account expected shifts in hormones due to age, diet, stress levels, and medications currently being used.

For example, progesterone levels generally dip during the luteal phase (the last phase of your menstrual cycle), but if progesterone falls significantly lower than that range it could be a sign of an imbalance caused by estrogen dominance.

Blood tests can also detect hypotestosteronemias, which are low levels of the hormone testosterone that can occur when there is an excess of estrogen present in the body.

If you suspect you may have some kind of hormonal balance issue, especially one that has chronic or painful symptoms, then arranging for a blood test should be first on your list before trying any natural remedies or therapies for treatment purposes.

Saliva Tests

Saliva testing for hormonal imbalances provides patients and practitioners with valuable information regarding hormone levels and proper replacement dosages. Complex hormonal issues such as estrogen dominance can be accurately diagnosed with this form of testing.

Saliva tests measure the unbound (bioavailable) fraction of sex hormones being produced from the adrenals, ovarian, or testicular sources, whereas blood tests often measure total hormone concentrations ( bound and unbound fractions).

Healthcare professionals typically use saliva testing for women to accurately diagnose hormone imbalances related to estrogen dominance symptoms such as low libido, PMS, ovulatory disorders, and menopause.

It gets easier to get an accurate read on your own hormones during certain points in your cycle — right after your period until day 13 or 14 of your cycle is most effective in detecting estrogen while the day 21-28 time frame is better at showing progesterone levels.

The prescribed treatments for estrogen imbalance will depend on the particular type of testing used – primarily saliva kit tests or blood serum tests. Regardless of which one you have requested, be sure to have your healthcare provider interpret it, as this will provide you with specific recommendations based on individualized assessment.

Urine Tests

Urine tests are used to measure estrogens in your body. While anyone can collect a urine sample after voiding, it is recommended that a 24-hour specimen be collected, especially if you are testing for all three forms of estrogens – estrone (E 1), estradiol (E 2), and estriol (E 3).

Collecting a 24-hour sample allows the most accurate quantification of each form, providing valuable information that can help diagnose and treat estrogen dominance.

The 24-hour urine test will include specific measurements of hormones such as day/night cortisol, free testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Other hormones that are often tested include pregnenolone, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), melatonin, and thyroid hormones.

Collecting the 24-hour sample requires following instructions for collection carefully in order for the results to be valid. The lab should supply instructions for completing the collection period with details about what time to start and when to finish collecting your urine.

It’s important to follow these instructions properly in order to make sure you provide accurate quantification of your hormones.

Treating Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance is a hormonal imbalance that affects millions of people. It can cause a variety of symptoms including mood swings, weight gain, and low libido. Treating estrogen dominance requires lifestyle changes as well as proper supplementation. In this section, we’ll cover the best ways to treat estrogen dominance and get back to balance.

Diet and Nutrition

To counteract the consequences and effects of estrogen dominance, consider making a few changes to your diet and nutrition. This will help rebalance your hormones as well as provide nourishment to help improve overall health and wellness.

It is important to keep in mind that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to nutrition, so these recommendations may be better or worse depending on an individual’s needs and lifestyle:

● Increase the intake of healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids, avocados, nuts, eggs, olives, and coconut oil.
● Increase cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and bok choy.
● Consider adding more protein such as lean meats (organic where possible) lentils & beans at every meal.
● Include fiber from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes to promote regular bowel movements.
● Cut processed foods & refined sugar from the diet including anything with high fructose corn syrup or other artificial sweeteners.
● Minimize caffeine consumption (1 cup per day max) opt for green tea over coffee whenever possible.
● Drink plenty of filtered water throughout the day – at least 2L per day.

Herbal Remedies

Herbal remedies can be an effective and accessible way to restore balance to hormones. Adaptogenic herbs are especially advantageous for those dealing with estrogen dominance as they can help to balance out hormone levels and reduce symptoms.

Examples of some adaptogens that may be beneficial in managing estrogen dominance include ashwagandha, licorice root, rehmannia root, shatavari and tribulus root.

When herbal remedies are used, it is important to remember that not all herbs are created equal, so supplementation with a high-quality product is highly recommended. In addition, some herbs may interact with medications or other herbal remedies so it is important to speak to a healthcare practitioner prior to starting any supplementation protocol — this includes over-the-counter medications!

Estrogen-regulating herbs contain phytoestrogens which can be helpful in balancing out the hormone imbalance known as estrogen dominance. Examples of some successful phytoestrogens include red clover, black cohosh, and chaste tree berry. Herbs like milk thistle have been used successfully for detoxifying the liver which helps support hormone metabolism.

Dandelion root is another excellent herb for assisting detoxification processes as well as for supporting normal menstrual cycles or PMS symptoms. Other helpful supports may include wild yam roots and dong quai root — both of which provide targeted relief for specific issues associated with estrogen dominance such as irregular periods or menopausal joint pain!

It’s also important not to forget lifestyle modifications when treating estrogen dominance — diet changes and exercise routines can often provide additional relief from symptoms while also helping to support ongoing hormonal health!

Lifestyle Changes

If you have been diagnosed with estrogen dominance or have symptoms that may be associated with the condition, there are several lifestyle changes that can help promote a healthy balance of hormones.

First, it is important to reduce or eliminate potential sources of estrogen overload in your environment including those found in certain foods, cosmetics, and soaps. Limiting the consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and processed food may also help to reduce estrogen levels. In addition to eating a well-balanced diet, adding more fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains may support healthier hormone levels.

Exercise can also be beneficial in treating and preventing estrogen dominance as it helps burn stored fat which can reduce the release of excess amounts of the hormone. Regularly engaging in activities such as walking or jogging for 30 minutes at least 3 times a week can help boost physical and mental well-being as well as aid in controlling the symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance.

In addition, incorporating stress-relieving activities into your daily routine (meditation, yoga, etc.) can help restore equilibrium between hormones resulting from emotional distress caused by external factors such as work-related pressure.

Finally, if you feel that supplements may be beneficial for treating your condition then consulting a professional healthcare practitioner is recommended before use to ensure correct dosage and safety guidelines are followed.

Common supplements used to treat estrogen dominance include vitamin B6, vitamin C, and zinc which are known to provide supportive benefits to overall health and act as an anti-estrogenic agent helping maintain an optimum hormone balance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is clear that estrogen dominance can have many different manifestations, from physical to emotional to mental or behavioral. It has been linked to numerous conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS, and it can lead to fertility issues.

The best way to tackle estrogen dominance is through diet and lifestyle changes, such as reducing stress levels, avoiding processed foods and substances with excess hormones or xenoestrogens, regularly exercising, and consuming more wholegrains, cruciferous vegetables, and plant-based phytoestrogens which can help balance hormones naturally.

By modifying your diet and incorporating lifestyle practices that support healthy hormone production, you can find relief from the symptoms of estrogen dominance.

Leave a Comment