Estrogen Dominance
The female hormonal system is a complex mechanism; where there is balance, all of our hormones work in concert, communicating messages between each other and our organs harmoniously. Unfortunately, when one of our hormones becomes imbalanced, it can cause a flow-on effect to this communication and lead to symptoms like PMS, painful periods, weight gain and mood swings. One of the most common hormones to fall out of balance is estrogen. Estrogen levels can become both too low and too high, but the more common scenario is estrogen dominance.
What Does Estrogen Dominance Mean?
Being ‘dominant’ in estrogen means having more estrogen in relation to another key hormone progesterone.
What Causes Estrogen Dominance?
Estrogen dominance can be caused by poor diet, stress, lack of sleep, impaired liver function, an unhealthy gut microbiome or exposure to environmental toxins. The breakdown of estrogen in the liver requires several nutrients including B-vitamins, magnesium, glycine and selenium. Deficiency in these nutrients can slow or impair liver breakdown of estrogen and other hormones. Liver function is further impaired by high intake of alcohol, caffeine and pharmaceutical drugs. One form of estrogen, estrone, is secreted largely by fat tissue. This means that overweight women are more likely to experience increased levels of natural estrogen in their bodies. The frustrating part about estrogen dominance is that this hormonal imbalance can also impair your ability to lose weight, particularly around the stomach, thighs and hips.
What Are The Symptoms Of Estrogen Dominance?
Estrogen dominance can lead to symptoms such as: irregular or heavy periods (sometimes with clots), menstrual cramps, migraines, breast tenderness, mood swings (particularly premenstrually, feeling teary, frustrated or irritable), headaches and migraines (particularly premenstrually), fluid retention (feeling ‘puffy’), uterine fibroids, low thyroid function, increased breast cancer risk, fatigue, bloating, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, storing fat around the hips, stomach and thighs, blood sugar imbalances.
How Do Estrogen And Progesterone Work?
Estrogen and progesterone are designed to work like a seesaw - balancing the levels of each other to encourage smooth communication with our brain, ovaries and adrenal glands. When estrogen levels climb too high, or when progesterone levels dip too low, the result is the frustrating symptoms of estrogen dominance.
What’s The Difference Between Estrogen And Progesterone?
Estrogen is secreted in the first half of the cycle and is responsible for triggering the uterine lining to grow and thicken. Progesterone is secreted in the second half of the cycle and is responsible for maintaining the uterine lining in preparation for a potential fertilised egg implantation. If there is no fertilised egg, both estrogen and progesterone levels will diminish around 10-16 days after ovulation, triggering the uterine lining to be shed in the form of a menstrual bleed.
What Is The Function Of Estrogen?
There are several types of estrogen found in the female body. The most abundant and powerful form of estrogen is estradiol (E2). Estradiol is responsible for building up a thick, healthy lining in your uterus in the first half of the menstrual cycle, in preparation for a potential pregnancy implantation. Estrogen promotes strong bones, boosts libido and enhances skin health.
What Is The Function Of Progesterone?
Progesterone is secreted in the second half of the cycle, after ovulation. It is responsible for maintaining the uterine lining that was built in the first half of the cycle. Progesterone promotes stable moods, reduces anxiety and promotes restful sleep.
What Causes Estrogen Dominance?
Estrogen dominance is caused by a higher exposure to estrogen-like environmental compounds (like plastics and hormonal birth control) and/or poor metabolism of natural estrogens in the liver and gut. Often it is a combination of these two factors that contributes to estrogen dominance over time, rather than one single cause.