What is estrogen dominance?
Estrogen dominance refers to a condition where a woman has an imbalance of estrogen levels in her body, specifically higher estrogen in relation to progesterone. This hormonal imbalance can lead to various symptoms and health issues.
Some key things to know about estrogen dominance:
- Causes - Contributing factors can include chronic stress, environmental toxins like xenoestrogens, poor diet, obesity, low progesterone, and more.
- Symptoms - Common symptoms of estrogen dominance include irregular periods, heavy periods, fatigue, weight gain, foggy thinking, mood changes, and more.
- Risk factors - Risk factors that make a woman more prone to estrogen dominance include use of hormonal birth control, peri-menopause/menopause, and a diet high in foods that promote elevated estrogen.
- Complications - If left unaddressed, estrogen dominance can contribute to conditions like infertility, uterine fibroids, anxiety/depression, autoimmune disease, and certain types of cancer.
Diagnosis and testing play an important role:
- Lab tests like saliva/blood tests help assess estrogen and progesterone levels
- Tracking basal body temperature over a month can reveal ovulation irregularities
- Symptom questionnaires also provide insight
Treatment and management of estrogen dominance involves a multi-faceted approach:
- Lifestyle changes like stress reduction, clean eating, exercise
- Nutritional supplements such as magnesium, B6, DIM for metabolism support
- Bioidentical hormone therapy to directly balance hormones
- Herbal remedies that support the liver for improved hormone processing
By understanding the causes, signs, and solutions for estrogen dominance, women can take control of their health and minimize complications of this common but rarely discussed condition.