Estrogen dominance is a condition where a woman has excessive levels of estrogen relative to progesterone. This hormone imbalance can cause various symptoms like weight gain, irregular periods, breast tenderness, mood swings, and fatigue.
Estrogen and progesterone are supposed to be in balance, but several factors can tip the scales towards estrogen:
- Environmental estrogens - These are estrogen-mimicking compounds found in plastics, pesticides, makeup, etc. Exposure to these can increase estrogen levels.
- Chronic stress - This increases cortisol which impedes progesterone production but leaves estrogen alone.
- Poor liver function - The liver helps metabolize excess estrogen so problems here allow levels to build up.
- Lack of ovulation - Progesterone is only made after ovulation. No ovulation means low progesterone.
- Perimenopause - Estrogen levels start to decline but progesterone falls much faster, leading to the imbalance.
Some key signs and symptoms of estrogen dominance include:
- Weight gain - Excess estrogen promotes fat storage especially around the hips and thighs.
- Fibrocystic breasts - Breast cysts and tenderness due to overstimulation.
- Headaches and migraines - Estrogen dilates blood vessels which can trigger headaches.
- Mood swings, anxiety, depression - Estrogen strongly influences serotonin and other neurotransmitters.
- Bloating - Estrogen causes fluid retention.
- Sleep disturbances - Makes it hard to fall and stay asleep.
- Heavy or irregular periods - Estrogen fuels thicker uterine lining growth which is shed as heavy bleeding.
- Hair loss - Estrogen fluctuations interfere with the hair growth cycle.
Diagnosis involves checking hormone levels via blood or saliva tests, specifically the estradiol to progesterone ratio. This ratio should ideally be 1:300, but ratios like 1:100 already indicate estrogen dominance.
Treatment involves:
- Lowering environmental estrogen exposure - Avoid BPA plastics, parabens in cosmetics, soy which has phytoestrogens.
The Hormone Hub provides comprehensive hormone balance treatments to correct estrogen dominance. Our expert physicians create custom regimens using bioidentical hormones to rebalance estrogen and progesterone. We also incorporate targeted nutritional supplements and detoxification protocols. Most patients see drastic relief from symptoms within a few months.
In summary, estrogen dominance arises when estrogen exceeds progesterone. It has many unpleasant symptoms but can be effectively treated through reducing environmental estrogens, bioidentical hormone therapy, and nutritional supplementation under a doctor's supervision. Prompt treatment improves female wellbeing and quality of life.