When you take your kids to the playground and they hop on the seesaw your mind probably doesn’t immediately compare it to your hormones. The thing is, that’s exactly how your hormones function. When they’re perfectly balanced, your body functions properly. When they’re out of balance you begin to experience problems. Estrogen dominance is one of those problem causers.
It’s sad, but today there are so many people who experience estrogen dominance. It’s one of the most common hormonal issues I see both men and women deal with! Our lifestyle habits and environment don’t help the situation.
In this article, I will share what estrogen does for your body, the facts behind estrogen dominance, signs and causes of estrogen dominance, and several natural ways to clear your body of excess estrogen.
What Does Estrogen Do For Your Body?
While there is a negative connotation around estrogen dominance, the truth is estrogen is an incredible hormone. There are three types of estrogen in the body, but the main one we’ll talk about is called estradiol.
Estrogen is the “yang” hormone of the first half of your menstrual cycle. It helps you feel energized, motivated, confident, and mentally sharp. Meanwhile, progesterone is the “yin” hormone of the second half of your menstrual cycle. It is the calming and grounding hormone that balances your estrogen.
Here are a few of the things estrogen does for your body:
- Promotes libido
- Protects your bones
- Promotes the development of an egg
- Promotes the growth of the uterine lining
- Contributes to ovulation
- Helps you feel happy and energized
- Supports your metabolism
- Supports healthy skin and hair.
- Benefits your brain function and mental clarity
The problem, of course, occurs when levels of estrogen in your body are out of balance.
What is Estrogen Dominance?
Estrogen dominance is the state of excess estrogen in your body. In women, estrogen is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands and shipped off to your uterus and breasts. In men, estrogen is produced in their testes.
This may come as a surprise to you, but for progesterone to balance estrogen, and prevent estrogen dominance, you need to ovulate regularly. Ovulation is the key that allows for healthy levels of progesterone. Without ovulation, you set yourself up for progesterone deficiency and estrogen dominance.
Estrogen is necessary for many important functions such as childbearing, keeping cholesterol in check, and protecting bone health.
But, like everything, too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
While most people have high estrogen and low progesterone, you may also experience high estrogen and normal levels of progesterone. The key is to look at the ratio of estrogen to progesterone.
Estrogen dominance is the state of excess estrogen in your body. In women, estrogen is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands and shipped off to your uterus and breasts.
Signs You May Have Estrogen Dominance
Most cases of estrogen dominance actually occur in adolescents. This is because the brain and ovaries are still trying to figure out communication and coordinate ovulation. As an adolescent, it’s common to skip ovulation, which results in low progesterone and high estrogen.
Remember those heavy periods, cramps, acne, and crazy mood swings as a teen? That was estrogen dominance.
Also, hormonal imbalances that cause anovulation like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have patterns of low progesterone and high estrogen. Estrogen dominance may also occur when you are in perimenopause and your hormones begin to change.
Here are some of the signs of estrogen dominance:
- Heavy periods
- Irregular period
- Painful periods
- Fibroids/Endometriosis
- Weight gain (hips, thighs, and midsection)
- Bloating
- Reduced sex drive
- Mood swings
- Depression/Anxiety
- Swollen breasts
- Tender breasts
- Headaches
- Hair loss
- Bad PMS
RELATED: PCOS IN A NUTSHELL: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, TESTS AND SOLUTIONS
Can Men Have Estrogen Dominance?
Yes, estrogen is typically thought of as a women’s hormone, but men also produce estrogen. Men need a healthy balance of estrogen and testosterone for sexual growth and development. Sexual development and function are interrupted when these hormones are out of balance.
For example, estrogen dominance in men is an indicator of infertility. Estrogen is partly responsible for creating sperm so when there is excess estrogen, sperm levels fall and lead to infertility. Another issue of estrogen dominance in men is gynecomastia, a condition that leads to larger breasts.
Ultimately, estrogen dominance isn’t just a women’s issue.
What Causes Estrogen Dominance?
There are many causes of estrogen dominance. Usually, multiple issues need to be addressed to solve it. Here is a list of the typical contributors to estrogen dominance:
- Excess body fat
- Environmental toxins (estrogen-mimicking chemicals)
- Stress
- Adrenal issues
- Poor detox pathways
- Poor digestion
- Genetics
- Damaged gut
- Suboptimal functioning liver
- History of hormones and birth control
Getting to the root cause of your estrogen dominance includes identifying your unique hormone patterns. Once your hormone pattern is established the next question to ask is WHY. Why are your hormones acting this way?
Natural Ways to Clear Your Body Of Excess Estrogen
Working with a functional medicine practitioner is a great way to identify the root cause of your estrogen dominance. Once you’ve identified the problem you can begin to treat it. Here are several natural ways to clear your body of excess estrogen.
Support Your Liver
Your liver is critical for ridding the body of excess estrogen. It helps the active form of estrogen get transformed into the inactive form so it can be eliminated from your body. Support your liver with daily detox habits.
Heal Your Gut
Healing your gut is a great way to start balancing your hormones. Your estrobolome is a collection of bacteria in the gut microbiome that turn active estrogen into an inactive form so it can be eliminated.
However, if a particular type of harmful bacteria in your estrobolome is elevated, an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase will also be elevated. This enzyme can turn that inactive form of estrogen back into the active form.
Manage Your Stress
Stress inhibits your body from working properly and causes damage. It can cause gut dysbiosis and mess up your detoxification pathways. Both of which are important for eliminating excess estrogen!
Avoid Toxins
If you already have estrogen dominance, you don’t want to add to the problem through environmental toxins. Xenoestrogens are chemicals that imitate estrogen and are found throughout your personal care products, household products, and yes, even your food and water sources.
Work With a Holistic Health Coach
I know this looks like a lot of information. That’s why I recommend working with a Certified Holistic Health Coach if you think you’re suffering from estrogen dominance. Most conventional doctors disregard estrogen dominance and fail to address the root cause of the problem.
As a Holistic Health Coach, I look at your hormone patterns and get to the root causes behind your symptoms. Then, I’ll create a treatment protocol and walk you through it every step of the way! You’ll get the information, guidance, and tools necessary to kick estrogen dominance goodbye!
Reach out to me via my contact page to get started!
Mandy Patterson
