What is Estrogen Dominance?
Estrogen dominance refers to a condition where a woman has too much estrogen relative to progesterone. This hormonal imbalance can lead to various symptoms like:
- Irregular periods
- Heavy, painful, or long periods
- Bloating
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Anxiety or mood changes
- Low libido
Estrogen dominance often happens when:
- Your body doesn't properly metabolize and eliminate excess estrogen
- You have an underlying condition like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis that increases estrogen levels
- Exposure to xenoestrogens, estrogen-mimicking compounds found in plastics, beauty products, etc.
- Chronic stress increases cortisol which interferes with hormone metabolism
- Advancing age causes progesterone levels to decline
To alleviate symptoms, you can:
- Increase fiber intake to improve estrogen excretion
- Eat cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage contain nutrients that promote hormone metabolism
- Cut back on alcohol which interferes with hormone elimination
- Relax and destress through yoga, meditation, etc. to lower cortisol
- Consider bioidentical progesterone therapy if underlying issues are ruled out
If symptoms persist for multiple cycles or severely impact your life, see your doctor to test hormone levels via bloodwork or saliva tests. Underlying issues like thyroid disorders, adrenal fatigue or perimenopause should be evaluated.
Your doctor at Invigorate Medical can provide personalized guidance on lifestyle changes, supplements or bioidentical hormones if needed to rebalance your hormone levels. Tracking your cycle and symptoms helps determine what works for your body.