Estrogen dominance is typically thought about during peri/menopause, but can occur at various stages of life, bringing numerous health conditions along with it – PMS, PCOS/PMOS, endometriosis, fibroids, breast health, thyroid dysfunction and more.
8 signs of estrogen dominance:
heavy/painful periods
insomnia
irregular periods
decreased libido
weight gain
migraine headaches
infertility
mood swings, anxiety, depression
Your estrogen levels can appear typical, yet you can still experience symptoms associated with estrogen dominance.
This is because progesterone helps balance the effects of estrogen, so the ratio of estrogen to progesterone is important, not just the level of estrogen alone.
When progesterone is too low relative to estrogen, those unwanted, estrogen-dominant symptoms can appear.
Because estrogen interacts with many systems in the body and has a major role in reproductive health, a healthy estrogen to progesterone ratio is essential for fertility and conception, pregnancy health and baby’s growth, and recovery after birth.
For fertility, estrogen levels rise in the first half of the menstrual cycle which signals an LH release from the brain, causing an egg to be released from the ovary.. hello ovulation.
Beyond reproduction and pregnancy, estrogen has key roles in cardiovascular health and healthy blood pressure levels, thyroid function, musculoskeletal health, metabolic health and brain health.
Common causes of estrogen dominance:
hormone disrupting chemicals
peri/menopause
excess body fat
chronic stress
adrenal dysfunction
constipation
poor liver function (affecting ability to detox)
poor diet lacking in phytonutrients/phytochemical (plant compounds)
Lifestyle support:
adequate sleep
stress management
limit hormone disrupting chemicals
support liver detox
moderate exercise
Nutrition support:
increase healthy fats and limit/avoid unhealthy fats
adequate fiber
bitter greens
cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage)
get in phytonutrients/phytochemicals (from plants)
Supplemental support to consider:
B-complex
probiotics
magnesium
DIM complex
matcha green tea
bitter herbs for liver support
vitex/chaste tree
*supplementation needs are not one-size-fits all and require working closely with your practitioner to find what is right for you, especially during pregnancy to ensure safety
- Kasey