I can’t tell you how many times women ask me, “could it be my hormones?”

Lots of times they’ve been told that everything checks out fine, that it’s just normal hormonal changes, or that the only option they have is to take the birth control pill. 

Well…

Those things are often only partially true or not even true at all.

Lots of times when we do more thorough testing, we discover an explanation—like estrogen dominance. 

I’m not saying estrogen dominance is the issue for every woman, but it is commonly overlooked and something I believe more women should be aware of. 

What is Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance is a pattern in the body where estrogen levels are too high in comparison to progesterone levels. It can happen because of any of these reasons:

• Increased estrogen production

• Decreased progesterone production

• Slowed estrogen elimination

• Exposure to synthetic estrogens

The signs and symptoms are different for everyone, but there are some common patterns we see when estrogen is not properly balanced by progesterone. 

10 Signs of Estrogen Dominance

Here are 10 of the most common signs of estrogen dominance:

• Irregular periods

• Heavy periods

• Worsening PMS

• Bloating

• Breast tenderness

• Lumpy (fibrocystic) breasts

• Low sex drive

• Headaches

• Mood swings

• Anxiousness

Estrogen dominance is also associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), fibroids, endometriosis, and an increased risk of breast or uterine cancer. 

Please do not take this as medical advice. The only way to know your hormonal patterns is to meet with a qualified healthcare professional to discuss testing options. 

My goal here is to increase awareness of estrogen dominance—something that is often ignored and overlooked yet can dramatically impact women’s quality of life.  

Now let’s take a look at some potential underlying causes of estrogen dominance. 

Hidden Causes of Estrogen Dominance

Our hormones respond to so many aspects of our physiology that it can take some detective work to figure out the root cause of estrogen dominance.

Here are 8 hidden possible causes:

Body Fat

Our fat cells contain an enzyme called aromatase, which converts testosterone into estrogen. That means the more fat cells in the body, the more estrogen produced. 

Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance (when cells do not properly respond to insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar) increases aromatase activity, leading to increased estrogen levels.

Liver Problems

The liver is the main site of estrogen metabolism. If the liver is not functioning well, estrogen will be metabolized (and therefore eliminated from the body) more slowly.

Poor Gut Health

There’s an enzyme in the gut called beta-glucuronidase that causes estrogen to recirculate into the body (instead of being eliminated in the stool). Overgrowth of certain unfriendly gut bacteria (think “dysbiosis”) boost levels of this enzyme, contributing to estrogen dominance.   

Low Thyroid Function

Estrogen and thyroid hormones have an intimate relationship. High estrogen blocks the conversion of T4 to T3, and low thyroid function slows elimination of estrogen from the body. This can create a vicious cycle and worsen estrogen dominance!

Alcohol

Alcohol increases activity of the aromatase enzyme in the liver, contributing to higher estrogen levels. 

Stress

Here’s a big one. Did you know that progesterone and the stress hormone cortisol are made from the same precursor hormone? That means that with more stress, we produce more cortisol and less progesterone—leaving estrogen unchecked. 

Xenoestrogens

Xenoestrogens are synthetic chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body. They can be found in everything from plastic water bottles to grocery store receipts, cleaning products, shampoos, and lotions. 

Lifestyle Hacks for Estrogen Dominance

There is no pill anybody can take to magically correct estrogen dominance.

Our hormones respond to foods, movement, stress, and everyday habits. So let’s look at 5 lifestyle hacks to deal with estrogen dominance: 

Try Seed Cycling

Seed cycling means eating seeds that support estrogen during days 1-14 of the menstrual cycle and seeds that support progesterone during days 15-28. For example, eating 2 tablespoons of ground flax seeds and pumpkin seeds during the first half of the cycle and switching to sesame seeds and sunflower seeds during the second half. 

Boost Fiber

Fiber supports healthy bowel movements and elimination (including elimination of estrogens!). Plus, foods that are rich in fiber fuel the beneficial bacteria in the gut for microbiome balance. 

Cut Alcohol

Alcohol can burden the liver and increase activity of the estrogen-producing aromatase enzyme. Cutting alcohol promises many benefits—including happier hormones.  

Reduce Stress

We cannot control the stressful situations around us, but we can find ways to respond and release that stress. Better stress management translates to less cortisol production, freeing up your body’s resources to make healthy levels of progesterone.   

Get Exercise

Exercise helps with several of the hidden causes of estrogen dominance—including body fat and insulin resistance. Getting into a routine of moving your body every day will help support hormone health. 

Estrogen dominance can be confusing and frustrating—especially because the conventional medical system has little to offer in the way of solutions. 

The good news is that once we uncover and understand the root cause, we can address it. 

Bringing hormones back into balance requires a commitment to healthy habits, but we can support the process with targeted nutritional supplements.

Supplements for Hormonal Health

Here are 3 categories of supplements to consider: 

Gut Support (for estrogen elimination)

• DIM (di-indolyl-methane) comes from cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli. It supports healthy metabolism of estrogen into preferable rather than harmful forms. 

• Calcium-d-glucarate slows down the beta-glucuronidase enzyme in the gut. That means estrogen will be less likely to recirculate into the body and more likely to exit in the stool. 

• Probiotics support a healthy microbiome, which keeps beta-glucuronidase in check and supports healthy bowel movements. 

Liver Support (for estrogen metabolism)

• Magnesium is a cofactor for many enzymes, including liver enzymes involved in estrogen metabolism. 

• Vitamin B6 supports the liver in metabolizing estrogen. It also supports the production of progesterone, which is needed to balance estrogen. 

Hormone Support (for estrogen-progesterone balance)

• Zinc supports the production of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), which promotes ovulation—leading to increased progesterone. 

• Grape seed extract may be one of several plant compounds able to block the action of aromatase, meaning less estrogen production. 

How to Get Help

Are you wondering if estrogen dominance (or some other hormonal imbalance) is the cause of your symptoms? 

We do comprehensive functional medicine testing so that we can create a personalized plan for you. We use naturopathic therapies, like nutrition, herbs, and supplements to bring the body back to health naturally. 

It’s easy to get started—just contact us today!