Estrogen Dominance: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
What Causes estrogen Dominance?
Are your breasts tender each month?
This is just one sign you may be having a hard time clearing excessive estrogen from your body.
It's normal and natural for your hormones to fluctuate monthly if you're a woman who menstruates.
But, when you're having multiple symptoms the week before your bleed, you may have something known as "estrogen dominance".
Now, it's not a true "medical diagnosis".
Actually, your doctor may not even recognize it, but once you know you are prone to more estrogen symptoms - it can help you take the next steps toward healing your body and reducing symptoms naturally.
But, wait. Always listen to your body whenever you add any new herbal remedy and notice how you respond.
In this post, we'll cover the 16 signs of too much estrogen - or too little progesterone- and the steps you can take to start clearing it from your body.
Let's get started.
So, What is estrogen dominance?
What is Estrogen Dominance?
It's a blanket term to describe hormonal-related illnesses
It's not a true “condition”
The level of estrogen outweighs progesterone and causes symptoms each month
"Estrogen Dominance” is the term used, it’s when the level of estrogen outweighs progesterone
… but this happens throughout your cycle… the problem is when your symptoms increase due to this imbalance.
16 Signs of Estrogen Dominance
Cyclic breast tenderness, Breast tenderness
Menstrual migraines
Heavy periods
Hot flashes
Uterine fibroids
Endometriosis
Uterine and breast cancers
Short menstrual cycles {<21 days}
Heavy periods
Mood swings
Depression, anxiety
Irregular bleeding
Weight gain
Gallbladder problems
History of using estrogen-containing birth control {last 3 months}
A pear-shaped body
What causes excessive estrogen?
Here are the top six reasons you may be having symptoms.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals - EDC
Check your cleaning products and beauty products with the EWG website https://www.ewg.org/
Stop drinking and eating out of plastic containers
Slow gut elimination/dysbiosis {constipation}
Healing your gut can reduce digestive issues AND your symptoms.
Excessive estrogen is eliminated through your poop!
Low fiber diet
Take the Thorne gut health test and consider the supplements they suggest for your digestion. Start slow with any fiber supplement and drink lots of water.
https://www.thorne.com/products/dp/gut-health-test
Methylation; MTHFR gene - {Read this post to learn more about the MTHFR gene}
Obesity
Those who hold more weight will have more estrogen. This is good for the prevention of osteoporosis, but not for your menstrual cycle.
Estrogen pill
Signs of hormone imbalance after pregnancy
If you had these estrogen dominance symptoms before getting pregnant, sometimes they come back in full force after childbirth.
pelvic pain, fibroids, and breast tenderness are some of the major signs to look for after childbirth to know you have too much estrogen.
And!! It may be due to the MTHFR gene!
Low progesterone vs Estrogen dominance
It's common to have not only high estrogen but also low progesterone.
Signs of low progesterone
No ovulation, irregular cycle
Heavy periods
long menstrual cycles (>35 days)
short luteal phase {ovulation to menstruation <12 days}
anxiety, depression
PMS
constipation
cyclic breast pain
Low basal temperature in the luteal phase
endometriosis
fertility problems
insomnia
irregular menstrual cycle
Irritability
low libido
miscarriages
spotting in the second half of your cycle
12 Ways to flush out excessive estrogen
#1 Remove the toxins! Reduce endocrine disruptors in your environment called xenoestrogens
invest in plastic-free storage containers and remove foods from them right away
try eating organic fruits and vegetables, especially from the dirty dozen
choose wild-caught fish
choose grass-fed meats
consider non-toxic cleaning and beauty supplies
Skip herbicides and pesticides when gardening
2. Skip the soda
Women who drink soda have been found with 15% higher estradiol concentration
3. Skip the wine
Elevated estradiol levels have been found in those who consume alcohol.
Drinking also depletes you of B vitamins, selenium, and zinc. It’s also a depressant, so skip the alcohol and replace it with a tincture or a mood-lifting experience.
4. Reduce or skip the coffee
Not only can it cause anxiety, but in white women coffee can lead to lowered estrogen levels, BUT it's very drying. So, if you're constipated either add coconut oil to your coffee or skip it altogether if you can!
5. Increase your veggies!
Focus on leafy greens daily to reduce excess estrogen and increase your folate levels.
6. Poop!
We release excessive estrogen through pooping! Make time to poop each day and follow the constipation tips.
Move your bowels with high fiber diet, flaxseeds, fruits, and vegetables to reduce toxin overload
7. Nourish your estrobolome!
Eat fermented foods a 2-3x week and consume Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium probiotics (10 billion) to support healthy gut bacteria and aid elimination
8. Add in Vitamin C & B6 @ night
9. Eat methionine-containing foods: { this is an essential amino acid that supports the liver}
Some examples of methionine containing foods are: fish, poultry, spirulina, sesame and sunflower seeds, beans, legumes, onions, garlic, and egg yolks
10. Add 1 tbs. Of ground flaxseed to your diet daily to reduce estrogen and improve elimination
11. Try gluten-free
Wheat, barley, and rye can be associated with nutritional deficiencies of protein, fat, zinc, vitamin D, iron, and selenium.
Try a few days without wheat and see how you feel.
Once you "heal your gut", you may be able to add gluten into your diet again
12. Skip the diary
The A1 casein in dairy has been shown to cause inflammation in some individuals.
Supplements for estrogen dominance
#1 Bitters
Foods like dandelion greens, endive, radicchio, and arugula aid digestion and support liver function
Add lemon and salt to make them taste better!
#2 DIM
DIM stands for diindolylmethane and is also known to block estrogens. It also blocks an enzyme called aromatase, which converts testosterone to estrogen. DIM is what your body creates when you eat cruciferous vegetables. Check with your doctor if you’re breastfeeding.
#3 I3C
Indole-3-Carbinol is what’s found in cruciferous vegetables. This aids in healthy estrogen metabolism and detoxification.
3 Estrogen clearing herbs
#1 Milk Thistle
Historically Used for:
Detoxification; eliminate excessive estrogens
Modern uses
Detoxification, hormonal acne
Breastfeeding Safety:
Safety Class 1, Interaction Class A - safe
Monitor your blood sugar if you have diabetes as milk thistle may modify glucose regulation.
#2 St. John's Wort
Historically Used for:
The nervous system; anxiety and nervousness - hysteria
Modern uses
Primary medication for depression in Europe
Supports the liver in processing excessive estrogen
Breastfeeding Safety:
L2/L3 Safer/Moderately Safe {The complete German Commission E monographs}
Lactation and medication expert Hale states that St. John’s Wort is safe while breastfeeding. ¹
#3 Vitex Chaste Berry
Historically Used for:
To prevent miscarriages and boost the milk supply
Modern uses
Cyclic breast pain, fertility, heavy periods, hot flashes, low progesterone, menstrual migraines, ovulation, perimenopause, PCOS, PMS, skipped periods
Breastfeeding Safety:
Safety Class: 2b, 2d - not to be used during pregnancy {unless supervised}
Interaction Class A
Conclusion
You may struggle for years with estrogen dominance and not know it!
One way to tell is if you start tracking your cycle and symptoms and notice if you have symptoms the 1-2 weeks before your period.
Work on cleaning up your diet first, adding in one supplement at a time and reducing anything that is taxing your liver; like alcohol.
What questions do you have about estrogen dominance? I’d love to answer them. Comment below, and I’ll be sure to get back to you.
