Hormones are important chemical messengers in our bodies such as Estrogen, Testosterone, Progesterone, Cortisol, Thyroid, DHEA, and Vitamin D. They are produced in one type of tissue and then move through the bloodstream to other parts of the body delivering “messages” for that part of the body to do something specific. When the messages get disrupted, it can have significant downstream implications.
Estrogen dominance is one of the most common hormone imbalance problems for women and that is a big deal because it has literally hundreds of functions in a woman’s body. It is a common condition that can develop from a variety of causes such as excess body fat, environmental estrogens (toxins), poor digestion, chronic stress, and adrenal issues.
Irregular or heavy periods
Water retention
Breast swelling and tenderness
Headaches, or migraines
Fibrocystic breast changes
Weight gain
Mood swings
Hair loss
Painful periods
PMS is often caused by too much estrogen
If this resonates with you, request a free 20-minute consultation to see if Functional Medicine might be right for you.
Chronic stress.
Poor gut/liver health.
Environmental toxins known as xenoestrogens.
Lack of ovulation or low progesterone during luteal phase.
Our modern fast-paced society is one of the most impactful, because stress causes our Adrenal Glands to produce a lot of Cortisol to keep us going. When we are under chronic stress it can lead to what is called
Adrenal Fatigue
. This is when our body uses up our Cortisol and begins to steal sex hormones, especially progesterone, to produce it. This leads to an estrogen dominant state because there isn't enough progesterone on-board. This is one reason that we see women going through menopause earlier.
When there is dysbiosis or an imbalance of gut flora (too many bad ones or too few good ones, you can end up with beta-glucaronidase, an enzyme that can lead to higher levels of estrogen in the body.
Once the liver processes estrogen for elimination, it is up to your gut to move it out! If you are experiencing constipation, there is a good chance your estrogen isn't making its way out, but instead, going back into circulation in the body. Identifying and treating the underlying cause of your digestive issues is crucial in creating optimal hormonal health.
Next time you feel constipated, try and be mindful of how your next period is symptom wise. How does your skin look? What’s your mood like, do you have trouble sleeping? Hot flashes and/or tender breasts? If so, you may benefit from taking a deeper dive into hormone imbalance.
These chemicals tend to be stored in our fat cells and can negatively affect our ability to excrete estrogen leading to a dominant state as well as developmental, neurological, reproductive and immunological effects. They have been linked to infertility, obesity, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, and large increases in many types of cancers over the last 40 years, especially breast and prostate cancers.
Anxiety and Stress
for more detailed techniques and supports.
Sleep is also essential to your body handling stress and repairs itself overnight. If you're struggling with sleep, it is recommended you work with a provider to also address the root cause. It could be that your hormones are causing the sleep disturbance!
Read our article on how to
Finally Get Some Rejuvenating Sleep!
As we discussed above, Adrenal Health, Thyroid Health, and Hormone Balance are all intricately connected so it is especially important to get a complete health history and medical work up to know what the drivers are behind your symptoms so that they can be properly addressed and monitored as you heal.
Although estrogen dominance can make you feel miserable, it is reversible! By implementing the steps outlined above, you can begin to improve your estrogen/progesterone balance and heal your hormones so you can get back to feeling amazing!
If this resonates with you,
request a free 20-minute consultation
to see if Functional Medicine might be right for you.