Estrogen Dominance: The Root Cause Of Post-Menopausal Misery

Estrogen dominance is one of the biggest quality-of-life-robbing conditions I see with my clients. As a functional medicine Practitioner and certified health coach, my mission is to help my clients identify and address the root causes of their symptoms so that they can get off the sick-care model of medicine. Western medicine is great if you, say, get in an accident. I witness the miracle of modern medicine every shift in my main job as a Nurse Pracitioner at a busy emergency room hospital in Norfolk, NE. However, in helping people overcome various chronic health problems, Western medicine often falls short. Getting to the root cause is the only way to regain a pain-free, symptom-free, active life. 

Estrogen dominance is not a disease but the condition particularly affects the bulk of my client demographic: perimenopausal and menopausal women. In this article, I’ll explain how and why estrogen dominance causes night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and other troublesome symptoms experienced by many women in this stage of life.

What is Estrogen Dominance?

Estrogen dominance occurs when estrogen and progesterone levels in the body are imbalanced. As the name suggests, with this condition, estrogen is excessively high relative to progesterone, the hormone produced mainly in the ovaries that helps regulate the menstrual cycle and maintain pregnancy. This imbalance can be caused by several factors, including stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, and exposure to environmental toxins. When estrogen levels are disproportionately high, they disrupt the natural hormonal balance, leading to various symptoms and health issues.

“But Jenna, if menopause causes estrogen levels to plummet, how can there be estrogen dominance?” 

This is a question I’ve been asked over the years and it’s a good one because hormones are a tricky, confusing subject. Hormones are released in such tiny amounts, yet they play an oversized role in your physical and mental health. So, the answer to the question is that, yes, menopause causes estrogen levels to decline. But it also causes progesterone levels to lower.  Estrogen dominance occurs when the decline in progesterone is more significant than the decline in estrogen. This imbalance leaves the relative estrogen level higher, creating a state of estrogen dominance despite overall lower estrogen levels.

Hopefully, that makes sense now.

Xenoestrogens: The Hidden Culprits In Cosmetics & More

Xenoestrogens, synthetic compounds that mimic estrogen in the body, are often responsible for estrogen dominance. These compounds are found in many everyday consumer products, including plastics, household cleaners, and cosmetics. Xenoestrogens bind to estrogen receptors in the body, boosting the effects of natural estrogen and contributing to estrogen dominance.

How Xenoestrogens Lead to Estrogen Dominance

When xenoestrogens enter the body, they bind to estrogen receptors. This leads to the overstimulation of estrogen-responsive tissues. The endocrine system, the system in charge of hormone secretion and regulation, becomes impaired. Over time, frequent exposure to xenoestrogens creates a persistent state of estrogen dominance.

In case you’re familiar with “phytoestrogens,” you might wonder if it’s related to xenoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are estrogen-like compounds found in plants like soy, flaxseeds and legumes (beans, lentils). Phytoestrogens are encouraged because they are usually healthy foods. Although they contain estrogen, plant-based foods with phytoestrogens act as weak estrogens. This “weakness” can actually help balance hormone levels by occupying estrogen receptors, blocking xenoestrogens from binding.

Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance

As I mentioned, estrogen dominance can manifest as night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness as well as: 

• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Mood swings
• Weight gain, particularly in the hips and thighs
• Fatigue
• Breast tenderness
• Headaches

Dangers of Estrogen Dominance

If left unaddressed, estrogen dominance can lead to several serious health concerns, such as:

• Increased risk of breast and uterine cancers
• Fibrocystic breast disease
• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Infertility

Estrogen Dominance & Diabetes, Obesity: Is There A Link?

I work with clients one-on-one at the Diabetes & Wellness Clinic in Norfolk. Click here to book an appointment. Many of my clients have been able to successfully manage or even reverse their diabetes. Estrogen dominance makes it more challenging to manage metabolic diseases. The primary reason is the role hormonal imbalance plays on insulin resistance and fat distribution. Elevated levels of estrogen relative to progesterone can impair the body’s ability to regulate glucose and insulin, leading to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition where the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin, causing elevated blood sugar levels and increased fat storage. This process significantly raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Not only that, but estrogen dominance can contribute to obesity by promoting fat accumulation, particularly in the abdominal area. Estrogen influences the distribution and storage of fat in the body, and high levels can lead to increased adiposity (fat cell enlargement). This not only adds to body weight but also exacerbates insulin resistance, creating a vicious cycle that further impairs metabolic health. Additionally, excess estrogen can disrupt the balance of other hormones, such as leptin and ghrelin, which regulate appetite and energy expenditure, further promoting weight gain and metabolic imbalances.

Studies (like this one) have shown that estrogen dominance is associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels. This syndrome significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Addressing estrogen dominance through lifestyle changes, natural products, and hormone therapy can help mitigate these risks and improve overall metabolic health.

How To Fix Estrogen Dominance

The first step is to schedule an appointment with a functional medicine practitioner. If you’re in the Northeast Nebraska area, book with me here. I’ll order lab tests and interpret them for you so we can see what’s going on with your hormone levels. Based on the results, we’ll come up with a hormone-balancing plan that includes these components:

1. Bioidentical Hormones: These hormones are identical to the ones naturally produced by the body and can help restore hormonal balance. I work with a few compounding pharmacies and recommend Bi-Est to my clients.
2. Natural Products: Reduce your exposure to xenoestrogens by choosing natural, non-toxic household cleaners, cosmetics, and avoid plastic containers as much as possible.
3. Lifestyle Changes: Adopting a healthy diet, regular exercise, stress management techniques, and adequate sleep can support hormone balance. The problem is that most people don’t know where to begin. The answer is having a partner to tell you exactly what to do and hold you accountable. That’s me!

Pay Attention To Product Labels

If you work with me and start using bio-identical hormones to balance out your estrogen-progesterone levels, you’ll start feeling much better. I also encourage you to become familiar with some of these endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). They can interfere with your endocrine system and contribute to estrogen dominance by mimicking or blocking natural hormones. 

1. Bisphenol A (BPA): Commonly used in food and drink packaging, water bottles, and the lining of metal cans.
2. Phthalates: Used as plasticizers in products like vinyl flooring, wall coverings, personal-care products (such as soaps, shampoos, and hair sprays), and in medical devices.
3. Parabens: Preservatives found in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and personal-care products like moisturizers, shampoos, and deodorants.
4. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): Industrial chemicals that were used in electrical equipment, paints, and other products. Although banned, they persist in the environment and can still be found in some contaminated sites.
5. Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Used in non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, and some firefighting foams.
6. Pesticides: Weed-and-bug killers like glyphosate, the main compound in Roundup weedkiller, may induce breast cancer cells to grow through estrogen receptors, according to a study in Food & Chemical Toxicology.

The First Step To Reclaiming A Healthy Life

Don’t put off living your best life. No matter your age or health concerns, a higher quality of life is right around the corner. But it’s up to you to take the first step. Hire a functional medicine practitioner. And if you happen to live in NE NE (I’m in Norfolk), I’d be psyched to work with you.