Estrogen dominance - HormoneHarmony

What is Estrogen Dominance?

Estrogen dominance refers to a condition where a woman has excessive estrogens in relation to progesterone. This hormonal imbalance can lead to various symptoms including:

Key Terms:

• Estrogens: Sex hormones responsible for female reproductive development and function. The three major estrogens are estradiol, estrone, and estriol.
• Progesterone: The hormone released after ovulation that prepares the uterus for pregnancy. Also balances effects of estrogen.
• Hormonal imbalance: When levels of hormones in the body are not within normal ranges. This includes both excess and deficiency.

Some suspected causes of estrogen dominance include:

• Environmental estrogens from plastics, pesticides, etc.
• Poor liver function leading to inadequate hormone breakdown
• Stress causing reduced progesterone levels
• Diet high in estrogenic foods like soy

Symptoms may include:

• Heavy, painful, or irregular periods
• PMS symptoms like bloating, cramps, mood swings
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Weight gain, fluid retention
• Foggy thinking, memory lapses
• Headaches and migraines
• Low libido

Diagnosis involves testing hormone levels via blood, saliva, or urine to determine if estrogens are truly high relative to progesterone.

Treatment options depend on the cause but may include diet changes, stress management, natural progesterone supplementation, or other interventions to rebalance hormones.

In summary, estrogen dominance refers to excessive estrogenic activity in the body, often due to modern lifestyle factors. Symptoms can significantly impact a woman's quality of life. Diagnosis through hormone testing is important, and customized treatment to address the root cause can help restore optimal hormonal balance.

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