Being a woman in the 21st century is tough, especially when endometriosis is afflicting 10% of all peri-menopausal women; premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is rising and afflicting close to 30% of peri-menopausal women; uterine fibroids are affecting close to 25% of women from age 35 to 50; and breast cancer is afflicting close to 10% of all women. Imagine starting out in your youth with endometriosis, PMS and fibrocystic breasts then progressing to uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, misguided hormone replacement and ultimately breast cancer as your menopause approaches. I don’t know about you but this journey sounds terrifying to me. Scientific evidence is mounting that hormone disruption is a major cause of all these seemingly separate but related diseases.
The common thread in these and many other female hormone diseases is a little known condition known as estrogen dominance. The underlying problem is a relative excess of estrogen with not enough progesterone on board to counterbalance it. The original concept introduced by Dr. John Lee stated that the first sign of menopause is a drop in progesterone production (notice: not estrogen deficiency). Without the opposing progesterone, estrogen levels stay unnaturally high in the second half of the menstrual cycle. This chronic excessive level of estrogen leads to a myriad of chronic female conditions.
Phases of Estrogen Dominance in Women
Estrogen dominance in pre-menopausal women occurs at puberty and again at peri-menopause. Between this time, estrogen dominance can be the result of excessive external estrogen intake (from diet and the environment) or internal estrogen production (from obesity, birth control pills, or ovarian tumors). There are two things that could be happening: anovulation (no ovulation) or luteal insufficiency (malfunctioning of the corpus luteum) both of which result in a decrease in progesterone production, thus creating an imbalance in the estrogen/progesterone ratio which in turn creates estrogen dominance.
One of the major reasons why menopausal women develop estrogen dominance is HRT(Hormone Replacement Therapy) programs consisting of unopposed estrogen, such as Premarin or estradiol alone. Furthermore, obesity is another cause of estrogen dominance. During menopause, the amount of estrogen produced from the ovaries decreases and another hormone is being produced called androstenedione (a male hormone). Fat cells can convert androstenedione into estrogen. It is believed that with a higher body fat content, excessive estrogen can be produced.
Common Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance
- Swollen breasts that seem to get bigger
- Irritability/mood swings
- Increased or severe PMS symptoms
- Weight gain (mainly around abdomen, hips and thighs)
- Breast cancer/Endometrial cancer/Uterine cancer
- Dry eyes
- Fatigue
- Foggy thinking/memory loss
- Cold hands and feet as a symptom of thyroid dysfunction
- Headaches
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Decreased sex drive
- Hair loss
- Increased blood clotting (increases stroke risk)
- Insomnia
- Polycystic ovaries
- Osteoporosis
- Zinc/magnesium deficiencies
- Depression with anxiety or agitation
- Causes of Estrogen Dominance
Over time Dr. Lee’s concept of estrogen dominance has evolved to include the concept of xenoestrogens (estrogen-containing synthetic compounds), which contribute highly to estrogen dominance. Most conventional food products and modern lifestyle habits are estrogenic in nature. The overreliance on highly processed, chemically laden industry-based goods and products seems to be the major culprit. Xenoestrogens are artificially made compounds produced by the industry.
Xenoestrogens mimic the effects of true estrogen and interact with cellular receptor sites. This process contributes to estrogen excess and blocks the effects of true estrogen. To make matters worse, these endocrine disruptors lodge in fat cells where they are resistant to breakdown. Over time the liver becomes overworked and overwhelmed and cannot do a proper job of breaking these estrogens down for elimination. Thus these estrogens reenter our circulation, increasing our estrogen load.
Commercially raised cattle and poultry are fed estrogen-like hormones as well as growth hormone that are passed onto humans in their diets. The use of antibiotics, which are prevalent in the poultry farms, can contribute to hormone disruption exposure. Furthermore, commercially grown fruits and vegetables containing pesticides contribute to estrogen dominance. It is estimated that a person eats illegal pesticides 75 times a year just by following USDA’s recommendation of five servings of fruits and vegetables a day if they are purchased in regular supermarkets. Pesticide residues have chemical structures that are similar to estrogen. Produce with the most pesticides reported in A Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce include peaches, strawberries, apricots, apples, bell peppers, and spinach. [A product called Fitness can be sprayed on produce to clean it, but it is wise to take care of gut health to address any unknowns that slip into our systems with our food.]
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) with estrogen alone without sufficient opposing progesterone can create estrogen dominance. Premarin and oral estradiol have been commonly prescribed for HRT. These compounds are patented, synthetic hormonal substitutes that have molecular structures that differ from the natural estrogen in your body. They can disrupt hormone balance and create other health conditions like blood clots and breast cancer.
Stress can cause adrenal gland exhaustion as well as reduced progesterone output. This tilts the estrogen-to-progesterone ratio in favor of estrogen. Excessive estrogen in turn causes insomnia and anxiety, which further vexes the adrenal glands. This leads to a further reduction in progesterone output and even more estrogen dominance.
Poor liver function causes an inadequate breakdown of older hormones, allowing these back into the bloodstream in an even more toxic form than when they originally entered the liver. The toxic form of estrogen dramatically increases the risk for breast cancer, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, cervical dysplasia, and thyroid disorders.
How Do We Reduce Our Risk for Estrogen Dominant Related Health Conditions?
To protect your tissues from an excess of estrogen and to begin restoring function in your hormonal system, here are some things you should consider:
- Get a baseline test of your hormones. Saliva and urine testing can show active hormones and their metabolites to see your imbalances in order to correct them.
- Choose organic whole foods and fiber and get at least five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
- Identify and decrease unrelenting chronic stress, and support your adrenal and thyroid glands with proper rest and supplementation.
- Restore any digestive imbalances by taking a probiotic supplement to make certain that you have plenty of good bacteria on board to crowd out any overgrowth of yeast or bad bacteria.
- Help detoxify your liver of old estrogens by eating more green leafy cruciferous vegetables or supplement with an estrogen detoxifier.
- Decrease the use of alcohol and quit smoking.
In conclusion, estrogen dominance can put us at risk for serious health conditions. We cannot escape the excess estrogens we’re exposed to everyday from our environment. We do, however, have control over our lifestyle and being proactive in our approach to our health.
