ESTROGEN DOMINANCE

Estrogen dominance is a common female condition in which the amount of estrogen in the body is out of balance and in excess as compared to the amount of progesterone a woman has. The actual level of estrogen can be low, normal or high but is out of proportion to the amount of circulating estrogen.

The symptoms of estrogen dominance include those that many women can recognize. The table below lists some of the most common symptoms associated with estrogen dominance.

  • Increased fat in abdomen and hips
  • Insulin resistance
  • Blood sugar fluctuations
  • Insomnia
  • Mood swings
  • Depression
  • Anxiety or agitation
  • Irritability or anger
  • Memory problems
  • Cravings for sweets or chocolate
  • Osteoporosis
  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Allergies
  • Muscle or joint pains
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Breast tenderness or enlargement
  • Fibrocystic breast disease
  • Gall bladder problems
  • Irregular periods
  • Low sex drive
  • Infertility
  • Cramps
  • Prolonged, heavy bleeding
  • Fluid retention
  • Headaches or Migraines
  • Acne
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Endometriosis
  • Adenomyosis
  • Cervical dysplasia
  • Polycystic ovarian disease
  • Cancer of Breast or Ovaries
  • Cancer of Uterus or Cervix

The causes of estrogen dominance are numerous. They include many lifestyle issues like exposure to xenohormones, which are hormones that are taken in from outside the body. This can involve the consumption of hormone-laden meats, diets high in carbohydrates and trans-fats. Nutritional deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, zinc, copper and B complex vitamins can lead to this condition as well.

Stress which causes excess fatigue on the adrenal glands results in the lack of ability of the adrenal gland to make progesterone from its precursor hormones. In addition, the use of conventional hormone replacement therapy and even birth control pills will contribute to the dominance of estrogen over progesterone. Finally, women who don’t ovulate don’t make enough progesterone in the last half of their cycle, resulting in a marked increase in estrogen over progesterone.

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