How to Tell if You Have Oestrogen Dominance: Signs, Symptoms & Treatment

What is oestrogen?

Oestrogen is a hormone that is present in both men and women, however, women have higher levels. Oestrogen has many different functions in the body, including regulating the menstrual cycle and supporting pregnancy. Oestrogen also helps to maintain bone density, cognitive health and cardiovascular health.

Oestrogen is actually a collective term for a group of hormones, including estradiol, estrone and estriol. Estradiol is the most potent form of oestrogen and is present in both men and women. Postmenopausal women have higher levels of estrone, and pregnant women have higher levels of estriol.

Oestrogen levels fluctuate throughout our lives, peaking during puberty and pregnancy and declining as we age. In men, oestrogen remains stable throughout their adult life but will eventually begin to increase as levels of testosterone naturally decrease.

What is progesterone?

Progesterone is required to help maintain hormone balance. It’s a steroid hormone that’s produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands in women and by the testes in men. Progesterone helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and is also necessary for pregnancy. It works with oestrogen to prepare the endometrium (lining of the uterus) for the implantation of a fertilised egg. It is often thought of as a female hormone, but men also need progesterone in order to be able to produce testosterone.

Levels of progesterone vary throughout the month, increasing sharply around ovulation and then falling before menstruation. As men and women age, progesterone levels will decline. But this isn’t typically the reason for hormonal imbalances such as oestrogen dominance.

What causes oestrogen dominance?

There are a number of different factors that can contribute to oestrogen dominance, including:

Excess body fat: Fat cells produce estrogen, so being overweight or obese can increase your levels of this hormone.
Birth control pills: The hormones in birth control pills can disrupt the body’s natural hormone balance.
Environmental toxins: Exposure to certain chemicals, such as pesticides and plastics, can increase oestrogen levels.
Stress: Chronic stress can lead to imbalances in hormones like cortisol, which can impact oestrogen levels.
Lack of fibre: Fibre is required to bind to oestrogen and remove it through the bowel.

Now that we know a little more about what oestrogen is and what causes it to become imbalanced let’s take a look at some of the signs and symptoms of oestrogen dominance.

Oestrogen dominance symptoms in women

There is a wide range of potential symptoms associated with oestrogen dominance, including:

Breast tenderness or enlargement
Fibrocystic breasts
Endometriosis
Heavy or irregular periods
Decreased sex drive
Anxiety
Weight gain
Hair loss
Cold hands or feet
Trouble sleeping
Memory problems

Oestrogen dominance symptoms in men

Infertility
Gynecomastia (breast enlargement)
Erectile dysfunction

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, it’s possible that you could be suffering from oestrogen dominance. Testing is available to determine if your symptoms are caused by high oestrogen or oestrogen dominance. The good news is that this condition is very treatable and the risk of complications is lowered when it is caught early.

How to treat oestrogen dominance

There are a number of different ways to treat oestrogen dominance, depending on the underlying cause.

Increase exercise

Moving your body is one of the best ways to address oestrogen dominance. Excess body fat is a key factor in oestrogen dominance, so maintaining a healthy weight with good muscle mass is a great way to keep hormones in check.

Exercise will also support your body’s metabolic processes, enabling it to break down estrogens into the 2-hydroxy estrogens, which are easier for your body to remove.

Take control of stress

Stress leads to spikes in cortisol production by the adrenal glands. Cortisol is the “fight or flight” hormone that increases alertness and helps the body cope with stressful situations.

The body needs progesterone to produce cortisol, so increased stress levels can deplete progesterone levels by shifting focus towards cortisol production. This can lead to oestrogen dominance, even without high oestrogen levels. Taking control of stress is one of the simplest ways you can boost progesterone levels.

High and prolonged cortisol levels can lead to an array of additional health problems, so it’s worth taking steps to limit stress, even if oestrogen dominance isn’t a concern.

Avoid toxins

Our environments are filled with endocrine disruptors. These chemicals can mimic or interfere with our hormones and lead to oestrogen dominance, among other problems. One type of endocrine disruptor is xenoestrogens, which mimic the role of oestrogen in the body.

These are found in common beauty products (parabens and benzophenone), processed foods, plastics (BPA and phthalates), household cleaning products and insecticides. Identifying and cutting these out of your life could help to address your oestrogen dominance.

Eat more phytoestrogen-rich foods

It might seem counterintuitive to eat foods rich in phytoestrogens, but this can actually provide a balancing effect. Phytoestrogens found in soy and legumes contain a weaker form of oestrogen that downregulates your total oestrogen load.

Focus on plant-based foods

The food that we eat helps to break down and remove hormones, so it’s important to choose the right balance. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains all contain fibre and b-vitamins that help to support a healthy hormone balance in the body.

Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussel sprouts are also great for maintaining healthy hormone balance. These contain compounds known as indoles, which help to support the liver in metabolising oestrogen.

Conclusion

While damaging, oestrogen dominance is certainly very treatable. The first step is to confirm this is your problem, and then identify the possible causes. Once you know the causes, you can take steps to address your oestrogen dominance through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes.

It’s worth noting that oestrogen dominance has been linked to an increased risk of muscle, tendon, and ligament injury during exercise. So, if you are following an intense training programme, it’s important to get your oestrogen dominance under control to minimise the risk of injury.

Coach Michael

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