Estrogen dominance

The fact is that the term really describes a condition where a woman can have deficient, normal or excessive estro gen, but has little or no progesterone to balance its effects in the body.

Most people are not aware that, in the West, the prevalence of estrogen dominance syndrome approaches 50 percent in women over 35 years old. Natural progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum after the ovulation and balances the side effects of otherwise unopposed est rogen. Under the influence of anovulatory cycles, menopause, stress and dietary antagonists, progesterone production ceases or is suppressed and the effects of estrogen dominance can be observed. Many women experience otherwise unexplained weight gain from the lack of progesterone that is required for proper thyroid function. 

Symptoms of estrogen dominance

There are several symptoms that could be linked to this hormone dominance:

• Acceleration of the aging process
• Allergies, including asthma, hives, rashes, sinus congestion
• Autoimmune disorders
• Breast cancer
• Breast tenderness
• Cervical dysplasia
• Cold hands and feet
• Copper excess
• Decreased sex drive
• Depression with anxiety or agitation
• Dry eyes
• Early onset of menstruation
• Endometrial (uterine) cancer
• Fat gain, especially around the abdomen, hips and thighs
• Fatigue
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Foggy thinking
• Gallbladder disease
• Hair Loss
• Headaches
• Hypoglycemia
• Increased blood clotting
• Infertility
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Magnesium deficiency
• Memory loss
• Mood swings
• Osteoporosis
• Polycystic ovaries
• Premenopause bone loss
• PMS
• Prostate cancer
• Sluggish metabolism
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Uterine cancer
• Uterine fibroids
• Water retention, bloating
• Zinc deficiency

Normal function of these hormones 

Estrogen
This hormone is very important in menstrual cycle regulation. It is the dominant hormone in the first week after menstruation.
It stimulates the build-up of tissue and blood in the uterus as the ovarian follicles simultaneously begin their development of the egg.

Progesterone
Progesterone is a major reproductive hormone during the latter two weeks of the menstrual cycle. It keeps the inner lining of the uterus ready to receive a fertilized ovum. Later it also provides the nurturing for the development of the embryo. If the egg is not fertilized, the progesterone levels drop dramatically causing the uterus to shed its lining resulting in the menstruation flow.

The possible causes of estrogen dominance

Impaired follicles and failure to ovulate
The most important cause of low progesterone is the follicle which cannot release the egg. Instead, the follicle becomes a cyst and the normal progesterone peak does not take place. This lack of increase in progesterone signals the hypothalamus to produce more luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, which then stimulate the ovary to make more estrogen and androgens.

 
Environmental estrogens
An increasing number of experts suspect that the substances called environmental estrogens are contributing to hormonal imbalances. In fact, estrogenic chemicals are present in the air, food and water. They include pesticides and herbicides as well as various plastics and PCBs. At least 50 environmental hormone mimics have been identified. 

These substances are highly fat-soluble and are stored in your fatty tissue

Impaired disposal of estrogens.
Another possible factor is that your body may have the impaired ability to metabolize and dispose of estrogens. This could be the case if you have impaired liver function or constipation.

Stress
It is well known that stress causes adrenal gland exhaustion and reduced progesterone output. This leads to excessive estrogen production with symptoms such as insomnia and anxiety, which further taxes the adrenal gland. After a few years in this type of vicious cycle, the adrenal glands become exhausted.
 
Obesity
It is proven that fat has an enzyme that converts adrenal steroids to estrogen.  Studies have shown that estrogen and progesterone levels fell in women who lost a significant amount of weight. Women who eat more wholesome foods have a far lower incidence of menopausal symptoms.

Possible complications

The scientific literature is clear that an excess of estrogen or estrogen activity at the cell level is the root cause of breast cancer. On the other hand, hormone imbalances triggered by the use of synthetic hormone combinations can have deadly consequences. The most recent studies on use of the synthetic hormones were abruptly cancelled when they proved to be a greater risk than benefit for a majority of diseases they were thought to be preventing:

• A 41% increase in strokes
• A 29% increase in heart attacks
• A 26% increase in breast cancer
• A 22% increase in total CVD
• A doubling of the rate of blood clots
• A possible contribution to Alzheimer's disease

High-risk population

It is proven that high risk population is made of those individuals in menopause especially with signs of low thyroid, fibroids, endometriosis and overall symptoms of too much estrogen including: breast tenderness, fibrocystic breasts, mood swings, vasomotor fluctuations, irritability, anxiety, fat gain and water retention.

Estrogen dominance commonly occurs in situations:

• When women are on estrogen replacement therapy.
• Premenopause when early follicle depletion results in the lack of ovulation
• Exposure to Xenoestrogens which is the cause of early follicle depletion. Xenoestrogens are foreign substances found outside the body in the air and food that have an estrogen effect on the body.
• Birth control pills with an excessive estrogen component.
• Women who have had a hysterectomy
• Post menopause, especially in women who are overweight
• Women who suffer from insulin resistance.

Treatment of estrogen dominance

Natural Progesterone supplementation:

Bioidentical progesterone cream
Estrogen dominance can be reduced by supplementing progesteron with bioidentical progesterone cream and by reducing patient’s exposure to environmental toxins or xenohormones. Recent studies indicate that bioidentical progesterone cream curbs hormonal imbalances.

Herbal Formula
There are many herbal formulas which are made to improve the symptoms caused by the estrogen dominance. It is proven that some of them can significantly improve the uterine fibroids and pelvic pain/cramps, irritability, tension, mood swings, acne, headaches, breast pain, bloating and weight gain. It was also found that chaste tree extract really helps the body remove exogenous from hormone therapy or contaminated food.

Antioxidants
Human liver is the cornerstone of the body health. Naturopaths and other alternative medicine practitioners who look for the underlying cause, often discover that the liver has had a role in this hormonal imbalance. The liver has two mechanisms designed to help detoxify the body. Antioxidants such as vitamins A, E, and especially C are essential for detoxification as they help the cells neutralize fee radicals that cause mutation and cellular damage.

Taurine
Taurine is an important amino acid in the female body and female hormone estradiol depresses its’ formation in the liver. Women who are on estrogen replacement, birth control pill, or those suffering from excessive estrogen may need more Taurine because it is helpful in clearing excessive fluid retention during menstrual period. 

Some useful tips

Dietary changes
Patients should improve their diet by including organic meats, poultry, eggs and dairy products that contain no growth hormones and antibiotics. They should also increase the consumption of fresh cold-water fish, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Cold-water fish such as salmon and tuna are a good source of protein and of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.

Regular exercising
A simple walking 4-5 times a week for 30 minutes is all that it takes. It is proven that exercise is essential for a healthy metabolism and hormone balances. Avoiding exercise can lead to an increased risk of illness, obesity, less energy, and even hormone imbalance.

Prevent obesity
Obesity is usually defined by the body mass index or BMI, which is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. An index of between 18.5 and 25 is considered healthy, while those with a score between 25 and 29 are classified as overweight and those whose BMI is higher than that are considered obese.

Stress reduction
Several researches have proven that the adrenal gland is where the stress is expressed. Chronic stress leading to adrenal fatigue is a leading cause of progesterone depletion and estrogen dominance.