Estrogen Dominance: Causes, Symptoms, and How to Manage It

What is Estrogen Dominance?

Estrogen dominance refers to estrogen levels that are higher relative to progesterone levels in the body; the ratio of estrogen to progesterone has shifted far to the estrogen side of the ratio. It is not an official medical diagnosis but a common health concern that can trickle down into many serious problems. To say high estrogen is not always enough as it might not be a problem or cause symptoms if there is enough progesterone to balance it out. This is why you may also see the terminology “relative estrogen dominance.”

Estrogen to Progesterone ratio

For women who are menstruating monthly, the blood hormone levels on day 21 of their cycle have an estradiol-to-progesterone ratio of ideally 10:1. If the progesterone is lower and estradiol (a form of estrogen) is higher, then this is likely to cause symptoms and fall into the realm of estrogen dominance. The DUTCH test is another method to evaluate hormones in both cycling and non-cycling women.

Common Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance:

• Heavy Periods
• Water Retention
• Bloating
• Headaches or Migraines
• Unintentional weight gain (especially waist, arms, thighs)
• Mood Swings
• Painful periods
• PMS
• Hair loss

Why Does Estrogen Dominance Happen?

There are several factors that can contribute to estrogen dominance:

• Inflammation
• Certain nutrient deficiencies
• Blood sugar dysregulation
• Intestinal dysbiosis and elevated beta glucuronidase
• Liver detoxification challenges
• Anovulation (lack of ovulation or releasing an egg)
• Exposure to environmental factors (like xenoestrogens)
• Mold exposure (indoor mold is are estrogenic, especially when you are breathing in clinically significant amounts)
• Genetics

Why is Estrogen Dominance a Concern?

Estrogen dominance is problematic as it can cascade into many other conditions:

• Autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto thyroiditis and others
• Fibrocystic breast problems
• Gallbladder disease
• Migraines
• Hormone-dependent cancers (breast, uterine, ovarian)
• Endometriosis
• Infertility
• Weight gain (fat cells can make estrogen, and the more fat we store, the more estrogen can increase – this can be a vicious cycle)
• Menstrual irregularities
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Uterine fibroids

How can Functional Nutrition help Reverse Estrogen Dominance in Some Cases?

Here are some nutrition strategies to consider to help balance sex hormones and improve the estrogen to progesterone ratio.

• Eat more Omega-3 fatty acids, such as wild salmon, sardines, nuts, and flaxseed. This can help reduce inflammation.
• Focus on high-fiber foods, including vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and grains such as rice, quinoa, oatmeal, and buckwheat; all of this aligns with a Mediterranean Diet. Fiber intake can help with daily bowel movements, which are important for excreting excess estrogen.
• Addressing constipation: If daily pooping is not happening, excess estrogen is not excreted well & it can recirculate.
• Include more cruciferous vegetables each week, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts. These contain DIM, a phytonutrient, that helps support healthy estrogen levels via enhancing estrogen detoxification.
• Drink more green tea, preferably daily. Green tea has catechins have been shown to help the body eliminate excess estrogen. Green tea has many other health benefits too!
• Correct nutrient deficiencies. When certain nutrients are consumed in inadequate amounts, then the liver is not getting the full assistance it needs (as certain nutrients are cofactors in liver detoxification. Note that the liver has a role in of metabolizing estrogen).
  • B vitamins, NAC, Magnesium, Vitamin C, Folate, Glutamine, Vitamin D are all necessary in adequate amounts to best assist the liver in phase 1 and phase 2 liver detox
  • Check out my online program: Discerningly Detoxing
• Getting your stool tested to see if your beta glucuronidase is elevated, which often goes hand in hand with intestinal dysbiosis.
  • If the beta glucuronidase enzyme is elevated, it can lead to higher levels of estrogen in the body.
  • Calcium D-Glucarate taken for 8 weeks can help decrease beta glucuronidase; also fixing intestinal dysbiosis can also help decrease beta glucuronidase. I recommend the GI-Map FDA approved stool test to assess both intestinal dysbiosis and to check the beta glucuronidase enzyne. *Intestinal dysbiosis is essentially an unhealthy gut environment that is characterized by low levels of good bacteria and higher levels of bad bacteria.
• Address stress levels as stress can alter your hormones, which can increase cortisol which can decrease progesterone (which worsens the estrogen to progesterone ratio). For some women, supplements to suport adrenal function can help their body’s hormonal stress response, and also help them feel better.
• Screen your home for clinically significant levels of toxic indoor mold. The medically recognized way to do this that is cited in medical literature is to do an ERMI test.
  • An ERMI is an at home dust collection kit that tells us WHAT and HOW MUCH mold. IF the score if >5, then you need professional Mold inspection, and then remediation if needed, and then mold detoxification.
  • Need help navigating mold? If you think or know mold is in your home, register for my Healing from Mold Online Program
• As a proactive strategy, start reducing your exposure to xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogrens are found in tap water, fragrances, receipts, food dyes, plastic. They mimic our own estrogen but can be 1000x as strong. Xenoestrogens get stored in fat cells and reduce the body’s ability to excrete excess estrogen. This is a whole area to dive into but to help you get started
  • 1) filter your water. I recommend the Aqua Tru Water filtration system or Distilled water only. Tap water is a slow legalized poisoning and fridge filtered water isn’t much better. You can minerals from food – invest in truly safe water which is RO and Distilled only
    • Check your water here if you dare
  • 2) Buy low toxin detergent. I love, use and recommend Norwex laundry detergent for over 11 years.
  • 3) Stop using toxin filled haircare, skincare, and toothpaste. I love and use Oliveda for skincare and haircare. It is 100% organic and went viral last year as “botox in a bottle.” I love and use Dr. Bronner’s body wash and dentalcidin toothpaste.

To learn more about nutrition for reversing estrogen dominance:

Working with a skilled healthcare professional is important as reversing estrogen dominance is a very nuanced topic in which many factors need looked at like other comorbidites, what medications and supplements are being taken, surgical history, family history, and is the woman cycling or non-cycling at the current point in her life.

Addressing the underlying issues that can contribute to estrogen dominance, such as an unhealthy gut environment, can naturally help the body keep hormones in normal ranges. This is why I heavily support (and utilize) functional nutrition in my practice. Sometimes, medical management is needed. I recommend establishing with an Integrative OB/GYN.

If you are interested in an individualized nutrition consultation, I offer telehealth nutrition packages 🙂

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