What is Estrogen?

Estrogen is a hormone predominantly associated with the female reproductive system, though it is present in both males and females. It is integral in the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sexual characteristics, such as the development of breasts and the distribution of body fat. In women, estrogen helps control the menstrual cycle, managing the growth of the uterine lining during the first part of the cycle.

Beyond reproductive health, estrogen has several other functions in the body. It influences bone density, skin health, cholesterol levels, mood, and cognitive functions. It also plays a role in pregnancy, preparing the uterus for implantation and maintaining the early stages of pregnancy.

In males, estrogen supports certain functions, such as the maturation of sperm and libido. Although it is present in lower levels in males than in females, it's still essential for a healthy balance of hormones.

Estrogen levels can vary throughout a person's life, fluctuating during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, and can be affected by various factors including age, health, and lifestyle choices.

What is Estrogen Excess?

Estrogen excess occurs when the levels of estrogen in the body fall outside of normal therapeutic values. This can be due to many factors.

Common Causes of Estrogen Excess
 

Hormonal imbalance - The body may naturally produce too much estrogen due to an inherited condition or gene mutation.

Obesity - Believe it or not, fat tissue can boost the production of estrogen, so excess body weight can lead to higher levels of the hormone.

Exposure to estrogens from outside the body - This can come from medication like hormone replacement therapies, certain birth control methods, or environmental sources like xenoestrogens found in plastics and pesticides.

Liver Dysfunction - The liver is responsible for metabolizing and removing excess estrogen. If liver function is compromised, estrogen might not be broken down properly or removed from the body, leading to an excess accumulation.

Diet - Certain foods like soy, some fruits, flax seeds, and some nuts may boost the amount of estrogen in your body or the rate at which it is produced. Excess alcohol consumption is also a major driver of the production of estrogen in the body.

Activity levels -  A lack of exercise can contribute to elevated estrogen levels.
 

Estrogen excess can also be caused by underlying conditions, so it’s important to find answers as to why your estrogen levels are elevated because it could point to another problem. It can be associated with some types of cancer (like breast, ovary, and uterine cancer), PCOS, uterine fibroids, and insulin resistance.

Symptoms of Estrogen Excess

The symptoms of estrogen excess are similar to PMS, with problems like bloating, cramping, headaches, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and irregular or heavy periods. Dense breast tissue can also be an indicator of high estrogen.

The Difference Between Estrogen Excess and Dominance

Throughout the menstrual cycle, the ratios of progesterone and estrogen fluctuate in preparation for different actions, such as releasing an egg from the follicle, shedding the uterine lining, or preparing for pregnancy.

Estrogen excess is when the level of estrogen present in the body exceeds normal levels.

Estrogen dominance, however, occurs when estrogen levels overtake progesterone levels but remain within normal values. This throws off hormonal balance even if estrogen levels aren’t that high.

Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance can occur due to problems with estrogen production and usage as well as problems with progesterone because it’s all about the gap between the amounts of each hormone.

Common Causes of Estrogen Dominance

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) or anovulation (lack of egg release) - This hormonal disorder can disrupt regular ovulation and menstrual cycles, leading to lower progesterone levels.

Hypothyroidism - An underactive thyroid can complicate the synthesis of progesterone in the body.

Hyperprolactinemia - Elevated prolactin levels, often associated with lactation, can disrupt the balance of sex hormones, including progesterone.

Low Cholesterol - Since cholesterol is a building block for progesterone, low levels can lead to reduced production of the hormone.

Lifestyle Factors - Intense physical activity, high or prolonged stress, and restrictive diets can elevate cortisol levels and deprive the body of nutrients necessary for maintaining healthy hormone levels, affecting progesterone production.

Birth Control - Some types of hormonal birth control can induce estrogen dominance.

Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance can cause the same symptoms as estrogen excess in menstruating women, plus dramatic mood swings, insomnia, hair loss, weight gain (specifically around the hips), memory problems, low sex drive, and may even cause fertility issues.

In pregnant women, low progesterone can cause spotting, low blood sugar, fatigue, and it increases your risk of birth complications like ectopic pregnancy, preterm labor, and even miscarriage.

As the body transitions towards menopause, through a phase called perimenopause, hormone levels, including progesterone, naturally decline. This raises the risk of estrogen dominance as women age. The symptoms of estrogen dominance in peri-menopausal and menopausal women include warm flashes, impatience, bloating, anxiousness, loss of hair, and night sweats.

The Role of the Liver in Estrogen Clearance

The liver is your detoxification organ, clearing toxins, waste products, and excess hormones from your bloodstream.

Your liver’s role in estrogen clearance happens in 3 phases. Phase I is called hydroxylation. In this phase, your liver manufactures enzymes that break down estrogen into 3 derivatives with different actions. Two of these derivatives have the potential to cause problems like DNA damage and cancers related to estrogen, like ovarian, breast, and uterine. These products go through a process called methylation (Phase II), which turns them into methylestrogen, which has anti-cancer benefits. The other part of phase II is to make these derivatives water-soluble so that they can be filtered out and excreted in your urine or the stool via bile, which is done in part by your gut microbiome (Phase III).

Your genes control the amount of time your body takes to convert phase 1 products to methylestrogen and, finally, water-soluble products. This can contribute to your risk of developing certain cancers.

Holistic Notes on Estrogen Dominance and Clearance

Since the liver is so critically involved in the detoxification of estrogen and its metabolites, it is crucial to support the liver and its functions to achieve hormonal balance. Functional Medicine (FM) provides useful panels that assess urine metabolites to see how the body breaks down hormones. Supplements and nutritional recommendations are also available for detoxification of estrogen and its metabolites for each phase.

While the FM approach is a valuable tool for addressing the issue, we should not forget that the liver’s detoxification process is not done alone but is closely supported by other organs, including the intestines, the gallbladder, and the kidneys. In my experience, I support the intestines and the kidneys first to facilitate the liver’s detoxification function.

Chinese Medicine offers wonderful tools for estrogen excess and dominance, including a historically tested herbal formula that has been used for 5000 years. As a reminder, use of any herbal formula must be discussed and customized by a qualified practitioner.

From a lifestyle medicine point of view, the liver is a silent organ and is highly affected by stress. Your diet, especially a high-fat diet, will consume the bile and make the liver work harder to catch up. Alcohol consumption also requires detoxification in the liver, adding additional stress.

To conclude, estrogen dominance should be understood and treated holistically. In addition to any holistic treatment, lifestyle changes, a conscious diet. and mindful practice to reduce stress is strongly recommended. 

At our clinic, we offer holistic treatment with Japanese style acupuncture and herbal medicine to achieve hormonal balance naturally. For more information about our practice, please visit https://loveandcompassion.com. 

References

1. https://www.rupahealth.com/post/integrative-medicine-approach-to-estrogen-excess-testing-diagnoses-treatment
2. https://www.nourishdoc.com/health/estrogen-dominance-symptoms-in-women
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24613-low-progesterone
4. https://www.rupahealth.com/post/how-the-liver-affects-female-hormones

Disclaimer

This article “Estrogen Excess and Dominance” was originally created and published by LoveandCompassion.com under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Mika Ichihara, M.S., L.Ac., LL.M., B.Phar., Founder, Owner and Grand Master in Eastern Medicine and Energy Soul Medicine. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution and author bio. For more information about Mika and her practice, please visit www.loveandcompassion.com.