How Do You Know if Your Estrogen Is Too High?
Are You Estrogen Dominant?
Estrogen plays an essential role in the course of our reproductive lives and beyond. It regulates our menstrual cycle, strengthens our bones, controls our cholesterol, and much more. When our estrogen levels drop, we experience menopausal symptoms. But even before menopause, varying levels of this vital hormone can wreak havoc. That’s because estrogen requires a delicate balance with other hormones. When that hormonal balance is disturbed, we can experience many frustrating symptoms.
This hormonal imbalance often occurs during a particularly busy time of our lives, the period from about age 25 through to menopause. As a result, our practice sees many women dealing with unexplained weight gain, mood swings, and libido problems. But there is help available. A few simple steps can help you restore balanced estrogen levels and feel like yourself again.
How Do You Know if You Have Estrogen Dominance or hormonal imbalances?
Estrogen dominance can impact many areas of our lives, with symptoms that range from subtle shifts to significant disruptions in wellbeing. Many women in this age group assume these issues are a normal part of aging or a consequence of their busy schedules. But even a slight imbalance in hormone levels can lead to several problems.
Symptoms can vary greatly by person but often include:
- Increased weight, especially in the belly and hip area
- Heavier periods
- More severe PMS
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Fibrocystic and painful breasts
- Uterine fibroids
- An increase in fatigue
- Loss of libido
- Water retention and bloating
- Depression
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Bloating (water retention)
- Headaches
- Foggy brain
- Memory troubles
- Insomnia and restlessness
Does that list look familiar? I see many women every month with complaints like these. We understand how frustrating they can be, especially when you cannot find an effective treatment. And, of course, the complicated relationship between estrogen and our emotions can only magnify the frustration. Who wants to feel irritated about feeling irritable?
And it’s not only women who can experience estrogen dominance. You may be surprised to know that men can also suffer an excess of estrogen. In men, estrogen dominance can manifest a bit differently, with some of these symptoms being common:
- Enlarged breasts
- Sexual dysfunction
- Infertility
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Midsection fat
To learn more about what Causes Estrogen Dominance and how to treat it stay tuned for the next post.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC313802
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10188197
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15276966
