Unraveling Hormone Imbalances: Have You Heard of Estrogen Dominance?

Estrogen dominance is a recent buzz-word thrown around in the functional medicine world. What does it actually mean?  Estrogen dominance means two things: Either the woman has progesterone levels that have tanked or she has normal levels of progesterone but too much estrogen in relation to progesterone.

The symptoms of estrogen dominance are going to be the familiar symptoms of high estrogen or low progesterone. These symptoms include:
-PMS symptoms
-Water retention
-Migraines
-Anxiety
-Fertility struggles
-Insomnia
Estrogen dominance is not the only cause for these symptoms, which is why hormone testing is crucial. These symptoms can lead to chronic stress overtime which then puts your body into a “fight or flight” mode at almost all times of the day.

There are a ton of reasons why progesterone decreases and they are similar to why estrogen decreases. A couple of reasons are as follows: Age or menopause, hysterectomy with the ovaries removed, disordered eating, low cholesterol, inflammation in ovaries, extreme exercise, mold, parasites, lack of sleep, and thyroid issues can all affect woman’s hormones.

A fact we recently learned here at Tree Of Life was that as little as 10 days of NSAID use can suppress ovulation! Hormones are temperamental, but if you want to feel your best, it is important to get them under control, which often includes lifestyle changes as well.

-Chaste tree berry
-Maca
-Fenugreek
-Evening primrose oil
-Vitamin C
These supplements and herbs are some of the most common supplements to help support progesterone. Hormones often change, so we recommend running labs as often as every 3 months if you are trying to fix a hormone imbalance. If you choose to go on HRT it is even more important to keep checking them to make sure you are on the correct dosage.

If you are interested in getting your hormones checked, we have a practitioner on staff to help with that! Kelsey recommends running labs as often as every 3 months if you are trying to fix a hormone imbalance. If you suspect you may be experiencing symptoms related to estrogen dominance, it’s essential to consult with a professional like Kelsey and consider running the necessary laboratory tests. By taking proactive steps to assess and manage your hormone levels, you are working towards a healthier and happier you!