Last Updated on October 31, 2024

Estrogen dominance is a common cause of weight gain/stubborn fat, as well as lots of other physical and mental health issues.  I see estrogen dominance a lot in my clients that struggle to lose weight and feel great.

Whenever I see estrogen dominance confirmed with functional labs, reversing it becomes the main priority.  Why?  It’s damn near impossible to burn fat, feel good, and it’s dangerous.

When it comes to hormone imbalances estrogen dominance is one of the most common, frustrating, and debilitating.

In this article, you’ll discover:

  • What estrogen is
  • What causes estrogen dominance
  • Why it’s considered dangerous
  • What are symptoms of estrogen dominance?
  • How to reverse it and balance estrogen

 

Let’s dig in!

 

What is estrogen dominance?

 

Estrogen dominance refers to a condition where there is an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone in the body, particularly when estrogen levels are high relative to progesterone.

This can happen in both men and women, but it’s more commonly discussed in the context of women, especially in relation to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, or menopause.

Estrogen is naturally highest during a woman’s reproductive years, peaking in the late 20s to early 30s.  But different things can influence hormone levels and cause estrogen dominance.

 

What Causes of Estrogen Dominance?

 

  • Perimenopause/Menopause: As women approach menopause, progesterone levels often drop more significantly than estrogen, leading to relative estrogen dominance.
  • Hormonal Imbalance: Some women naturally produce more estrogen than progesterone.
  • Xenoestrogens: These are chemicals found in the environment (plastics, pesticides, personal care products) that mimic estrogen in the body, potentially contributing to estrogen dominance.
  • Diet and Lifestyle: Poor diet, lack of exercise, or exposure to endocrine disruptors can also influence estrogen levels.  A diet high in refined carbohydrates, sugar, and low in fiber may impact the liver’s ability to metabolize estrogen.
  • Chronic stress: High cortisol from stress depletes progesterone, disrupting the estrogen-progesterone balance.
  • Impaired liver function: If the liver is unable to break down and detoxify estrogen efficiently, estrogen levels can accumulate.

 

Why is estrogen dominance an issue?

 

Estrogen dominance can be an issue because it disrupts the delicate balance of hormones in the body, leading to a variety of symptoms and potential long-term health risks. Estrogen and progesterone are meant to work together to regulate many bodily functions, especially in women. When estrogen levels are too high relative to progesterone, it can result in physical, emotional, and metabolic problems.

Here are the main reasons why estrogen dominance is an issue.

 

Estrogen Dominance and Increased Risk of Hormone-Related Disorders

 

  • Breast Cancer: High levels of estrogen, especially unopposed by adequate progesterone, are associated with an increased risk of estrogen-dependent cancers, particularly breast cancer. Overexposure to estrogen can stimulate the growth of breast tissue and potentially promote the development of malignant cells.
  • Uterine and Endometrial Conditions: Estrogen dominance is linked to conditions like uterine fibroids (non-cancerous tumors) and endometriosis (where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus), both of which can cause pain, heavy bleeding, and other complications.

 

Estrogen Dominance and Menstrual / Reproductive Problems

 

  • Irregular Menstrual Cycles: Women with estrogen dominance often experience heavy, prolonged, or irregular periods, which can lead to anemia or excessive fatigue.
  • Infertility: An imbalance between estrogen and progesterone can interfere with ovulation and the regularity of menstrual cycles, making it harder to conceive.
  • Severe PMS: Excess estrogen can worsen symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), such as bloating, mood swings, irritability, and breast tenderness.

 

Estrogen Dominance can cause Weight Gain and Metabolism Issues

 

  • Fat Storage: Estrogen promotes fat storage, particularly in areas like the hips, thighs, and abdomen. Estrogen dominance can make it difficult to lose weight or manage body fat distribution, even with diet and exercise.
  • Sluggish Metabolism: It can also slow down metabolism, leading to weight gain and difficulty maintaining a healthy weight.

 

Estrogen Dominances affect on Mood and Mental Health

 

  • Anxiety, Depression, and Irritability: Estrogen dominance is often linked to mood swings, anxiety, depression, and irritability due to its influence on neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood.
  • Brain Fog: Cognitive issues, such as difficulty concentrating or memory problems, can also occur with estrogen dominance.

 

Estrogen Dominance and Thyroid Dysfunction

 

  • Hypothyroidism-Like Symptoms: Estrogen dominance can interfere with the thyroid gland’s ability to function properly, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and cold intolerance. It does this by increasing the amount of thyroid-binding globulin (TBG), a protein that binds thyroid hormone, making it less available for the body’s use.
  • High estrogen can prevent the conversion of T4 into T3 thyroid hormone.
  • Prolonged exposure to excess levels of estrogen can place a woman at greater risk for autoimmune thyroiditis (or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis).
  • Hypothyroidism can slow the liver’s ability to break down estrogen, which can lead to a buildup of estrogen. 

 

Estrogen Dominance and Bone Health

 

  • While estrogen is important for maintaining bone density, an imbalance that favors excess estrogen without enough progesterone may lead to bone density loss in some cases, increasing the risk of osteoporosis over time.

 

Estrogen Dominance and Chronic Inflammation

 

  • Estrogen dominance can promote inflammation, which can exacerbate other health conditions such as autoimmune diseases or cardiovascular issues.

 

Estrogen Dominance’s Impact on Quality of Life

 

  • The symptoms associated with estrogen dominance—ranging from fatigue to mood disturbances, weight gain, and sleep problems—can significantly affect daily life and overall well-being.

 

 

What are symptoms of estrogen dominance?

 

The symptoms of estrogen dominance can vary widely but often affect many aspects of physical and emotional health. Here’s a comprehensive list of potential symptoms.  These symptoms usually present in clusters.

 

A list of 39 Symptoms of Estrogen dominance

 

Menstrual and Reproductive Symptoms

 

  • Heavy or prolonged periods
  • Irregular menstrual cycles
  • Severe PMS (premenstrual syndrome)
  • Breast tenderness or swelling
  • Fibrocystic breasts (lumpy or painful breasts)
  • Uterine fibroids (non-cancerous growths in the uterus)
  • Endometriosis (painful growth of tissue outside the uterus)
  • Decreased sex drive (libido)
  • Infertility or difficulty conceiving

 

Weight and Metabolic Symptoms

 

  • Weight gain, especially around the hips, thighs, and abdomen
  • Difficulty losing weight
  • Bloating or water retention
  • Sluggish metabolism

 

Mood and Mental Health Symptoms

 

  • Mood swings
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Brain fog (difficulty concentrating, memory issues)
  • Fatigue (feeling tired despite adequate sleep)

 

Physical Symptoms

 

  • Headaches or migraines, especially around the menstrual cycle
  • Hair loss or thinning hair
  • Acne or other skin problems, especially around the jawline
  • Cold hands and feet (sometimes linked to thyroid dysfunction)
  • Sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, insomnia)

 

Thyroid-Related Symptoms

 

  • Hypothyroid-like symptoms (fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, constipation)
  • Cold intolerance (feeling cold even when others are comfortable)

 

Breast and Reproductive Organ Symptoms

 

  • Breast swelling and tenderness before or during the menstrual cycle
  • Development of breast cysts (fluid-filled lumps)
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) (in some cases)

 

Digestive Symptoms

 

  • Bloating and digestive discomfort
  • Constipation (due to slower bowel movements)

 

Other Symptoms

 

  • Reduced tolerance to stress
  • Low energy levels
  • Increased allergies or sensitivities (sometimes related to inflammation)
  • Gallbladder issues (including gallstones, which are more common in women with estrogen dominance)

These symptoms can range from mild to severe, and they may occur in clusters. Managing estrogen dominance often involves balancing estrogen with progesterone, addressing diet and lifestyle factors, and sometimes using medical interventions.

 

How do you Reduce Estrogen Dominance and get back into balance?

 

You can often balance estrogen and reduce symptoms quickly and naturally.  Here are the most effective strategies:

  • Eat a Balanced Diet: Focus on consuming plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.  I recommend eating for your unique metabolic needs as different metabolic types digest & absorb nutrients differently.  Take my Metabolic Type Quiz & Training to discover your metabolic type and the best diet you.
  • Engage in Weight-Bearing Exercises: Activities like walking, hiking, or strength training can be beneficial.  Take my Program Style Quiz to discover the right workout program for your skill level & goals.
  • Practice Stress Management: Techniques such as meditation can be effective. Somatic exercises are particularly effective in balancing the nervous system and balance hormones in the process. Stress is a root cause of ALL hormone issues.  Luckily, Somatic Exercises stop stress, balance the nervous system, and make it significantly easier to balance hormones, feel great, and lose weight.  If you feel stressed, struggled with hormone imbalance, and stubborn weight my Somatic Exercise Program will get you feeling better and losing weight quickly and naturally.
  • Maintain a Healthy Weight: Focus on achieving and maintaining a weight that’s healthy for you. The more excess body fat you have typically means you’ll experience more challenging symptoms.  Reducing body fat can help minimize symptoms.  But dropping body fat too low can actually imbalance hormones and make issues worse.  Reducing body fat to appropriate levels is key!
  • Enhance Sleep Hygiene:  Improve sleep quality and get a minimum of 7-8 hours of deep sleep a day to keep hormones balanced.  Use these 12 Tips for Better Sleep to get the quality sleep you need.
  • Quality Supplementation:  Some supplements help balance hormones better than others.  Check out supplements for hormones to learn more and see what I recommend most for hormone balance.
  • Limit Alcohol and Caffeine: Reducing these can help alleviate some symptoms.
  • Quit Smoking: Avoid tobacco products, as they can overburden the liver and make symptoms worse.

 

What’s the fastest way to reduce estrogen?

 

A detox can help reverse estrogen dominance by supporting the body’s natural processes for eliminating excess estrogen. Here’s how:

  • Liver Support: The liver is responsible for breaking down and metabolizing estrogen. A detox can improve liver function by reducing its burden, helping it process and remove excess estrogen more efficiently.  A lot of hormone issues are rooted in liver function issues making optimizing and supporting the liver a main priority in treating symptoms.
  • Gut Health: Detoxing often includes increasing fiber intake, which supports the elimination of estrogen through the digestive system. A healthy gut flora also prevents reabsorption of estrogen back into the bloodstream.
  • Elimination of Toxins: A detox helps reduce exposure to xenoestrogens (environmental toxins that mimic estrogen), which can lower the estrogen load in the body.
  • Hormonal Balance: By removing inflammatory foods, alcohol, and processed sugars, a detox can reduce insulin resistance and support overall hormonal balance, including lowering estrogen levels relative to progesterone.

Overall, a detox promotes estrogen elimination and helps restore hormonal balance by improving liver, gut, and overall metabolic function.

To rapidly reduce estrogen, balance hormones, support the liver, and detox your entire body I recommend my Reset Cleanse.  You can lose up to 10 pounds in 7 days, too!

If you’re experiencing estrogen dominance, it’s important to address your lifestyle and use a tailored treatment plan to enhance your overall well-being.  In some cases functional labs are recommended to pinpoint the root cause of estrogen dominance, mainly liver function, gut health status, and a functional metabolic panel.  If you’re interested in a personalized treatment plan or functional labs – you can apply to work with me here.

If you have estrogen dominance treatment should be a priority.  My tips will definitely help.

Your Coach & Biggest Cheerleader,

a meter showing high estrogen levels and text that says 39 Symptoms of Estrogen dominance that shouldn't be ignored

 

If you liked this article, you’ll also like:

DISCOVER YOUR METABOLIC TYPE & HOW TO EAT TO BURN FAT 3 TIMES FASTERTAKE THE QUIZ