Estrogen dominance

What is estrogen dominance?

Estrogen dominance occurs when there is an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone levels in the body. This condition is quite common among women going through perimenopause or menopause as progesterone levels start to drop. However, younger women can experience it as well due to chronic stress, poor diet, and environmental toxins.

Some key signs and symptoms of estrogen dominance include:

• Irregular menstrual cycles


• Heavy, painful, or prolonged periods


• PMS symptoms like breast tenderness, bloating, and mood swings


• Fat gain, especially around the hips and thighs


• Low libido


• Headaches or migraines


• Poor sleep


• Low mood or irritability

The root causes include:

• Declining progesterone levels


• Chronic stress elevating cortisol


• Xenoestrogens from plastics and cosmetics


• Obesity driving more estrogen production

If left unaddressed, estrogen dominance can contribute to more concerning health issues down the road like infertlity, higher cancer risk, autoimmunity, and insulin resistance leading to diabetes.

So what can you do? Seeing a functional medicine practitioner like Dr. Smith at Optimal Hormone Solutions is a great starting point for proper testing and to rule out any underlying issues. Typically a multifaceted approach is best:

• Bioidentical progesterone to help rebalance hormones


• Stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, or counseling


• Eliminating xenoestrogens from diet and environment


• Losing excess fat through nutrition and exercise


• Supporting liver detoxification

With an individualized and comprehensive treatment plan targeting diet, lifestyle, supplements and more, most cases of estrogen dominance can be reversed in a matter of months. Ask Dr. Smith at Optimal Hormone Solutions how they can help you feel balanced and vibrant again!