Symptoms of estrogen dominanace:
- PMS (premenstrual mood swings, breast tenderness, fluid retention, headaches, cravings, cramping)
- Endometriosis
- Ovarian cysts
- Fibrocystic breast diease
- Uterine fibroids
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Weight gain
- Migraines
- Heavy periods
- Decreased libido
Estrogen dominance refers to a time during a woman’s menstrual life when the primary influencing hormones are the estrogen hormones. This condition is caused by progesterone deficiency and is the cause of female hormone imbalance. A woman’s ovaries generally function best between a few years after puberty until around age 30. As a woman ages so do her ovaries. By the time a woman reaches 35 years of age she is over halfway through her menstrual life and her ovarian function begins to falter. The progesterone hormone production falls most dramatically over the last half of her menstrual life, between the ages of 35 and 50. This decline in progesterone occurs for two reasons. Firstly, the ovaries are aging and functioning less effectively than they did earlier in life. Secondly, as a woman ages she begins to have menstrual cycles during which her ovaries do not ovulate, that is, they do not give off an egg. This is called an anovulatory cycle. When a woman does not ovulate during a menstrual cycle, her ovaries will produce no progesterone. These are the causes of what is termed “progesterone deficiency”. In these cases the hormones that have the greatest influence in a woman’s body are the estrogen hormones. When this occurs a woman will experience estrogen dominance, meaning her female hormones are imbalanced in favor of the estrogen hormones. Many women have experienced estrogen dominance since puberty. In most women this condition develops as they move through their menstrual lives. The estrogen hormones and progesterone decline as a woman ages. But progesterone declines much more rapidly than do the estrogen hormones. As a woman approaches and enters the change of life, menopause, she may begin to experience the symptoms of declining estrogen hormones manifested by hot flashes and vaginal dryness. By this time progesterone is no longer being produced by the ovaries. Even as she has symptoms of declining estrogen a woman still has estrogen dominance because there is no progesterone to balance the lower levels of estrogen. When a woman enters menopause her ovaries no longer function. Yet she still makes estrogen hormones, primarily estrone, in her fat cells at approximately 50% of what she made premenstrually. The estrogen hormones affect every cell in a woman’s body. Depending on the degree of the progesterone deficiency, estrogen dominance may manifest itself with one. See the section, What are the Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance? In menstruating females Progesterone can be used on days 15 through 28 of the menstrual cycle. The dose of Progesterone will vary depending a woman’s age, size, symptoms and weight. Very few physicians, including Ob-Gyn doctors, have been trained or have the experience to properly dose the biologically identical human hormones correctly. Most physicians, who prescribe these hormones, use much too high of a dose. This can cause adverse symptoms and make you think that you cannot take these bio-identical hormones. It is important to seek the care of a physician who is experienced and who has been successful in evaluating and treating female hormonal imbalances with bio-identical hormones. After a hysterectomy, if the ovaries are removed, the Ob-Gyn will prescribe counterfeit estrogen hormones or horse estrogen, such as Premarin, Ogen or Cenestin. This maintains the condition of estrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency which caused her problems in the first place. The symptoms of estrogen dominance will persist and worsen on the counterfeit estrogen hormones. After a hysterectomy, in which the ovaries were removed, a woman still needs progesterone. Many Ob-Gyn doctors tell women that they do not need progesterone after a hysterectomy because they no longer have a uterus. This would be true if it was only the uterus that had receptors for progesterone. But every cell in the body has receptors for progesterone, most importantly the brain cells. Progesterone balances estrogen and opposes the stimulating effect of estrogen on the cells of the body. Progesterone is also the hormone which stimulates new bone formation and is needed to prevent further bone loss. Menopausal women should take both Bi-Est, a combination of the bio-identical human estrogens, estriol and estradiol, and Progesterone. Additionally, Testosterone may be helpful in restoring a normal sex drive.