Hormones are like the body’s messengers, keeping everything from your metabolism to your mood in balance. But when one hormone gets too high in relation to others—especially estrogen—it can throw the whole system off. This is what we call estrogen dominance, and it’s more common than you might think, particularly in women in their 30s, 40s, and even postmenopausal years.
What Is Estrogen Dominance?
Estrogen dominance doesn’t necessarily mean you have high estrogen levels—though that can be the case. It means estrogen is high relative to progesterone, its natural counterbalance. When progesterone is too low, even a normal level of estrogen can have dominant effects on the body.
Common Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance:
Weight gain (especially around hips, thighs, and belly)
PMS, heavy or irregular periods
Breast tenderness or fibrocystic breasts
Endometriosis
Mood swings, anxiety, or depression
Fatigue or low libido
Brain fog
Bloating or water retention
Thyroid dysfunction
Insomnia
Now, let’s dive into why this happens.
Top Reasons for Estrogen Dominance
1. Chronic Stress (Low Progesterone)
When your body is under constant stress, it prioritizes making cortisol (your stress hormone) over progesterone—a process called "pregnenolone steal." This shift causes progesterone levels to drop, giving estrogen the upper hand.
2. Poor Liver Detoxification
Your liver plays a key role in breaking down and clearing out excess estrogen. If your liver is sluggish due to alcohol, processed foods, medications, or environmental toxins, estrogen builds up in the body and recirculates—leading to dominance.
3. Gut Imbalances
The gut helps eliminate used hormones via stool. Dysbiosis (an imbalance in gut bacteria) or constipation can impair estrogen clearance. A specific set of gut bacteria known as the estrobolome is responsible for metabolizing estrogen. If it's disrupted, estrogen reabsorption increases.
4. Xenoestrogens (Environmental Estrogens)
We’re constantly exposed to estrogen-mimicking chemicals found in plastics (BPA), pesticides, personal care products, and household cleaners. These xenoestrogens bind to estrogen receptors and amplify estrogenic effects in the body.
5. Hormonal Birth Control
Many forms of birth control introduce synthetic estrogen (and progestins) into the body. Over time, this can contribute to imbalances, especially if your body’s detox pathways are overwhelmed.
6. Obesity or Excess Body Fat
Fat cells don’t just store fat—they produce estrogen. More fat tissue = more estrogen in circulation, creating a vicious cycle. This is especially true with belly fat, which is metabolically active.
7. Hypothyroidism
Low thyroid function slows down metabolism, detoxification, and gut motility—all of which can contribute to estrogen buildup. Plus, low thyroid hormone can reduce progesterone production, making estrogen appear more dominant.
What You Can Do About It?
Balancing estrogen isn’t just about lowering estrogen—it's about supporting the entire hormonal ecosystem. Here are some functional medicine strategies to start:
Support the liver with cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, kale), milk thistle, and B vitamins
Manage stress through breath-work, movement, and adequate sleep
Improve gut health with fiber, probiotics, and regular bowel movements
Reduce exposure to endocrine disruptors—go clean with skincare, cookware, and cleaning products
Get functional labs done (like DUTCH testing) to evaluate your estrogen metabolites and hormone balance. Reach out to Xenia, your functional medicine provider in Austin, Texas to get started.
Curious if You Have Estrogen Dominance?
If you're dealing with persistent symptoms that feel hormonal, it's worth digging deeper. Functional lab testing can pinpoint whether estrogen dominance is part of the picture—and more importantly, why it’s happening in your body.
You're not meant to suffer through hormonal chaos. With the right data and a personalized plan, balance is absolutely possible. Get started today and book your first appointment with Xenia, your go to functional medicine provider in Austin, Texas.
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