Estrogen Dominance is essentially a condition of hormonal imbalance that is found across men and women. Among women, it can quickly progress into a serious health problem that can induce serious problems like infertility. Among men, this condition rarely leads to serious health deterrents apart from affecting their bone health to a certain extent and occasionally causing gynecomastia.

Understanding Estrogen Dominance in Detail
Estrogen Dominance refers to state of imbalanced ratio between estrogen and progesterone—the primary female hormones. The balance between these two hormonal entities plays a critical role in deciding the overall health of a woman, including her psychological, physical, sexual and reproductive health. Estrogen Dominance is established when the ratio between Estrogen and Progesterone is compromised, in favor of Estrogen. This can occur in two forms:

• Estrogen levels rise abnormally
• Progesterone levels decline significantly

Among these, the more common form of Estrogen Dominance is found among menopausal women where the progesterone levels start falling alarmingly and estrogen levels rise gradually. This is why menopausal women with normal estrogen readings too can be diagnosed with Estrogen Dominance, i.e. their progesterone levels are so low that Estrogen Dominance is established.

Common Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance Include:

• Higher vulnerability to breast cancer
• Thyroid related problems
• Decreased libido
• Extreme mood swings—including depression and anxiety
• Dryness of vagina
• Disturbed menstruation cycles
• Abdominal and lower body fat gain
• Unexplained fatigue
• Loss of hair or hair thinning
• Inability to conceive
• Difficulty in sleeping
• Bone softening or Osteoporosis
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Uterine fibroids

Causes of Estrogen Dominance
There are many instances when a slight form of Estrogen Dominance is seen. This often happens during and after the menstrual cycle. However, this kind of temporary estrogen escalation is not a cause of worry. Serious issues arise among women whose estrogen levels tend to remain chronically elevated. Primary causes of this condition include:

• Onset of Menopause-Menopause is a common occurrence among all women (after the age of 45) and this often leads to a severe dip in the progesterone levels.
• Fiber-Deficient Diets-Excess estrogen is secreted via the body’s toxin-removal chambers, i.e. the bowels. With lower fiber diets, the individual is more prone to being constipated. This allows estrogen-carrying feces to be stored in the bowels from where they are often leached into the bloodstream, raising estrogen levels.
• Taking HRT—Hormonal Replacement Therapies, often undertaken by women to treat their infertility can lead to severe hormonal imbalances, can cause estrogen levels to rise sharply.

Estrogen Dominance & Environment
One of the lesser understood causes of abnormally high levels of estrogen are reactions induced by environmental factors including toxins found in industrial waste. Please note that estrogen is produced internally as a part of the body’s natural hormonal mechanism. However, it can also be produced in response to external factors like potent chemicals. This can lead to abnormally high levels of estrogen. This kind of estrogen is not metabolized quickly and is not eliminated comprehensively which can fasten the rate at which Estrogen Dominance develops.

Estrogen Dominance & Alcohol
The harmful effects of alcohol are underlined by cases of men diagnosed with gynecomastia. This is a condition of unusually enlarged breast development among men that occurs due to Estrogen Dominance. Alcohol tends to impair the liver function. Estrogen metabolism involves elimination of excessive estrogen and this requires robust functioning of the liver. This is why alcoholic men have a greater vulnerability to developing gynecomastia.

Use of Estrogen Cream
Without sufficient amount of estrogen, women suffer from serious health deterrents like menstrual problems, vaginal dryness, difficulty in ovulating, lowered libido and many other issues related to their sexual-reproductive health. Ovaries are chiefly responsible for producing estrogen. However, during and after menopause, menstruation tends to dry-up complete and so do the estrogen reserves. Such women and those who have a genetic disposition towards hormonal imbalances are often recommended Estrogen Creams. Some estrogen creams need to be minimally rubbed. These are slowly absorbed, trans-dermally through the skin. Some creams are retailed with special inserting tools for applying the cream in and around the vagina.

Preference for Estrogen Creams
Estrogen Cream is preferred by some women since it is among the easiest and safest forms of hormone supplementation. It doesn’t pose the threat of side-effects associated with the more potent, steroidal drugs. It is also without the discomfort of estrogen patches. Estrogen Cream is most suitable for women who are noticing shrinkage of tissues around their pubic and vaginal area. Women suffering urinary incontinence and vaginal dryness are particularly suited for this kind of treatment.

Effect of Estrogen Creams
Estrogen cream can supplement the estrogen that the body needs to a certain extent. Please note that despite the claims of many manufacturers of such products, some amount of hormone is lost during the process of seeping through the tissue, i.e. before being absorbed into the bloodstream. However, this also offers a benefit. Women suffering from very dry, unhealthy skin, including patchy and allergic skin, need estrogen to be absorbed within their skin too. This has further added to the popularity of Estrogen Cream.

Types of Retailed Estrogen Cream
Some forms of Estrogen Cream, called conjugated creams, can also be applied to the facial tissues for preventing aging signs such as wrinkles. Most of the estrogen cream formulations contain a heavy concentration of Estradiol. This is why most of these creams are referred to as Estradiol Creams. These creams contain synthetically-manufactured estrogen.

Natural Estrogen Creams
Some Estrogen Creams are natural and equally potent as the ones using synthetic hormones. These are estrogen creams containing phyto-estrogens, i.e. biochemical compounds found in some plants like soy. These compounds stimulate the natural synthesis of estrogen within the body. They present an almost negligible risk of side-effects. Natural estradiol creams are available without prescriptions also as over-the-counter aids.

Different Ways of Using Estrogen Cream
Topical estrogen or cream, ointment, gel-based estrogen is considered a safer option for women needing minimal estrogen supplementation. Sometimes, topical estrogen application is combined with oral supplementation. Here, estrogen creams act like a secondary form of estrogen supplementation. Women who have suffered side-effects from ingesting estrogen pills, such as labored breathing, faintness, chest and leg pain are also recommended such creams. In the recent pasts, some issues like blood clotting and breast cancer have been speculated as a result of excessive oral estrogen supplementation. Such issues too are neutralized with cream-based estrogen supplementation. Women who are breastfeeding, those on the verge of conceiving and pregnant women are advised not to use Estriol creams.

Why Estrogen Dominance Diets?

Estrogen dominance is an unwanted condition of hormonal imbalance found among women where their estrogen levels tend to far supersede progesterone levels. As a result, all the sexual and reproductive functions stimulated and regulated by progesterone are impaired. Further, extremely high levels of estrogen itself are detrimental to conceiving apart from affecting the bone density and psychological conditioning of a lady. Higher estrogen levels are known to cause fibroids and cancers too. Such women often seek strong chemical formulations or prescription drugs for controlling estrogen dominance. However, these medications are known to have side effects. Thus, some women prefer using natural methods such as restructuring their diet plan in such a way that estrogen dominance is gradually but effectively treated without undertaking any health risks.

Basis of Most Estrogen Dominance Diets: Increased Intake of DIETARY FIBER

Here, fiber refers to both soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber is important for regulating the movement of feces through the gastrointestinal system. Insoluble fiber ensures that stools are not lodged within the intestines for too long and impacted stools are gradually scraped-off the lining of intestines. Stools that are deposited within the intestines for a longer period tend to leach metabolized estrogen back into the bloodstream. Soluble fiber is not as critical for controlling estrogen dominance but it is important. Soluble fiber ensures that the digested food is able to absorb more water and this aids its movement through the intestines. For getting more fiber, foods like cabbage, berries, apples, pomegranates, oatmeal and nuts are recommended.

Seeking Natural Anti-Estrogenic Aids: Flax Seeds

Flax seeds are the richest source of Ligans in the plant world. Ligans are essentially potent biochemicals that have established anti-estrogenic properties. This means that Ligans tend to suppress the synthesis of estrogen. Please note that the kind of flax seed packing used as a part of estrogen dominance diet should be first confirmed with the retailer. This is because some types of flax seeds are enriched with phyto-estrogens that are natural, estrogen synthesis-enhancing compounds. Thus, establishing the cause for which you want to use flax seeds is critical. If you are struggling to increase flax seed intake, try sprinkling them on your salads, spreads and breads.

Sulfur-rich Food Items for Estrogen Dominance Diets

Liver has a critical effect in regulating estrogen levels. Estrogenic compounds that are introduced into the body via our diets and environment are subjected to metabolic activities of the liver. These are basically filtration activities where the effect of such compounds is decreased, i.e. liver helps to prevent excessive estrogen build-up. Secondly, whenever excessive estrogen is synthesized within the body, it is routed as a part of unwanted compounds that need to be eliminated. This metabolic process too involves liver that ensures excessive estrogen is directed towards natural elimination aids like stools. Sulfur foods are known to improve the overall functioning of liver. Thus, sulfur-rich foods like eggs, onions and garlic are recommended.

Foods Avoided in Estrogen Dominance Diet

No diet plan is complete until it includes foods that should be avoided to achieve the objective. For lowering estrogen levels, foods items like coffee should be avoided. Diets high in refined sugars and easily-absorbed carbohydrates like packed cookies should also be avoided. Some estrogen dominance diet specialists opine that before truly beginning the diet regimen, it is better to have a one-week, starter program. This is dedicated to detoxifying the liver to ensure that the diet regimen is effective.

Low Estrogen Levels
Most symptoms of lowered estrogen are felt among women entering their 40s. After reaching the age of 40 years, a woman starts progressing towards menopause. This phase is synonymous with a severe fall in hormone levels, including estrogen and progesterone. Other circumstances that can induce lowered estrogen levels include chemotherapy and hysterectomy or the progression of an autoimmune disease. Lowered estrogen levels are the primary reason why perimenopause and menopausal women cannot conceive.

This is because in the absence of sufficient estrogen, ovulation and menstruation are compromised. There is a severe decline in the ability of such women to produce healthy, mature eggs that can undergo fertilization. Even if the egg is fertilized, with lowered estrogen and progesterone levels, establishing pregnancy is nearly impossible. Lowered estrogen levels cause thinning and shrinkage of the uterine and vaginal tissues. This makes sex painful and intercourse often becomes a physical and emotional trauma. The continuous thinning of the uterine-vaginal tissues makes the body more vulnerable to infections, particularly the urinary tract infections that are also a fertility-deterrent. Other symptoms of low estrogen include:

• Feeling of malaise or tiredness throughout the day
• Unregulated body temperature in the form of hot flashes and night-time sweating
• Loss of mental acuity such as the inability to comprehend simple instructions
• Pain in joints due to softening of bones
• Ease of fracturing due to weaker bones (osteoporosis)
• Dry skin leading to premature aging
• Lowered libido

High Estrogen Levels
High level of estrogen also poses many problems, particularly seen among women in their late 30s though the progression of such symptoms is often seen during the late 20s among some ladies. Very high estrogen levels are referred to as a condition of Estrogen Dominance. This is an unwanted state of hormonal imbalance where the balance between progesterone and estrogen is disturbed. With progesterone levels below the basic level, implantation of the fertilized egg is impossible and the ability of the woman to sustain a pregnancy is compromised.

This is why women with higher-than-normal estrogen levels are more prone to having miscarriages. High estrogen levels are a more serious threat to fertility than lower estrogen levels though this is more of a statistical conclusion. Higher estrogen levels make women more prone to gaining weight which further lowers their libido and makes them more vulnerable to cardiovascular problems. Some other Symptoms of high estrogen levels include:

• Tenderness or pain in the breasts
• Higher blood pressure
• Excessive facial hair
• Symptoms similar to PMS
• Unexplained headaches or migraines
• Extreme mood swings, ranging from extreme anxiety to anger and depression
• Loss or thinning of hair
• Severe abdominal bloating and cramping
• Higher vulnerability to developing uterine fibroids
]]> http://estrogendominance.net/estrogen-levels/feed/ 0 http://estrogendominance.net/low-estrogen-symptoms/ http://estrogendominance.net/low-estrogen-symptoms/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:17:32 +0000 sami4u http://estrogendominance.net/?p=26 Low Estrogen Symptoms are most likely to surface in women who are either menopausal or are approaching menopause or those with a history of hormonal imbalances. It is unusual to find these symptoms among young women but those who are addicted to alcohol or drugs or have undergone a comprehensive hormone supplementation therapy are prone to suffering from hormonal imbalances. Estrogen is regarded as the most critical female hormone, i.e. apart from progesterone. Low levels of estrogen can impact the overall female health, particularly her psychological and physical well-being apart from derailing her efforts to conceive.

Understand Estrogen

There are three, main types of estrogen found in women—Estriol, Estrone and Estradiol. Most women tend to have slightly disturbed levels in at least one of these three. However, if the estradiol levels fall sharply, more health problems are likely to surface. For instance, some women might become more prone to developing adrenal, breast or ovarian cancer due to low estradiol levels. This is why most types of estrogen supplement creams and over-the-counter aids are essentially Estradiol formulations.

Understand Low Estrogen Symptoms

There are some typical symptoms that underline low levels of estrogen in women. This includes extremely delayed menstruation cycles or the absolute absence of menses. Women under the age of 40 years, i.e. those who are not in the realm of menopause, are more vulnerable to developing such symptoms. These women are more likely to suffer from easy fatigue, feeling of malaise, hot flashes and night sweats. Such women suffer from lowered physical and mental acuity levels, often lacking the mental sharpness to understand simple things and failing to complete, basic daily chores. Such women are more prone to having lowered libido levels apart from suffering from frequent spells of exhaustion. For them, sexual activities can be particularly painful and uninteresting. This is why Low Estrogen Symptoms are noted among the indicators of infertility in women.

More Low Estrogen Symptoms

Typical low estrogen symptoms include repeated spells of headaches and bladder infections. Such women tend to develop uterine and urine pathway infections repeatedly without any signs of external infection or proper diagnosis. Upon clinical testing their Eosinophil count and ESR tend to be rather high, indicating an internal infection that cannot be properly diagnosed or treated. The sufferer is also likely to suffer from alternate spells of feeling depressed and feeling elated without any provocation or substantial reason. The inability to conceive due to lower estrogen levels can induce further frustration among such women, making them more prone to bouts of anger.

Some of the less common, low estrogen symptoms among women include the following:

• Palpitations that seem like anxiety attacks
• Abdominal and lower body weight gain
• Thinning of hair and receding hairline
• Severe stiffness or pain in the joints
• Water retention and bloating
• Inability to concentrate
• Thinning of tissues

Detection & Treatment of Low Estrogen

Detection of low estrogen symptoms is rather easy via a urine or blood test. Women below the age of 40 are likely to be tested for FSH also since Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) level is an indicator of estrogen levels. Please note that that treating low estrogen is possible today with a wide array of medications available to treat such hormonal problems. Among these, natural or herbal extracts of plants are considered the best and safest choice since they don’t pose the kind of risks associated with stronger, steroidal medications/drugs.

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