Estrogen Dominance

An imbalance of estrogen over PROGESTERONE in women (or TESTOSTERONE in men) is having an overall estrogenic effect.   The most well-known repercussion of this is to cause overproliferation of cells resulting in reproductive organ cancers (e.g. breast, endometrial, ovarian and prostate), and issues, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, uterine fibroids, fibrocystic changes in the breast and benign prostate hyperplasia.

The term “Estrogen Dominance” was coined by Dr. John R. Lee.    An author, expert and pioneer in the study and use of PROGESTERONE and androgen supplementation to restore hormonal balance.

Estrogen dominance encompasses several unpleasant symptoms and health problems including:

•  Anxiety, mood swings, confusion, depression, irritability;

•  Tiredness;

•  Headaches;

•  Fluid Retention;

•  Breast Tenderness, fibrocystic breast changes (FCC), endometriosis, ovarian cysts,

•  Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH);

•  Weight Gain

•  Reproductive organ cancers (e.g. breast, ovarian, endometrial, prostate);

•  Heart disease, pulmonary embolism;

For a more extensive list:

Health problems / Symptoms of estrogen dominance

What is causing estrogen dominance?

-   Estrogen dominance can be caused either by excessive intake or production of estrogen or insufficient intake or production of other hormones, such as TESTOSTERONE and PROGESTERONE.    It is important to grasp the concept that it is not so much the actual levels of hormones in the body, so much as their levels relative to other hormones present.

-   Estrogen dominance is commonly seen in women as they progress through menopause and beyond.   Since PROGESTERONE levels drop more drastically than estrogen levels, creating a relative imbalance favoring estrogen. Also, a vicious cycle presents, whereby estrogen dominance promotes fat storage, and fat cells produce more estrogen.

-   In aging men, estrogen levels increase as TESTOSTERONE and PROGESTERONE  levels decrease.   This occurs because TESTOSTERONE levels generally decline with age, and because the often increasing number of fat cells convert TESTOSTERONE to estrogen.  Also weak testes produce less PROGESTERONE

-   Without ovulation, there is no ovarian corpus luteum to produce PROGESTERONE , and a PROGESTERONE deficiency ensues.    Any estrogen present remains unopposed, yielding several unwantedside effects. Unfortunately, maladies such as water retention, weight gain, fatigue and depression are sometimes diagnosed as separate problems and treated individually, when actually, they are symptoms of a person with too much estrogen relative to other hormones.  Today, research is showing that many women in their 30s and even younger are sometimes not ovulating during their menstrual cycle.  Lee,  1993

Those of us living in the developed world are “bathed in a continuous sea” of estrogen and are likely facing hormonal imbalances resulting in estrogen dominance.    A few of the reasons why estrogen dominance is becoming so commonplace in both women and men are listed below, but for more detailed information:

Why is estrogen dominance so prevalent?

For guidance in restoring the body's normal healthy hormonal balance:

How to treat estrogen dominance

References

Interview with Dr. Lee http://www.keepsmilin.com/transcriptdrlee.htm

 Lee, John R., M.D. (1993) Natural PROGESTERONE : The Multiple Role of a Remarkable Hormone, BLL Publishing, California, USA p.29.1