Likely causes of estrogen dominance in men

(1) Too little TESTOSTERONE

TESTOSTERONE levels generally decline with age

TESTOSTERONE transforms into estrogen.    Via the “aromatase reaction”, whereby the aromatase enzyme (produced by fat cells) converts TESTOSTERONE to ESTRADIOL;

(2) Too much estrogen

Most commonly caused by factors such as:

-   Obesity.    Fat cells produce aromatase enzyme, which converts TESTOSTERONE to ESTRADIOL;

-   Alcohol.    Causes the body to produce more estrogen and also interferes with the liver's ability to remove excessive estrogen from the body;

-   Exposure to xenoestrogens.    Endocrine disruptors that mimic estrogen, now overwhelmingly present in the Western world;

Xenoestrogens -Endocrine Disruptors.

-   Pituitary diseases and testicular tumors.   Also other serious medical problems;

For more detailed information on why estrogen dominance is so commonplace, link to:

Estrogen dominance - Why so prevalent?

(3) Too little PROGESTERONE

-   Weak thyroid.    A weak thyroid causes testes to make insufficient PROGESTERONE to prevent a man's TESTOSTERONE from changing into DHT and estrogens. Too much estrogen and DHT is involved in the development of an enlarged prostate gland (BPH) and prostate cancer.

BPH

Prostate cancer

Understanding the changing estrogen and TESTOSTERONE levels in men

Estrogen is present in men and its levels change throughout life.   As children, males have an almost equal balance of estrogen and TESTOSTERONE, however, during puberty TESTOSTERONE increases while estrogen decreases, causing an increase in muscle mass, deepening of the voice, loss of “baby fat”, and of course, the inevitable increase in libido and sperm production.

Estrogen begins to outbalance TESTOSTERONE in a man's 50's - The balance of high TESTOSTERONE and low estrogen persists through a man's forties, at which time estrogen levels begin to increase as TESTOSTERONE levels decrease:

This leads to a new balance of high estrogen levels and low TESTOSTERONE levels causing several hallmark symptoms of aging in men: loss of muscle mass, reduced libido, and weight gain, particularly around the belly. To add insult to injury, fat cells produce estrogen.