High estrogen can contribute to heavy periods, breast pain, fibroids, and premenstrual mood symptoms. It can also inhibit thyroid function and increase the risk of breast cancer.
To lower estrogen, you need to understand everything types of estrogen and why they are tall
🎈
The many types of estrogen
Estrogen is not one thing. Instead, estrogen is a general term that can refer to:
- Estradiol from the ovaries.
- Estrone from body fat.
- Estrogen metabolites from intestinal bacteria.
- Ethinylestradiol from oral contraceptives.
- Xenoestrogens from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).
- Phytoestrogens from plants. Phytoestrogens act so weakly on estrogen receptors that they generally have a beneficial effect anti– estrogen effect. Read Phytoestrogens are not estrogen.
Causes of high estrogen
1) Hormonal birth control
Estrogen ethinylestradiol is stronger than estradiol, so it is a large dose of estrogen. It can also damage the gut microbiome and impair estrogen metabolism.
2) Impaired estrogen metabolism
All estrogen must be detoxified in a two-step process by the liver and intestines.
Step 1 occurs in the liver and requires B vitamins, selenium, and the amino acid glycine. This step of estrogen metabolism can be weakened by xenoestrogens and alcohol, which is why alcohol causes higher levels of estrogen in the blood and can increase the risk of breast cancer.
The second step occurs in the intestine, where conjugated estrogens are released from the body. In the presence of healthy gut bacteria, conjugated estrogens leave the body. In the presence of unhealthy bacteria, the conjugated estrogens are de-conjugated and reactivated by the enzyme beta-glucuronidase. Reactivated estrogens can be reabsorbed by enterohepatic recirculation or “gut-liver recirculation.” The result is excess estrogen.
3) Perimenopause
Estradiol temporarily increases in the years before menopause, sometimes up to three times higher than when you were younger. Check out what estrogen does to your 40s and my perimenopause book Handbook of Hormone Regulation.
👉 Tip: At its peak, your estradiol blood level should generally not exceed 270 pg/mL (1000 pmol/L).
4) Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance can promote excess estrone, which can be a problem in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and after menopause. Too much estrone post-menopause can increase the risk of uterine cancer.
5) Histamine and mast cell activation
Estrogen stimulates mast cells to make more histamine and it lowers the DAO enzyme you need to clear histamine. The result is more histamine, which, unfortunately, then stimulates the ovaries to produce more estrogen. The net result is a vicious cycle of:
estrogen → histamine → estrogen → histamine.
For many women, symptoms of “estrogen dominance” such as PMS, menstrual cramps, and heavy periods improve by reducing histamine through avoiding cow’s dairy and other strategies. . Read The curious link between histamine intolerance and estrogen.
6) Estrogen receptor hypersensitivity
Your actual value of estrogen is only part of the story. How is also important sensitive you are in it.
For example, you will be more sensitive to estrogen (and not in a good way) if you have chronic inflammation or high histamine or iodine deficiency. Read Why I prescribe iodine for PMS, breast pain, and ovarian cysts.
You will be lower sensitive to estrogen if you consume beneficial phytoestrogens from legumes, nuts, and vegetables.
👉 Teenagers are more sensitive to estrogen, so they may experience heavy periods.
What is estrogen dominance?
Estrogen dominance usually means too much estrogen, but it can also describe a situation of normal estrogen and too little progesterone.
I do not use the term “estrogen dominance” because I prefer the more accurate terms estrogen excess and progesterone deficiency. Read Why I don’t use the term estrogen dominance.
👉 Endometriosis is affected by estrogen, but is not cause by estrogen. Rather, it is a disease of immune dysfunction.
How to lower estrogen
- Do not take combined contraceptive pills.
- Cut back on alcohol to promote healthy estrogen metabolism.
- Eat vegetables for their beneficial phytoestrogen content.
- Identify and reverse insulin resistance to reduce estrone production.
- Reduce exposure to xenoestrogens such as plastics and pesticides.
- Avoid inflammatory foods like dairy to reduce histamine and estrogen hypersensitivity.
Best estrogen lowering supplement
