Estrogen Dominance posted on September 20, 2015 by Dr. Carol Ann Fischer, DC, ND

                                  Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen and progesterone levels must be balanced in order to work together efficiently. Factors such as estrogens in foods and the environment, synthetic hormone use (HRT) and obesity, expose women and men to excess estrogen. Excess estrogen is called Estrogen Dominance. 

These are the products that you want to reduce your exposure to if you can. Many of these commercial products contain not only chemicals that act like estrogen, but also chemicals that are carcinogenic. As much as possible replace commercial products with natural products containing ingredients that you recognize and can pronounce. 

Chemicals that Act Like Estrogen are Hiding in Your Everyday Products:
Vinyl Flooring	Detergents	Shampoo	Deodorants
Perfumes	Hairspray	Moisturizers	Children’s Toys
Cosmetics	Soap	Plastics	Garden Hoses

In women progesterone levels tend to drop off sooner and more abruptly with age and lack of ovulation than does estrogen. These factors can result in too much estrogen in relationship to the amount of progesterone being produced in the body. 

This imbalance is a common cause of symptoms during PMS, peri-menopause, menopause and andropause. It can also occur after childbirth or during periods of high stress when a man or woman undergoes a significant hormonal shift. 

Estrogen dominance may be associated with thyroid problems, breast and prostate disease.
 

Common symptoms include: heavy or irregular periods, tender breasts, bloating, irritability,  PMS, mood swings, weight gain, sleep disturbances, female decreased sex drive, infertility and other symptoms of female hormone imbalance, plus male erectile dysfunction and decreased motivation.


There are simple ways to test for this issue. Saliva testing is the most common way to determine the available hormone levels in the body at the cellular level. Blood testing measures the stored hormone levels. Hormones are stored in the blood on protein molecules. They are only removed from the blood when there is chronic long term stress from hormone imbalance. Blood testing of hormones reveals late stage hormone imbalance, while saliva testing measures what is available now for your body to use. 

Visit the store at TLC Holistic Wellness to find out more about the different hormone tests that can be ordered. You can do the simple saliva tests right in the comfort of your own home. Custom tests can also be ordered that include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, adrenal hormones, food allergens and more. Contact Dr. Fischer for more information drfischer@tlcholisticwellness.com