The term “oestrogen dominance” was first coined by Dr John Lee to describe the various symptoms and conditions that occur when the delicate balance between progesterone to oestrogen is lost in favour of oestrogen. If a woman has low or normal levels of oestrogen in her body but low progesterone levels, then this can still lead to oestrogen dominance.
Oestrogen dominance is a scourge on both females and males in our society with devastating health effects. Men can suffer from prostate problems, depression, persistent belly fat and low libido, just to name a few.
For women, the list is depressingly long, and includes:
- Mood swings, irritability, forgetfulness and insomnia.
- Muscular aches and pains.
- Weight gain: sometimes making it impossible to lose weight and keep it off.
- Fluid retention and weak bladder control. An earlier blog discussed other underlying causes of bedwetting.
- Increased risk of breast and endometrial cancer.
- Gallbladder problems: excess oestrogen thickens your bile and many unsuspecting women eventually have their gallbladders removed.
- Yeast infections: excess oestrogen suppresses your immune system.
- Osteoporosis: bones get weaker without the beneficial effect of progesterone.
- Alcohol dependency: insufficient progesterone stops the production of the “feel-good” chemical serotonin. Some women turn to alcohol as it releases some serotonin in the brain giving them “temporary relief”.
- Damaged nervous system: excess oestrogen damages the protective coating around nerve fibres called “myelin sheaths”. Just like electrical wiring, our nerves short-circuit causing pain, fibromyalgia and, in some cases, symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Do I have oestrogen dominance?
Before we discuss the diagnosis of oestrogen dominance, it is important to understand its causes. These include:
- Emotional issues and high stress.
- Poor nutrition and consumption of fake oestrogens (called xeno-estrogens).
- Medical therapies that stop natural progesterone function in women (this includes birth-control tablets or injections, tubal ligation and hysterectomies).
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Xeno-estrogens are ubiquitous in modern society. They are found in everything from plastic bottles to household cleaners, cosmetics, pesticides and even artificial sweeteners. Unfortunately, most of these xeno-estrogens are far more powerful and damaging to our bodies than natural oestrogen! While there are many online tools to help you “self-diagnose”, it is always prudent to discuss your concerns with a knowledgeable medical practitioner who has a special interest in hormonal problems.
Never look for “evidence” to justify a suspected health problem; rather, take an unbiased questionnaire to help steer you in the right direction. Dr Sarah Gottfried has created one of the better questionnaires available to unearth what your hormones are doing. A link to this questionnaire can be found here.
Oestrogen’s link to dental problems
Surveys confirm that three times as many women seek dental care for jaw pain and dysfunction than do men. Interestingly, scientists have found oestrogen receptors in the jaw, and therefore surmise that a woman’s pain response may increase when oestrogen levels become affected.
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The Journal of Pain published a study in 2009 suggesting that women on postmenopausal hormone therapy are at an increased risk of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The differences in pain perception and perpetuation between men and women is currently the focus of intense research. It is conceivable that women who suffer with facial pain and jaw disorders may in the future get a tailored pain solution based on their individual hormonal profile.
Three steps to fix oestrogen dominance
- Limit your exposure to xeno-estrogens found in foods and environmental toxins.
- Seek out an integrative medicine doctor who is familiar with hormonal testing, tissue hair analysis (THA) and environmental toxins.
- Reduce your stress levels and ensure you are getting restful sleep. Your body only detoxifies itself in deep sleep. Please refer to an earlier blog on how to achieve this.
Oestrogen dominance affects everyone in society on an individual and community level. Take charge of your health to make the difference you are seeking in your life!
