Quiz Answer: Estrogen Dominance
I know it might be frustrating to hear, but you might be dealing with estrogen dominance.
What is estrogen dominance exactly? Well, it basically means that your estrogen is too high in comparison to your progesterone.
These two hormones work in concert together, particularly during your luteal phase (the second half of your menstrual cycle, between ovualtion and your period). Progesterone should be leading the game during this time, with estrogen on a similar tragetory, but “below” progesterone (in the chart below, you can see the light purple line is progesterone, and the light blue line is estrogen. The light purple line goes much higher in the luteal phase than the light blue line).
Many of the *big* menstrual issues stem from estrogen dominance, or that estrogen going higher than progesterone, during the luteal phase. PMS, heavy bleeding, fibroids, cysts, sore breasts and more point to the body being in an estrogen dominant state.
Why does this occur? For many reasons, ranging from blood sugar imbalance, to gut, liver, and adrenal issues, as well as exposure to chemicals that act like estrogens, aka xenoestrogens. Estrogen dominance also tends to more easily happen in perimenopause.
Don’t worry, there’s hope! Supporting your gut, detox pathways, blood sugar, stress reduction and more get go FAR into getting you back in balance.
Some great places to begin are my classes What The Hell Are My Hormones Doing?, as well as Why Making Yourself #1 Is The Only Way Your Hormones Are Gonna Chill The F Out.
Because estrogen dominance is so common in perimenopause, we cover it in-depth (with protocols) in Perimenopause Like A Boss.
If you are ready to dive in full force and take control of your estrogen dominance or other hormone issues, I suggest checking out my signature course, Hormone Breakthrough Blueprint. Get on the waitlist to be notified when the next session opens up!
Also, here are more resources in our public library & Hormonally Speaking podcast:
2019 Hormone Summit: Estrogen Dominance, Fibroids, and Ovarian Cysts, Oh My! with Christine Garvin