Hormones are a funny thing, especially for those with female reproductive hormones.
They’re responsible for some amazing processes in the body and can make us feel unstoppable, sexy and confident.
However, they can also leave us feeling low, moody and tired.

If you’re a person who menstruates, subtle changes mentally and physically are a normal part of a cycle but hormone imbalances can cause unwanted symptoms and bigger problems.

It’s important to caveat here that oestrogen dominance often doesn’t occur in isolation and low progesterone can also be at play as the two reproductive hormones do work together.

We’ll touch on low progesterone another time but for now, let’s look at what can be caused by oestrogen taking up too much of that balance.

Symptoms of estrogen dominance or poor hormone detox

Unexplained PMS and menstrual cramps

There are many potential reasons for PMS and menstrual cramps and I would encourage anyone suffering to work with a professional to investigate this further. However, if you’ve had other conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids etc ruled out, then there’s a chance that oestrogen and progesterone imbalance has a part to play here.

Sex hormones called prostaglandins are involved in inflammation and pain and contribute to contractions such as during labour.

When oestrogen and progesterone are imbalanced, prostaglandin levels can dominate and lead to increased cramps.

Figuring out if you have hormone imbalances throughout your cycle and particularly in the lead up to your period, and addressing this can be a huge piece of the puzzle in treating period pain.

Unexplained weight gain and puffiness

The connections between oestrogen and weight is pretty complex. There are different types of oestrogen that play different roles at different times not just throughout your cycle, but throughout your whole life (such as during puberty, pregnancy and menopause).

To keep things simple, oestrogen influences both cholesterol and glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and how your body stores fat.

One reason why oestrogen dominance can cause weight gain is because it triggers insulin production, which raises your blood sugar levels and often results in weight gain. And the problem is this is often a vicious cycle as weight gain can trigger increased oestrogen.

Getting a grip on diet and lifestyle is key to managing weight and oestrogen.

Low sex drive

We typically think about oestrogen as a feminine hormone and we know that increases in this hormone around ovulation often results in higher sex drive thanks to our bodies gearing up to make a baby.

We should be feeling more sensual and confident but if oestrogen dominance is causing a host of other symptoms, it’s not surprising that our libido actually drops.

Anxiety, mood problems and fatigue

Although progesterone, and high levels of progesterone can come with problems (PMS, we’re looking at you), low progesterone, resulting in oestrogen dominance can also lead to mood issues such as anxiety and fatigue.

Making changes

As with any health concerns, it’s important to look into potential causes and underlying issues, and it’s also important to consult a health professional before making major changes to your diet and exercise.

If you think you have hormonal imbalances and want to delve deeper into this, you can get in touch and look into my coaching packages.