Estrogen dominance

The term "estrogen dominance" was coined to describe the 'Adverse' symptoms often encountered by women if they have a naturally high level of estrogen or have been on HRT (hormone replacement therapy) or the contraceptive Pill for any length of time and therefore have low progesterone levels.

When first starting progesterone therapy this will make the body more sensitive to the estrogen present, which leads to the symptoms.

It is characterized by any of the following symptoms...

• nausea
• mild depression
• bruising
• dizziness
• headaches
• aches and pains
• hot flushes
• migraines
• bloating/weight gain due to water retention
• constipation
• tiredness
• breast tenderness
• spotting
• a period which comes either early or later than usual
• skin problems
• hypoglycaemia

If you have a naturally high level of estrogen or have been on HRT (hormone replacement therapy) or the contraceptive Pill for any length of time, then progesterone will make you more sensitive to the estrogen in your body.

This is caused by progesterone activating the estrogen receptors, which in turn causes the estrogen dominance symptoms above.

Some women experience it, others not at all, whereas men never do.

If you experience any of these symptoms then your choice is to either...

• increase the dose and persevere with the symptoms, which will disappear with a few days, or
• reduce the dose considerably to begin with and then gradually increase it over a month or two

The Pill and HRT contain estrogen and synthetic progesterone (which is commonly called 'progestin'). Progestins cause natural progesterone levels to drop, leading to many of the above symptoms.

Learning more about how to use progesterone cream can help lessen the effects of estrogen dominance.