Recognizing the Symptoms of High Estrogen Can Help You Protect Your Health

If you struggle with symptoms like abnormal periods, fatigue, or mood swings, you may be feeling the effects of high estrogen. Unfortunately, many women don’t recognize that their physical or emotional distress is caused by an overabundance of this critical hormone. That may be because the broad collection of symptoms associated with high estrogen can be caused by a wide variety of physical and psychological problems, and you may not assume that hormones are to blame. But aberrant estrogen levels lie at the heart of many women’s health concerns and can be triggered by a range of health conditions and lifestyle factors.

Regardless of the cause, estrogen-related symptoms can be distressing, painful, and seriously disrupt the way you feel and function. As such, getting the right diagnosis and the best care is essential. With support from expert hormone health practitioners and a dedication to finding treatment methods that produce meaningful results, women who experience estrogen-related symptoms can regain their hope and their health.

The Varied Symptoms of Elevated Estrogen

While both men and women can experience the effects of excess estrogen, they most commonly occur in women. Often, these effects happen when the body produces too much estrogen in relation to progesterone. The ratio is important: sex hormones interact with each other in unique ways, and a deficiency in progesterone can create similar symptoms.

If your body is producing a high or disproportionate amount of estrogen, it’s possible to feel “off.” Too little estrogen, and you could experience symptoms normally associated with menopause—hot flashes, night sweats, or vaginal dryness. If your body produces too much estrogen, however, you could experience a whole other set of discomforts.

Symptoms of high estrogen include:

• Weight gain or bloating
• Fibroids
• Fibrocystic breasts
• PMS
• Low libido
• Fatigue
• Abnormal periods
• Endometriosis
• Depression and anxiety
• Breast tenderness
• Mood swings
• Insomnia
• Difficulty concentrating

One of the most extreme examples of the impact excess estrogen can have occurs in women who have endometriosis. Research indicates that in these women, too much estrogen in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle may trigger an abnormal response in the body, leading to the progression of this chronic inflammatory condition. It’s possible that the same kind of hormonal reaction could cause other symptoms in women who do not have endometriosis. However, there are also many other potential causes of estrogen-related symptoms.

How to Restore Hormonal Balance

Because estrogen and other hormones can be easily affected by a wide variety of internal and external factors, the symptoms associated with high estrogen are not linked to any single cause. Your symptoms could be influenced by a more serious medical condition. Or they could be related to birth control or other hormone medications, chronic stress, or digestive issues. It may also be possible for estrogenic chemicals in foods and consumer products to an impact on hormone health. In fact, your body may produce excess estrogen for a plethora of reasons you may not know about.

Because the causes are so varied, it’s important to explore all possibilities with a professional who takes your concerns seriously and is committed to finding answers. An expert in hormone health will take extensive measurements of your hormone levels through saliva, blood, and/or urine and perform a thorough medical examination to determine if any other medical conditions may be causing your symptoms. This absolutely crucial step prevents you from starting treatment that might not be useful for your body—or, worse yet, ignoring your symptoms.

If a hormone imbalance is discovered to be the probable cause of your symptoms, your practitioner will likely suggest some form of hormone medication to provide relief. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is commonly prescribed for women who struggle with hormone-related conditions and would typically involve a combination of estrogen and progestogen. These medications may have a number of advantages over conventional hormones therapies and come in a variety of preparations (pills, pellets, or creams are common), which makes treatment simple and highly accessible for most patients. Your practitioner may also suggest lifestyle changes to address specific symptoms and enhance overall well-being.

Seeking Help for the Symptoms of High Estrogen

Regardless of the root cause, symptoms associated with elevated estrogen can be deeply distressing both physically and emotionally and should be treated with appropriate caution. If you’re experiencing endometriosis, serious depression or other mood disturbances, breast abnormalities, or severe pain of any kind, you should seek help from a doctor immediately. Of course, for some women, high estrogen levels may simply be a minor discomfort. But it’s important to be aware that your symptoms could also be the result of a far more serious medical condition like cancer or an autoimmune disorder, and identifying the underlying cause is essential to protecting your health.

When seeking help for estrogen-related symptoms, be sure to find a medical professional you can trust and who will give you plenty of personal attention. Ask for all the lab work, imaging, and physical examinations necessary to correctly diagnose your condition, and make sure your practitioner explains the results to you in full detail. Hormone imbalances in women can be difficult to identify and diagnose, but starting the journey with the guidance of an expert practitioner will ensure that you reach a state of balance and health as quickly as possible.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of high estrogen, BodyLogicMD can help. BodyLogicMD-affiliated practitioners are specialized in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and integrative medicine, making them uniquely qualified to identify and treat a wide range of health issues. If your symptoms are hormone-related, they will use the most cutting-edge therapies and lifestyle supports available to help you find lasting relief and experience the life you deserve. Get started on a customized treatment plan designed to fit your needs and help you reach optimal wellness—contact a local practitioner to schedule your first appointment or take the BodyLogicMD Hormone Balance Quiz today.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All content on this website is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent diseases.

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