Health Effects Of Estrogen Dominance And Progesterone Deficiency.

Health Effects of Estrogen Dominance and Progesterone Deficiency
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During a yearly exam I found that my progesterone level was basically zero. I didn't think much about it until, during post-menopause, I started having symptoms of estrogen dominance. Hot flashes hit me like a freight train, I developed fibrocystic breasts, and I began seeing more hair on my upper lip.
There is so much important information out there on estrogen dominance, so I will touch on what I believe to be most important. First, it is crucial that everyone (including males) understand the importance of hormonal balance in our bodies.
Progesterone, a hormone made by women (ovaries) AND men (testes), is the most protective hormone the body produces and is the body's natural complement to estrogen. Progesterone has many benefits as it helps the thyroid gland, helps use fat for energy, improves memory, normalizes blood clotting, reverses aging in the skin, reverses osteoporosis, and protects against breast, uterian and ovarian cancers, fibrocystic breasts, hot flashes, heart attacks, stress, and more.
Estrogen is a class name and not a hormone named estrogen. There are three major naturally occurring estrogens in women - estradiol (sex hormone), estriol (produced mainly during pregnancy) and estrone (only one present in any quantity in post-menopausal women). These estrogen function as the primary female hormones.
For optimum health, the levels of estrogen and progesterone must be kept in balance. Sadly, due to environmental toxins, our bodies are are becoming estrogen dominant. There are many, many symptoms of estrogen dominance and none of them are good. Symptoms include acceleration of the aging process, autoimmune disorders, breast cancer, endometriosis, fat gain, fatigue, fibrocystic breasts, increased blood clotting, osteoporosis, PMS, prostrate cancer, thyroid dysfunction, just to name a few.
We are constantly being bombarded by environmental toxins. There are over 70,000 chemicals registered for use in the United States. In addition to toxic effects, many of them have hormone effects. These chemicals, xenoestrogens, are manmade compounds that mimic estrogen and can alter hormonal activity. They are found in commercially raised meat and fruits and vegetables, canned foods, plastics (food wraps and bottles), styrofoam cups, personal care products, cosmetics, birth control pills and spermicides, detergents, all artificial scents (air fresheners and perfumes), pesticides and herbicides, and paints, lacquers and solvents. DDT was found to bind to estrogen receptor and is now considered a classic xenoestrogen.
Also, plants produce chemicals, phytoestrogens, that mimic estrogen and/or block estrogen, and/or block progesterone. Whole grains, fruits, seeds, beans, and herbs all have estrogen and/or progesterone activity. Most of them are needed for optimum health, but some can cause hormonal imbalance. Coffee exacerbates fibrocystic breast disease. Formononetin, a chemical found in clover, mimics estrogen. Laboratory studies found that coumestrol, found in sunflower seeds, causes reproductive problems. Herbs, such as Oregano, Nutmeg, Tumeric, Red Clover, Goldenseal, Licorice, and Camomille (to name a few) are able to bind to the progesterone receptor and either compete against, work against or block progesterone. Studies found that the use of cotton seed oil in cooking decreased fertility (cotton also is the most intensively sprayed field crop in the world).
Estrogen dominance is life threatening! I cannot stress enough the importance of hormone balance for optimum health. Have your progesterone level checked. Then begin eliminating products from your home that contain hormone disrupting chemicals.
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REFERENCES AND OTHER RESOURCES:
Estrogen Dominance Symptoms, John Lee, MD
How To Avoid Xenoestrogens, Fibrocystic.com
Phytoestrogens, Naturally Occurring Plant Estrogens, the Ones to Avoid, Fibrocystic.com
Women's Health articles, YourLifeSource.com
Hormone Disrupters, United Nations System Wide Earthwatch
Plastics and Hormone Disrupters, Green Yes Archives
Progesterone Effects Chart, YourLifeSource.com
Progesterone Deficiency Questionnaire, ProgesteroneTherapy.com