As we head into 2024, our interest in hormonal health continues to grow. From social media videos sharing hormone-balancing tips to increasing interest in the ways stress, exercise and diet can impact our hormone production, many of us are on the hunt for information that’ll help us keep our hormones on track over the next 12 months.

But doing that means sorting through a load of misinformation online – especially if you’re on the hunt for content about oestrogen dominance.

Oestrogen dominance is a condition whereby the amount of oestrogen in your body disproportionately outweighs that of the opposing sex hormone, progesterone, which is potentially serious. But dealing with it isn’t as simple as adding a few hormone-balancing hacks into your routine, despite what social media might have you believe.

So, to give you the facts about all things oestrogen dominance, we asked Mr Saurabh Phadnis, consultant gynaecologist and gynae-oncologist at Nuffield Health’s St Bartholomew’s Hospital, to talk us through the basics. Here’s what he had to say.  

There are three main scenarios in which oestrogen dominance occurs. “High oestrogen levels can be caused by increased endogenous (internal) production of oestrogen in the body or taking external oestrogen [such as hormone replacement therapy],” explains Phadnis. “It can also be due to a disturbance in the metabolism of the oestrogen hormone.”

However, working out what’s causing your oestrogen dominance isn’t as simple as ticking one of these three boxes. There are several factors which can lead to your oestrogen and progesterone levels becoming imbalanced; some of these factors are lifestyle-related, while others are related to medical conditions.

Stress can also play a big role as high levels of stress can lead to a decrease in progesterone levels. Poor sleep, poor nutrition and excess alcohol consumption can contribute to oestrogen dominance because they have a similar effect. 

On the flipside, having a disrupted estrobolome (the group of gut bacteria responsible for helping the body get rid of excess oestrogen) can also lead oestrogen levels to rise. This is because the excess oestrogen that isn’t ‘dumped’ in the detoxification process is reabsorbed into the bloodstream, leading to an imbalance.

Other factors which have been linked to high oestrogen include having low magnesium levels (magnesium helps the liver, which plays a role in removing excess oestrogen, to function properly) and eating too little fibre.

“Other causes of excess oestrogen include obesity, medications such as HRT, insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian syndrome, having an adrenal or ovarian tumour and a genetic condition called familial hyperestrogenism,” Phadnis adds. 

Because oestrogen dominance occurs when the body’s levels of oestrogen and progesterone are out of balance, the soothing, calming impact of progesterone is overshadowed by the effects of the oestrogen. This is why the symptoms of oestrogen dominance are most closely related to those experienced by women during the second half of the cycle, when progesterone levels naturally begin to fall.

Symptoms of oestrogen dominance include:

• Unusual weight gain
• A change in the pattern of your menstrual cycle (this may include irregular cycles and/or a heavier or lighter than usual flow)
• Worsened premenstrual symptoms
• Dense breast tissue
• Reduced libido
• Changes in mood, including low mood
• A persistent headache
• Insomnia
• Hair loss 

Oestrogen dominance can lead to potentially serious issues down the line if it’s not dealt with, Phadnis explains. “Persistently high oestrogen levels can lead to an increased risk of hypertension, venous thromboembolisms and breast and endometrial cancers,” he says.

Because oestrogen dominance can also mess with the menstrual cycle, it can also have a knock-on effect on fertility and make it more difficult to conceive. However, it is possible to get pregnant with high oestrogen levels – your best bet is to talk to your doctor about the options available. 

If you’re at all concerned that your hormones are imbalanced, you should seek advice from your GP. They’ll be able to test you and work out what’s going on, as well as provide any relevant advice or treatment options that might be available.

Alongside this, there are a few steps you can take to help balance high oestrogen naturally. “Seeking advice from a dietitian is advised,” Phadnis says. “Lifestyle changes, such as changing diet to a plant-based one and taking part in regular exercise, can help. Reducing your stress levels and limiting alcohol intake can also have a positive effect.” 

Images: Getty