What Are the Side Effects of High Estrogen Levels?
- Thyroid Dysfunction. Thyroid dysfunction can result from high estrogen levels. ...
- Weight Gain. Weight gain is a side effect of high estrogen levels. ...
- Low Sex Drive. Sex drive can be affected by high estrogen levels. ...
- Fluid Retention. Fluid retention can appear as a side effect of high estrogen levels. ...
- Breast Cancer. ...
- bloating.
- swelling and tenderness in your breasts.
- fibrocystic lumps in your breasts.
- decreased sex drive.
- irregular menstrual periods.
- increased symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- mood swings.
- headaches.
What causes high estrogen?
Causes of High Estrogen
- Obesity or Weight Gain. The first, and probably most common, cause of high estrogen in men is due to obesity (10). ...
- Excessive Testosterone (from TRT) Another increasingly important cause of high testosterone is from the use of Testosterone Replacement Therapy (11).
- Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors. ...
What are the side effects of too much estrogen?
- Headache (sudden or severe)
- loss of coordination (sudden)
- loss of vision or change of vision (sudden)
- pains in the chest, groin, or leg, especially in the calf of leg
- shortness of breath (sudden and unexplained)
- slurring of speech (sudden)
- weakness or numbness in the arm or leg
What produces too much estrogen?
- Estrogen dominance is essentially too much estrogen. ...
- Estrogen is crucial for day-to-day functioning. ...
- Too much estrogen can wreak absolute havoc on your whole body. ...
- Conventional medicine tends to prescribe hormonal birth control to alleviate symptoms of estrogen dominance, which can have a lot of side effects and make the problem worse in the long ...
What are the signs of too much estrogen?
Symptoms of high estrogen in men include:
- Infertility. Estrogen is partly responsible for creating healthy sperm. When estrogen levels are high, sperm levels may fall and lead to fertility issues.
- Gynecomastia. Estrogen may stimulate breast tissue growth. ...
- Erectile dysfunction (ED). Men with high levels of estrogen may have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection.
What happens when estrogen levels are high?
High estrogen levels can cause symptoms such as irregular or heavy periods, weight gain, fatigue, and fibroids in females. In males, they can cause breast tissue growth, difficulty getting or maintaining an erection, and infertility.
What causes extremely high estrogen levels?
Body fat: Fat tissue (adipose tissue) secretes estrogen. Having a high percentage of body fat can lead to high estrogen levels. Stress: Your body produces the hormone cortisol in response to stress. Producing high amounts of cortisol in response to stress can deplete your body's ability to produce progesterone.
How do you fix high estrogen?
Some of the more common treatment options for estrogen dominance (and the disorders mentioned above) that work toward total-body health include (4, 13): Exercise and, if relevant, weight loss to regulate sex hormones and cortisol levels. Implementing relaxation and rest practices to lower stress levels.
How does estrogen make you feel?
Some of estrogen's effects include: Increasing serotonin, and the number of serotonin receptors in the brain. Modifying the production and the effects of endorphins, the "feel-good" chemicals in the brain. Protecting nerves from damage, and possibly stimulating nerve growth.
How can I lower my estrogen levels quickly?
Tips for reducing estrogen levelsFollow a fiber-rich diet. Studies have shown high fiber diets promote healthy estrogen levels. ... Limit certain animal products. ... Follow a Mediterranean-style diet. ... Lose excess body fat. ... Limit refined carbs and processed foods. ... Exercise. ... Limit alcohol intake.
How do I know if I have too much estrogen?
Symptoms of high estrogen in women swelling and tenderness in your breasts. fibrocystic lumps in your breasts. decreased sex drive. irregular menstrual periods.
Does vitamin D reduce estrogen?
High blood levels of vitamin D linked to reduced estrogen – and potentially lower breast cancer risk. Can taking daily vitamin D supplements decrease sex-hormone levels and thereby potentially reduce the risk of breast cancer in older women?
Does estrogen make you fat?
Estrogen causes a typical female fat distribution pattern in breasts, buttocks, and thighs, as well as its more feminizing effects. During the reproductive years, women get additional fat deposition in the pelvis, buttocks, thighs, and breasts to provide an energy source for eventual pregnancy and lactation.
How does estrogen affect weight?
Weight gain is one of the common effects of high estrogen in your body. People particularly observe sudden weight gain in the hip site. They may end up being overweight as a result of having too much estrogen levels in the body. They also experience bloating after they eat and it will be difficult for them to lose the extra weight due to high estrogen. One should maintain estrogen levels as it supposed to be but having too much estrogen can lead to weight gain.
How to reduce estrogen levels?
Maintaining healthy body weight, doing physical activities daily, and following a healthy diet can reduce the chances of experiencing these adverse conditions associated with the effects of high estrogen levels. If you think your estrogen levels are too high, then see your physician immediately.
Is estrogen a male hormone?
Estrogen is completely a female hormone even though it found in men. The effects of high estrogen can bring more problems for women and they tend to produce more estrogen than men. The problem arises when people start to produce too much estrogen than required in the body. Estrogen plays an important role in sexual function when it comes to men.
Is estrogen bad for memory?
Low estrogen levels are one of the risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease. But having high estrogen levels also can be bad for your memory. People suffer to remember things due to the high estrogen levels in their bodies. This high active hormone can make it difficult for you to recollect things and you will completely lose your memory as a result of it.
What to do if estrogen is high?
If medication is causing high estrogen levels, a doctor may recommend a lower dose or an alternative treatment. If hormone replacement therapy is causing high estrogen symptoms, speak to the doctor, who may need to change the treatment plan. Doctors can also prescribe medications that lower estrogen levels.
What medications can increase estrogen levels?
Other medications that can increase estrogen levels include: hormonal contraceptives. certain antibiotics. some herbal or natural remedies.
What are the three forms of estrogen?
There are three forms of estrogen in the blood: estradiol. estriol. estrone. Doctors measure these levels in picograms per milliliter (pg/ml). Estradiol is the primary form of estrogen, while estriol and estrone are minor forms. Women who are not pregnant have very low levels of estriol.
What is the difference between male and female estrogen?
Females tend to have higher levels of estrogen, while males have more testosterone, which is the main male sex hormone. In females, estrogen plays a role in the menstrual cycle and reproductive system. In males, it is important for sexual function. Males and females can develop high levels of estrogen, which can affect overall health ...
Why is estrogen important for men?
In males, it is important for sexual function. Males and females can develop high levels of estrogen, which can affect overall health and sexual development and function.
Does estrogen increase with medication?
The body may only produce high levels of estrogen, or it may produce high levels of estrogen and low levels of another hormone, such as testosterone or progesterone. Estrogen levels can also rise in response to medications. For example, people taking estrogen replacement therapy, a treatment for menopause symptoms, ...
Can high estrogen cause depression?
Some research suggests that men with high estrogen levels may experience depression. A 2018 study. Trusted Source. involving 4,000 adult male participants found an association between increased levels of estradiol and symptoms of depression in younger men. Estradiol is a form of estrogen.
How do you know if you have high estrogen?
Some of the physical signs of high estrogen in women include [4]: Headaches. Difficulty concentrating. Breast tenderness. Weight gain.
What hormones are involved in puberty?
By: Dani Roche. As one of the two primary female sex hormones, estrogen plays a crucial role in puberty, controlling the menstrual cycle and fertility [1].
What happens if you take estrogen with progestin?
unexpected or excess milk flow from the breasts. Also, many women who are taking estrogens with a progestin (another female hormone) will start having monthly vaginal bleeding, similar to menstrual periods, again.
What does it mean when your breasts are hoarse?
hoarseness. increased breast size (in females and males) irritation of the skin. itching of the skin. joint pain, stiffness, or swelling. rash. redness of the skin. shortness of breath. swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, hands, or feet.
Does hysterectomy cause hair loss?
This effect will continue for as long as the medicine is taken. However, monthly bleeding will not occur in women who have had the uterus removed by surgery (total hysterectomy). This medicine may cause loss or thinning of the scalp hair in some people. Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients.
Can estrogen cause breast cancer?
Although the incidence is low, the use of estrogens may increase you chance of getting cancer of the breast. Breast cancer has been reported in men taking estrogens. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Is it safe to take estrogen for less than 1 year?
When estrogens are used in low doses for less than 1 year, there is less risk. The risk is also reduced if a progestin (another female hormone) is added to, or replaces part of, your estrogen dose. If the uterus has been removed by surgery (total hysterectomy), there is no risk of endometrial cancer. Although the incidence is low, the use of ...
What are the side effects of a syringe?
rash. shortness of breath. skin redness. swelling of eyelids, face, lips, hands, or feet. tightness in the chest. trouble with breathing or swallowing. vomiting. wheezing. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.
Can you have monthly bleeding after hysterectomy?
However, monthly bleeding will not occur in women who have had the uterus removed by surgery (hysterectomy). Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
How to reduce estrogen dominance?
To start reducing estrogen dominance risks naturally you can: 1 Avoid high-fat and highly processed foods 2 Increase your fibre to 30 grams/day 3 Reduce alcohol consumption 4 Look for enjoyable ways to reduce stress 5 Consume a natural, organic, whole foods diet consisting of raw fruits, vegetables and whole grains 6 Get regular with an exercise program you enjoy
Is estrogen high during menopause?
Menopause and estrogen levels explained. Menopause is often thought of as a time of declining estrogen, but it is actually common for women to experience surges of abnormally high estrogen levels in the menopausal years , as well as earlier in life. This misconception has led many millions of women to engage in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) ...
Do women have more estrogen than they need?
Studies show that the average woman has more than the amount of estrogen needed to maintain the critical balance with progesterone throughout her lifetime. The odds are in your favour that even though your body will produce less estrogen as you age, you should still have more than you need.
What is elevated estrogen?
First and foremost, elevated estrogen should not be confused with a condition known as estrogen dominance, a more permanent state of hormonal imbalance. The latter is fairly common in women who are obese, diabetic, hypertensive, or those who take estrogen-containing medications.
Why is estrogen high?
Poor diet. Because fiber helps food pass through the digestive system, a low-fiber diet can prevent excess estrogen from being properly excreted, leading to reabsorption. Also, deficiencies in certain key vitamins, such as zinc and magnesium, can contribute to high estrogen levels. Stress.
What causes estrogen levels to increase?
Furthermore, high estrogen levels can be induced by the following conditions: 1 Insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the body doesn't properly regulate the amount of glucose in the blood, which can cause an increase in body fat. In turn, extra estrogen can be produced from this body fat. 2 Poor liver function. Reabsorption of estrogen back into the body or generation of elevated estrogen levels can result from improper liver functioning. The organ is responsible for the metabolism and excretion of estrogen.
Why is estrogen absorbed back into the body?
Reabsorption of estrogen back into the body or generation of elevated estrogen levels can result from improper liver functioning. The organ is responsible for the metabolism and excretion of estrogen. Paying attention to hormonal levels is important before imbalances develop into more serious complications.
What happens if you don't ovulate?
The absence of ovulation will lead to a drop in progesterone production, which can lead to high estrogen levels as it goes unopposed. A woman suffering from high estrogen levels during menopause will usually have an estrogen reading of 200+ pg/ml. If left unmanaged, the imbalance may lead to a more permanent state of estrogen dominance, ...
Which hormone is the dominant hormone in the luteal phase?
Innately, estrogen should be highest during the follicular phase for proper development of uterine lining. Progesterone then takes over as the dominant hormone in the luteal phase after a spike in estrogen triggering ovulation. If a woman doesn't conceive, the uterine lining sheds, and the entire cycle repeats itself.
What are Xenoestrogens?
Xenoestrogens are man-made chemicals in the environment that mimic natural estrogen when ingested, altering normal hormone functioning and increasing estrogen levels. They're found in beauty products, pesticides, plastics, commercial meats, and more. 4.
What happens if you have high estrogen levels?
If you have high levels of estrogen, your mood is likely to tend toward anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. One doctor specifically calls the feeling lots of people with high estrogen get “ agitated depression ,” because people with elevated estrogen often experience a mix of anxiety and depression at the same time.
How do you know if you have too much estrogen?
1. You’re Gaining Weight. One of the main symptoms of too much estrogen is weight gain, particularly in the hip area. If you have too much estrogen, you might end up gaining weight. You might also experience bloating, and/or difficulty getting rid of extra weight.
Why are my breasts so tender?
This happens because of high estrogen and low progesterone levels — aka estrogen dominance.
Why is estrogen dominance important?
If your estrogen levels are high compared to your other hormones, that’s often called estrogen dominance — because that one hormone is dominating the others. In particular, it’s high relative to the hormone progesterone, the other hormone that helps orchestrate your menstrual cycle.
Why is my period heavier?
Also good to know is that high estrogen levels can cause your period to be heavier. That’s because this hormone is responsible for thickening the lining of your uterus — so if you have more of it, your lining will be more, um, plentiful.
What foods can you eat to counteract estrogen?
It can also be helpful to eat weak phytoestrogenic foods, like pomegranates, flax seeds, berries, oats, and barley, which actually counteract estrogen’s effects.
Does estrogen affect your period?
Estrogen doesn’t just impact your period — it is also very important for your emotions and mental state. To illustrate this point, consider the monthly mood rollercoaster that is your menstrual cycle. All those changes and swings are because of what your hormone levels are doing.
More Common
- Breast pain (in females and males)
- fast heartbeat
- fever
- hives
Less Common Or Rare
- Changes in vaginal bleeding (spotting, breakthrough bleeding, prolonged or heavier bleeding, or complete stoppage of bleeding)
- chest pain
- chills
- cough
Rare
- Headache (sudden or severe)
- loss of coordination (sudden)
- loss of vision or change of vision (sudden)
- pains in the chest, groin, or leg, especially in the calf of leg
Incidence Not Known
- Abdominal or stomach bloating
- abdominal or stomach cramps
- acid or sour stomach
- anxiety
Less Common
- Blemishes on the skin
- burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
- burning or stinging of the skin
- diarrhea (mild)