Estrogen- Friend or Foe?

Fibroids and endometriosis are both 'estrogen dominant' and 'estrogen-dependent' conditions.

What's the difference? See below:

(Tip: if you click the pictures, they will expand)

(P.S. 'estrogen' is the same hormone as 'oestrogen'- just different spellings of the same thing 😉)

So, estrogen dominance is a state of hormonal imbalance while 'estrogen-dependent' refers to conditions that grow or worsen in response to estrogen.

Note: if you have estrogen dominance, it can result in and/or make your estrogen-dependent condition worse. However-

If you think you may have estrogen dominance, ask your doctor for an estrogen blood test and/or a dried urine test (such as a DUTCH Test aka Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones). Don't just assume you are estrogen dominant because you have an estrogen-dependent condition!

(links to an audio version on YouTube)

So, what causes estrogen dominance?

Well, there can be many causes ☹️ but there are also many things we can do to potentially support our body against it (thank God!).

⚠️ Two tips before you dive into the list:

1. The below list is not a comprehensive list of estrogen dominance causes and/or actions to take to counter it- it would be a mammoth task to list all potential causes/actions in one post!

   
   

2. To avoid overwhelming yourself (and to increase the likelihood of any changes you make actually becoming long-term changes), just start by selecting a few of the below to focus on first rather than promising yourself that you'll implement the whole list right away!

   
   

Ok, ready to dive in? Here it is...

Finally, to answer the original question of 'estrogen- friend or foe?'...

• Estrogen itself isn't our arch enemy (I promise!). It's essential for our reproductive health, our bone density, our mood etc.

• However, when it becomes imbalanced and/or dominant, it can lead to the development of chronic conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, thyroid dysfunction and more.

Balance is the goal- not zero estrogen.

Understanding how estrogen interacts with our bodies and taking steps to naturally reduce estrogen-dominance is a key action for those of us with estrogen-dominant conditions (like fibroids and endometriosis) and autoimmune thyroid disorders.

Reminder: We are not broken. Our bodies are not working against us. With the right knowledge and support, we can move from struggling with symptoms to managing them with confidence and empowerment.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medical or fertility care.