Hey Doc, Is this Normal?

Hormonal Imbalances, specifically estrogen dominance or low progesterone, can occur for one or several reasons. Here are the main areas I look at when assessing my clients health status and hormones:

1. Liver dysfunction: Hormones not being metabolized properly. There are multiple pathways that estrogen can be metabolized down. With proper lab testing, we can see if estrogen is being metabolized down the 2-OH, 4-OH or 16-OH pathway, which provides valuable information about why you may be experiencing moodiness, fibroids, heavy periods or other uncomfortable symptoms.
2. Gut dysfunction: An imbalance in the gut causing estrogen to be reabsorbed back into the body. Estrogen goes up and down throughout the menstrual cycle. But if it cannot leave the body then it creates an issue. This is where regular bowel movements and checking gut health markers is super important. I often find that my patients with fibroids or endometriosis are not popping regularly. But again, this is common….not normal. A normal pooping frequency should be 2-3 times today with easy comfortable stools.
3. Testosterone is being converted to estrogen through a process called aromatization. This can also lead to more issues, like low sex drive or trouble with muscle tone.
4. Xenoestrogens aka Environmental Toxins that mimic estrogens or disrupt our hormones are entering your body and not being properly detoxed. These can be found in things that we eat, drink and breathe. Over exposure can disrupt hormones.
5. Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal dysfunction is where the brain is not communicating well with the hormones in the body. The role of the hypothalamus is to interpret stress in the environment. It then tells the pituitary gland how to signal next steps to the adrenals, ovaries and thyroid. In some cases, the body starts pumping out cortisol instead of producing important sex hormones, especially when the body is under excess physical, emotional or chemical stress.