High Estrogen in Females - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

What is Estrogen?

Estrogen is a key female hormone responsible for reproductive health, as well as overall physical and emotional well-being. Throughout a woman’s life cycle, estrogen levels fluctuate in response to the specific needs at each stage. These levels vary during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. But when estrogen levels are abnormally high at any stage, estrogen dominance can impact health in various ways. High estrogen levels can build up slowly over the years due to various factors and can often be mistaken for stress or lifestyle-related issues.

What Are the Roles of Estrogen in the Female Body?

Women’s hormone levels are often easily affected by several factors. Since estrogen plays several crucial roles in women’s bodies along with other hormones, it is important to understand what happens when estrogen levels are high at any point in time. Higher than normal estrogen levels are also referred to as estrogen dominance and can affect both the physical and mental health of women drastically.

Symptoms of High Estrogen in Women

High estrogen in women can present different symptoms affecting physical and mental health. Some of the most commonly found high estrogen symptoms in women are as follows:

• Bloating and unexplained weight gain
• Breast tenderness or swelling
• Fibrocystic lumps in the breasts
• Fibroids in the uterus
• Frequent fatigue or headaches
• Irregular or heavy menstrual bleeding
• Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability
• Reduced sexual desire
• Worsening PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)

These high estrogen symptoms may vary in intensity from person to person. For some, they may appear gradually and feel like everyday stress; for others, the changes may be more sudden and intensely impactful.

In all cases, treatments for high estrogen in women are available. If you experience any of the above symptoms, please reach out to your doctor and discuss having your estrogen levels tested.

What Happens When Estrogen Levels Are High?

Continuous estrogen dominance over time can start from subtle symptoms and worsen over time. In the long run, when left untreated, it can worsen endometriosis and cause insulin resistance and PCOD. High estrogen effects can also include some serious health concerns, like an increased risk of ovarian or breast cancer.

Menstrual cycles may become unpredictable, and fertility may be impacted because ovulation can become irregular. Long-term hormonal imbalance may also contribute to conditions like uterine fibroids and endometriosis.

Even in males, when estrogen levels rise above what is considered normal, it can lead to infertility, erectile dysfunction, and breast tissue growth, or gynecomastia.

It is therefore essential to be aware of any symptoms that don't feel normal and to schedule regular check-ups for your reproductive health. What happens when estrogen levels rise may differ from woman to woman. Identifying and managing high estrogen early can help protect long-term reproductive health.

Diagnosis of High Estrogen Levels

Hormone testing in women is used to diagnose various conditions. When doctors suspect that you may be experiencing a hormonal imbalance or estrogen dominance, they may recommend the following tests for diagnosis.

• Blood tests : Your body makes three main types of estrogen, and a simple blood test can measure these levels. Estrone (E1) becomes more common after menopause, while estradiol (E2) is the primary estrogen during the reproductive years, and estriol (E3) is primarily produced during pregnancy. This helps your healthcare provider understand your hormone levels and identify any potential factors affecting your health.
• Pelvic ultrasound : Ultrasound will help the doctor see the ovaries and uterus clearly. It helps check for any cysts, fibroids, or changes in these organs that could be linked to hormone imbalance or symptoms you’re experiencing.

A diagnosis of high estrogen will be made after a comprehensive physical examination and blood tests are completed. Doctors will then understand the level of estrogen dominance and determine the appropriate course of treatment.

Treatment for High Estrogen in Females

Treatment for high estradiol in females is usually done as a combination of medical interventions and lifestyle changes. This is the best approach as lifestyle changes heavily impact hormone balance in women.

For estrogen dominance, depending on the case, doctors may prescribe two types of medication:

• Aromatase inhibitors : A doctor may prescribe medications to help bring estrogen levels back to a healthy range. These are personalised based on symptoms and test results. These may include Aromatase inhibitors that prevent your fat cells from making estrogen.
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists : You may also be prescribed gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists to stop your ovaries from releasing estrogen.

Medicines are usually prescribed when estrogen levels are very high and if someone has cancer spreading in response to estrogen exposure.

Lifestyle Changes to Balance Estrogen Naturally

Apart from medication, women can opt for natural ways to reduce estrogen. Lifestyle factors and healthy habits play a crucial role in maintaining hormones in women’s bodies.

• Weight Management and Regular Exercise : Body fat can produce and store estrogen; therefore, maintaining a healthy weight and staying active can help naturally balance hormones.
• Reducing Exposure to Environmental Toxins : Certain plastics, processed foods, and chemical-based products can mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. Choosing cleaner household products and avoiding plastic food containers can help.
• Liver-Supportive Diet : The liver plays a crucial role in removing excess estrogen. Foods like broccoli, cabbage, leafy greens, green tea, and fibre-rich meals support this process.

These lifestyle interventions can help balance hormones naturally in the long run.

Can High Estrogen Cause Infertility in Women?

When estrogen levels are excessively high, they can disrupt the body’s normal hormonal balance. Ovulation may become irregular or stop altogether, making conception more challenging. Elevated estrogen can also affect egg quality and the uterine environment, creating less favourable conditions for a pregnancy to develop. Therefore, there is a clear link between high estrogen and fertility, particularly for women trying to conceive. The positive side is that estrogen imbalance and pregnancy concerns can often be improved. With the right guidance, whether through lifestyle adjustments, medical treatment, or supportive therapies, many women are able to restore hormonal balance and increase their chances of a healthy conception.

Conclusion

In recent years, lifestyle changes, overexposure to environmental xenoestrogens, and rising obesity have all contributed to hormonal imbalances in women.

It is therefore crucial not to overlook any symptoms that seem unusual. However, early diagnosis allows doctors to recommend the most appropriate treatment for each individual. Women should generally be more alert regarding their health and nutrition. Furthermore, managing stress levels and maintaining healthy sleep habits can greatly help in regulating hormones.