Balance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life: Estrogen Dominance & Hormone Balancing
Hormonal shifts can influence the body in ways that feel subtle one moment and unmistakable the next. A change in energy, irritability that seems to come out of nowhere, or a night spent staring at the ceiling can all be early signals that something in the body’s internal rhythm is drifting off-key. These experiences are common, yet many people are left wondering why they appear at the same time each month or why they intensify during certain stages of life.
What often gets overlooked is how closely the body’s “masters of ceremony” (the hormones that guide cycles, stress responses, and metabolism) work together behind the scenes. When these signals fall out of sync, discomfort can show up in ways that feel scattered or unrelated. But beneath the surface, the body is following a pattern, using symptoms to flag imbalances long before they grow louder. Understanding these patterns can offer clarity and make it easier to support what the body is already trying to do: create steadiness.
This article explores one of the most important relationships in that system: the partnership between estrogen and progesterone. These two hormones act like counterweights, each influencing mood, comfort, temperature shifts, digestion, and even how steady or sensitive we feel during different phases of the month. When one outweighs the other, everyday life often reflects it. The sections ahead break down how these hormones work, why balance matters, and how small internal shifts can have ripple effects that reach far beyond the reproductive system.
And to bring this into real life, you’ll meet Lisa, a woman whose monthly migraines told a story she didn’t yet know how to interpret. Her experience shines a light on what can happen when this hormonal partnership falls out of balance and how things can change when the body receives the right kind of support. Keep reading to follow her journey and learn how these concepts may apply to your own hormonal picture.
I. Lisa’s Story
II. The Importance of Hormone Balancing
III. The Estrogen/Progesterone Relationship
IV. Estrogen Dominance Symptoms
V. How does Estrogen Dominance Develop?
VI. Estrogen Dominance Testing
VII. How to Correct Hormonal Imbalances
VIII. Lisa’s ResolutionI
X. Links to Helpful Information
X. A Call to Action
I. Lisa’s Story
Lisa is a hard-working woman who has dedicated her life to the service of others. A speech therapist who owns her own business, she is constantly busy improving her language therapy techniques as well as managing the finances of a small business. Ever since puberty, however, she has struggled with migraines. These persistent and enduring migraines always seem to worsen at the onset of her period, often leaving her completely debilitated. She has taken the usual litany of migraine medicines such as Imitrex and Topamex, but the medicine often left her feeling dizzy with rebound headaches, or fatigued. Frustrated with the migraines dictating Lisa’s ability to live her life, and the Imitrex which with its undesired side effects, Lisa began to research alternative and holistic solutions to her migraines. Lisa’s battle with migraines had a direct and immediate impact on the life choices she made. She was ready to be the author of her own life, and eradicate migraines at their root.
II. The Importance of Hormone Balancing
How we feel and our quality of life is very dependent on the delicate balance of three essential functions:
1. Reproductive hormones (the body’s masters of ceremony)
2. Adrenal glands (the body’s alarm system)
3. Thyroid gland (the body’s furnace)
This newsletter addresses the relationship of two key reproductive hormones – progesterone and estrogen – and the influence of estrogen dominance on our health. We will explain how and why these hormones serve as our body’s “masters of ceremony.” For our full-length article on estrogen dominance, please click here.
III. The Estrogen/Progesterone Relationship
Estrogen and progesterone play essential roles in the body, and understanding these roles is an important step in maintaining and renewing hormonal balance.
Estrogen: developmental catalyst and stimulant, primarily of female characteristics
Progesterone: multi-purpose hormonal building block, prevents estrogen dominance
Estrogen and progesterone are needed in the system to work as members of a team, and as oppositional forces. It is important that balance is maintained between the two.
IV. Estrogen Dominance Symptoms
High levels of estrogen become an issue when they are unopposed by adequate levels of progesterone. The following problems can arise when the relationship becomes exceedingly off-balance:
1. The only known cause of endometrial cancer is due to excess estrogen
2. Increased risk of breast cancer
3. Loss of bone mass
4. Increased risk of autoimmune disorders such as lupus
5. Fibrocystic breasts
6. Uterine fibroids
7. Depression and irritability
8. PMS symptoms such as cramping and bloating
9. Menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats
10. Decreased sex drive
11. Increased body hair and thinning of scalp hair
12. Migraine headaches
13. Impaired thyroid function, including Grave’s disease
14. Increased body fat
15. Increased blood clotting
15. Impaired blood sugar control
16. Endometriosis
17. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
18. Low Thyroid Function
V. How does Estrogen Dominance Develop?
Though estrogen dominance occurs naturally with age, there are three additional contributing factors:
1. pharmaceutical: synthetically produced hormones.
Examples: Birth control pills, Hormone Replacement Therapy.
2. xenoestrogens: chemically-based estrogens found in a modernized environment.
Examples: B.P.A. (bisphenol-A) found in plastic bottles and can linings.
3. phytoestrogens: naturally-occurring estrogen found in plants and plant derivatives.
Examples: Soy products and the lignans in flax seed products.
VI. Estrogen Dominance Testing
Most doctors only test for estrogen and rarely assess progesterone levels or the relationship between the two, leaving patients without real solutions. This is why Ann Arbor Holistic Health can help you with finding a comprehensive hormone test. Saliva testing measures hormones in tissues that are biologically active, or “fractionated.” Saliva tests are done at home and consist of various samples taken at different times during one full day. Since our hormone levels fluctuate during the day, this method is a more accurate representation of the true estrogen-progesterone relationship. Additionally, saliva testing also measures testosterone levels and the stress hormone cortisol, offering a more comprehensive view of our overall hormonal health. For those wanting an even closer look at hormone patterns, the DUTCH hormone test is another option to consider. It uses dried urine samples to map how the body makes, uses, and clears hormones throughout the day. This added layer of detail can reveal patterns that saliva testing may not capture, especially when someone’s symptoms don’t line up with basic hormone levels alone.
VII. How to Correct Hormonal Imbalances
Most doctors prescribe pharmaceutical hormones for issues related to menstrual irregularities, gynecological problems, and premenopausal or menopausal symptoms. Due to the pharmaceutical hormones’ side effects and implications with estrogen dominance, many women, holistic practitioners, and doctors are turning to changes in lifestyle and diet, as well as bio-identical hormones. It is crucial that you find a health practitioner who understands how to incorporate a variety of treatments that work for your needs.
VIII. Lisa’s Resolution
After consulting the appropriate health care provider, Lisa removed xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens from her home environment and diet. She began taking progesterone and nutrient supplements, and soon noted a drastic improvement in her overall health. She has been migraine-free ever since.
Please contact us to schedule a free consultation and evaluation. At Ann Arbor Holistic Health, we are known for providing professional and compassionate care. We strive to guide people towards a comprehensive and holistic healing strategy. Restoring your body to health will restore the quality of your life.
