Oestrogen - Friend or Foe
A look at your menstrual cycle to understand your hormones and your symptoms.
On many occasions in naturopathic clinic I see much confusion with regards to female hormones, with oestrogen being blamed for all woes. At this point I usually wind back the discussion and go through the typical monthly hormonal cycle for the menstruating female. Often it is a light bulb moment as the connection between the rises and falls of the hormones can now be associated with symptoms - moods, pain, spotting etc. A deeper level of understanding is achieved as the other predominant female hormone progesterone is introduced into the picture. Oestrogen isn’t the only hormone to consider, and it may not be the oestrogen causing you discomfort, but other factors in your health and life that impact your oestrogen. Below we take a brief look at the hormonal cycle and some of the main factors that may influence your menstrual cycle and the symptoms you experience. In naturopathic clinic we work together to determine what you need to achieve wellness - whether you are looking to regulate the menstrual cycle, ease heavy pain and bleeding, or support fertility.
Firstly, let’s look at the interplay of hormones throughout the month. This is a simplified explanation which I hope you can follow along with me. I love going through this in clinic, I find it really helps women to understand their cycles, their moods, their energy.
Note: Taken from the Encyclopaedia of Britannica
Day 1 of your cycle is always pinpointed on your first day of your bleed, this is the first day of your flow and is not counted from any very light spotting that you may experience. At this point already the pituitary gland in your brain has started to release Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) to stimulate the growth of eggs in the ovary.
Follicular phase is the time leading up to ovulation and is dominated by the growth of a group of eggs in the ovary that produce oestrogen. As the eggs become larger more oestrogen is produced and eventually one egg becomes dominant and continues to grow. The oestrogen is now reaching its peak level and the level is being monitored by the pituitary gland.
Ovulation - once oestrogen reaches a level for a sustained period the pituitary gland now releases Luteinising Hormone (LH), that will initiate a series of reactions that cause ovulation to occur ie the egg is released from the ovary and begins its journey along the fallopian tube ready for fertilisation. At this point oestrogen drops.
Luteal phase is the time from ovulation until the next bleed starts. You are now also under the influence of progesterone which is being produced by the cells lining the follicle where the egg once was and which is now called the corpus luteum. Progesterone will continue to be produced for the life of the corpus luteum cells after which progesterone will decline causing the uterus lining to shed and you start your menstrual cycle again. If pregnancy occurs the implantation of the fertilised egg into the endometrium of the uterus will start to produce progesterone and will prevent the onset of a bleed - ie you are pregnant.
How amazing is all of that!
So once there is understanding of the natural flow of hormones throughout the month we can look at all of the factors that may interfere and influence this natural cycle. Some of these factors include:
The state of your nervous system and extent of stress that you are experiencing. The female hormone pathway is heavily influenced by the adrenal hormones and I find it bidirectional - stress and anxiety may disrupt the female hormones, and similarly an ‘imbalance’ of hormones may cause some anxiety due to the interaction with neurotransmitters.
Detoxification capacity and the health and function of the liver to support adequate clearance of hormones. There are many pathways to be considered if I believe there is an issue with the clearance of hormones.
Digestion and bowel regularity, so important to clear the waste that has been detoxified or processed out of the system, good bowel function is always essential.
Whole food diet with plenty of fibre, leafy greens, healthy fats, adequate protein to supply the nutrients that our bodies need to produce hormones, neurotransmitters, enzymes, EVERYTHING. And reduced or no processed foods that cause inflammation.
Exposure to chemicals and toxins that interfere with hormone receptors and overload our detoxification capacity - plastics, alcohol, medications, herbicides and pesticides.
Too much Oestrogen?
Female reproductive conditions that may present as oestrogen dominant states are fibroids, endometriosis, fibrocystic breast disease, heavy and painful menstrual bleeds, migraines, PCOS and some forms of PMS. These conditions develop a self-perpetuating pathology with raised systemic and/or tissue levels of the oestrogen, and/or environmental chemicals (xeno-oestrogens).
In some cases it may not be excess oestrogen but insufficient progesterone to balance the oestrogen, or perhaps the oestrogen can’t be cleared effectively.
Why does one woman develop these conditions and not another?
The answer rarely lies in one solution or magic pill, as listed above there are many contributing factors. If you are left wondering what is happening for you consider:
genetics and epigenetic - how our lifestyle affects the activation of our genes,
stress and its far reaching endocrinological effects,
your gut and microbiome,
food and lifestyle choices - including sleep, exercise, and excess weight
Any of the above factors can create an imbalanced hormonal environment, and sometimes establishes a pathology that feeds itself and self-perpetuates to a tissue condition such as fibroids, or heavy menstrual bleeding to endometriosis. You are unique and what you are experiencing is typically unique to you, which is why naturopathic medicine works so well to restore balance. In clinic we uncover all the factors that are influencing you to determine your treatment approach, and always adjusting along the health journey to your needs. Reach out if you would like support for your cycle.
Naturopathic Clinic
As a university trained naturopath with a clinical practice - meaning I see clients in clinic consultations for their health concerns - I look at a client's entire health picture.
Please reach out for further guidance and naturopathic treatment that can assist and guide you back to wellness.
See me in naturopathic clinic or at the apothecary for nutrient and herbal medicine to support the nervous system, gut health, hormonal health, stress, detoxification and methylation pathways.
