ESTROGEN DOMINANCE
Being estrogen-dominant may confuse you because most doctors and menopausal patients think a lack of estrogen is what causes the plethora of menopausal symptoms.
Let me clear up some of the confusion.
For ovulation to cease, estrogen levels need to decrease slightly, but once ovulation ceases, ovarian production of progesterone and testosterone decreases severely.
Remember, estradiol and progesterone, in essence, keep each other in check. When ovulation ceases, ovarian production of progesterone ceases, and estradiol loses its dancing partner.
“Estradiol without progesterone runs wild when it comes to weight gain.”
The more enormous the chasm between estradiol and progesterone, the more estrogen-dominant a woman becomes and the more weight she will gain.
The symptoms of Estrogen Dominance are:
Weight Gain
Weight Loss Resistance
Sleeping Disorders
Hormonal Induced Anxiety
Hormonal Induced Depression
Loss of Interest in Being Intimate
Loss of Motivation to Be Social
The next step we will take on our journey of taming menopause is to complete a subjective test that will indicate if you are Estrogen Dominant and, if so, how severely.
THE MENOPAUSE/ESTROGEN DOMINANCE QUIZ
( ) Rapid Weight Gain (Usually 30 pounds or more)
( ) Weight Loss Resistance (The inability to lose weight)
( ) The Inability To Sleep Well. (four to five hours a night at most)
( ) Hormonal Induced Anxiety (Worrying about everything)
( ) Hormonal Induced Depression (Occasional Emotional Moments)
( ) Loss of Interest to be Intimate (Like zero)
( ) Loss of Interest in being Social (Go to a party, yeah, right)
( ) Hot Flashes (These are easy to eliminate)
( ) Night Sweats (Go along with the flashes)
So…how many of the above symptoms do you have? We call this your Menopause Score.
Let me break down each of the symptoms of Estrogen Dominance.
Weight Gain
Estradiol is a fat-storing hormone. Progesterone and testosterone are fat-burning hormones. When a woman enters menopause, her ovaries stop producing progesterone and testosterone. Estradiol starts storing excess fat, especially in women's bellies. Along with this belly fat, an enzyme called aromatase is produced. This enzyme converts progesterone and testosterone into estradiol. Estradiol produces belly fat, and belly fat produces estradiol, and the belly fat uses the little progesterone and testosterone you have to make more estradiol.
Weight Loss Resistance
Once in menopause, women have very little progesterone and testosterone, and estradiol produces belly fat, which creates more estradiol. Thus, a post-menopausal woman is in a constant fat-storing state. Although she can cut her calories, join a gym, go to boot camps, and even hire a personal trainer, losing weight will be nearly impossible.
Sleep Disruption
Once menopause occurs, progesterone drops severely. Progesterone is the calming hormone. Without progesterone, a woman will sleep less. The usual change is from 7 to 8 hours to 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night, which is insufficient. Sleep disruption is even more harmful because hormones are made while you sleep. With less sleep, you'll have less hormone production.
Hormonal Induced Anxiety
With the sudden drop in progesterone, which I call the '60s hormone because it's all about peace, love, and flower power, your body moves from a feeling of peacefulness to uneasiness. You find yourself waking up as if something terrible is about to happen. Estrogen Dominance perturbs what your life of peace was, turning it into a life of fretfulness.
Hormonal Induced Depression
Clinical depression is daily and unrelenting. Hormonal Induced Depression is occasional. It's best described as bad days. These are days when you feel off. Many describe it as a day where you feel low and emotional. Many of my clients claim that they find themselves crying for no known reason.
Loss of Interest in Being Intimate
Once estradiol misses its mark, and ovulation doesn't occur, the ovarian production of progesterone and testosterone ceases. You may love your spouse, but suddenly, you lose progesterone, a hormone many call the cuddle hormone, and testosterone, a very well-known hormone that governs sex drive. You lose all interest in being intimate.
Loss of interest in Being Social
With Estrogen Dominance, you gain weight, can't sleep, feel anxious and depressed, and the last thing you want to do is party. Your friends may call you and ask if you want to go out and have a drink. You laugh and hang up. When I ask my clients why they elect to shun being social, many tell me they don't like how they look and don't want others to see them this way.
TAKEAWAY:
"The First Phase of Menopause is a condition called Estrogen Dominance. This condition occurs because estrogen levels have decreased, and ovulation does not occur. Once you stop ovulating, ovarian progesterone and testosterone production cease; therefore, you lose the hormones that govern peacefulness, fat-burning, sleep, and sex drive. Adding to the problem is belly fat. It will turn the little progesterone and testosterone into estradiol, causing you to become even more estrogen-dominant."
In my next blog post, I will delve deeper into the Hormone Optimization Strand of HOPE.
Please comment below and rate this blog above; it will fuel my desire to teach you how to optimize your hormones and weight.
IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY READY
"TO LOSE WEIGHT AND FEEL GREAT,"
I'LL COACH THEM FOR FREE!
THIS WEEK'S US-IE
Vicky and I traveled to The Gold Country this weekend. Vicky has a wine club membership and needed to pick up her shipment, which has been sitting there since November. It was a beautiful winter day, and we enjoyed each other's company. It's always a great day to get away alone like this.
“Spending a day away with your honey is simply marvelously romantic."
And remember...
"IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR HORMONES!"
"Because when your hormones are optimized, your weight, health, and mind will follow."
🍷 Doc
FDA Disclaimer:
The information provided in The Pause newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The statements made about hormones, weight loss, or any other health-related topics have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any decisions related to your health, including starting or stopping medications, supplements, or lifestyle changes.
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