The Dangers of Excess Estrogen
Although we often hear about women suffering from a deficiency of estrogen during menopause, we hear much less about the effects of excess estrogen on health. As you probably know, lack of estrogen is common during menopause and it can cause a series of problems like bone loss. However, excess estrogen can also cause a series of problems ranging from the very mild to the outright dangerous.
What problems can result from excess estrogen?
Women with elevated levels of estrogen can have a series of health difficulties. For example, you might find you have very long and heavy periods. You might find that your breasts feel extra tender, as you might feel when you are pregnant. (In fact, increased hormone level is one of the early effects in pregnancy because it helps prepare the body for bringing a fetus to term.) You might even find you have cramps for no particular reason. Many of the problems have a psychological dimension. For example, if you are suffering from increased estrogen you might have trouble thinking clearly or sleeping at night. Women with heightened levels of estrogen are also more likely to be crabby and easily provoked. (Many of the symptoms are similar to those experienced during PMS, except that they last longer than PMS does.) You might also find that heightened levels of estrogen effects your sex-life. You may become uncomfortably dry during sex. You might also find that you simply have no desire to engage in the sex act at all.
One of the most dangerous possible results of a heightened level of estrogen in women is an increased risk of breast cancer. For this reason, physicians encourage women who suffer from excess estrogen to treat the problem. Women with this condition should also have themselves tested for breast cancer every year and learn how to check for hard nodes in their breasts weekly. Early detection is the key to surviving breast cancer.
Although it is less common, some men also sometimes experience heightened estrogen levels. (Usually this occurs because of exposure to a particular type of estrogen.) Men who experience heightened levels of estrogen may find that they develop female sexual characteristics (“man-boobs”) or suffer from hair loss. Just like women, they are likely to have decreased sexual desire. Often, in men, heightened estrogen levels accompany lowered levels of testosterone.
What can cause excess estrogen?
There can be several causes of excess estrogen in women. One of the most common causes of heightened levels of estrogen is overcompensation for estrogen loss during menopause. Often it takes a little while for your physician to discover how to moderate your estrogen levels once menopause begins. Along the same lines, you may find that your birth control pill may increase the level of your estrogen to unacceptable levels.
Because estrogen fat cells also produce estrogen, women who suffer from weight issues may also find they have or develop heightened estrogen levels as they grow older. Sometimes the side effects of heightened estrogen levels also make it more difficult for women with weight issues to diet and exercise properly, thus created a self-reinforcing cycle.
Similarly, researchers have also shown that alcohol also correlates to higher levels of estrogen.
Treatment for Excess Estrogen
If you suffer from excess estrogen, you should seek medical help. Your physician can help you to moderate your estrogen levels by either giving you estrogen or by reducing the levels of estrogen you already take. Along with chemical fixes, you can also help to naturally reduce your estrogen levels through a combination of a healthier diet, exercise, and abstaining from alcohol.