Estrogen Dominance

The precise balance between estrogen and progesterone is essential for normal fertility. PCOS can often cause estrogen dominance - while normal estrogen levels are usually recognised during the first half of the womans' cycle (follicular phase), a failure to ovulate stops progesterone from reaching normal levels during the second half of the cycle (luteal phase) which is required for the precise balance between the two. If estrogen levels continue cycle after cycle unopposed by progesterone (its natural counterpart) estrogen dominance often prevails, with very serious health risks.

Estrogen dominance can cause the following conditions: abnormal thyroid function, accelerated ageing, agitation, allergies (asthma, rashes and sinusitis), anxiety, auto-immune disorders (lupus, thyroiditis), bloating, blurred vision, breast tenderness, cervical dysplasia, endometriosis, cold hands and feet, copper retention, decreased libido, depression, dry eyes, extra short follicular or luteal phases, fatigue, fibrocystic breasts, food cravings, gallbladder disease, hair thinning, headaches, hypoglycaemia, increased risk of breast cancer, increased blood clotting, increased risk of stroke, infertility, irregular periods, increased facial hair, irritability, insomnia, loss of zinc, memory loss, miscarriage, mood swings, osteoporosis, premature menstruation, pre-menopausal bone density loss, PMS, reduced oxygen in cells, reduced vascular tone and circulation, salt retention, sluggish metabolism, uterine cancer, uterine cramping, uterine fibroids, water retention, weight gain (especially the hips thighs and abdomen).