Something that impacted my work early on was the little issue called œstrogen dominance. Once I knew the truth, immediately, my mind raced back to my childhood, with symptoms I saw in the ladies; then to my nursing days; the women who were mismanaged to the point of suicide & slow death - drastic surgery, shock treatment, strong sedatives and analgesics, & of course, over-use of synthetic & species-nonspecific œstrogen - which affects not just the person at the time, but future generations.
From œstrogen mimicking chemicals found in personal care, cosmetics, cleaning products, perfumery & even food (especially factory farmed meat & dairy) right through to the contraceptive pill & HRT, doctors see one hormone - œstrogen as the pinnacle of female health - when it actually takes care of itself while both testosterone and progesterone are suppressed as œstrogen levels rise constantly.
Increase progesterone & the others will fall into place synergistically - if allowed to.
Within my patient community, I have had myriad œstrogen-related, tragic health issues affecting everyone from newborns through to the elderly. From a 2 year old menstruating and with precocious puberty (fully developed; maternal history of contraceptive implant and chicken consumption every single day during pregnancy thanks to a craving she thought she must feed) through to menopause in early twenties (enforced menopause to 'treat' endometriosis), from babies born without reproductive organs (toxic farming chemical use during pregnancy) to depression and self harm in old age (HRT-related).
Medical mismanagement of female hormones simply reflects a poor understanding across the board.
A few symptoms of œstrogen dominance - (some may surprise you, others will shock you) -
decreased sex drive
irregular cycle
bloating and fluid retention
breast tissue swelling and pain
breast cysts
uterine cysts, cervical infections
headaches/migraines
mood swings
depression
violence & anger
weight gain
facial hair
deepening of voice
thyroid dysfunction
cold hands and feet
hair loss
poor metabolism
brain fog
memory loss
fatigue
insomnia
PMS and cramping
poor digestion
nose bleeds
sinus inflammation/mucosa inflammation - ovarian, cervical, urinary
bowel irregularities
anxiety
loss of nurturing behaviour
hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling
bouts of rapid heart beat
irritability
sudden tears
irregular periods; shorter, lighter periods; heavier periods, flooding; phantom periods, shorter cycles, longer cycles
dry vagina, a general drying out that can include eyes, mouth, joints and skin - includes inflammation/infection
feelings of dread, apprehension, doom
difficulty concentrating, disorientation, mental confusion
disturbing memory lapses
incontinence, especially upon sneezing, laughing; urge incontinence
itchy, crawly skin (see note)
aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons
increased tension in muscles
gastrointestinal distress, indigestion, flatulence, gas, pain, nausea
sudden bouts of bloat
exacerbation of existing conditions
increase in allergies - leading to inflammation/ infection
hair loss or thinning, head, pubic, or whole body
dizziness, light-headedness, episodes of loss of balance
changes in body odour
electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head
tingling in the extremities
blood sugar and diabetic problems
gum problems, increased bleeding
burning tongue, burning roof of mouth, bad taste in mouth, dry mouth, change in breath odour
osteoporosis (after several years)
changes in fingernails: softer, crack or break easier
tinnitus: ringing in ears, bells, 'whooshing' buzzing etc
These symptoms have been discovered in a wide number of studies involving œstrogen dominance - which to date is still largely dismissed within medical circles. Dietary changes alone can bring about massive improvement, but in order to undo the damage that has taken years to build up, gentle and natural supplementation must be considered and used long term.
After all, it didn't happen overnight!
So, what is the answer? Prepare yourself, it's probably not what you want to hear. Dietary attention is vital - the standard western diet provides too much of what is not needed - cut dairy, meat, gluten and additive consumption. There is more on this found in my diet articles - but getting your pH right really does affect your whole being. From birth, if you are not fed pure, preferably organic food, your enzymes are used up rapidly, which means your hormones eventually become affected as they try to make up the balance.
The domino effect is the destruction of enzymes early in life, which leads to early hormone imbalance.
If you use regular cleaning products, please stop. Don't use them up - just stop. Also, do not tip them down the drain. Studies show our hormones are affected early on from environmental toxins. Garden sprays, cleaning products, personal care, soaps, even perfumes can mimic our hormones and cause tragic results. Few cleaning products are safe - you can go the whole vinegar and bicarb route or you can use products already researched that are safe and effective; even labels stating natural and pure can be misleading. Start reading labels and learn to identify what is safe and effective.
As for treatment, I advise a purified herbal progesterone-raising transdermal cream (suitable for all ages from puberty signs) found here and a herbal supplement which will work internally - for females - and for males - as well as avoiding all the œstrogen-based medicines such as contraceptive pill, implants and HRT. Please know this has been proven clinically time and again; for me, personally as well as professionally.
It has allowed me to help in most fertility health issues and can help you.
* Note - if you consider all the symptoms above linked to œstrogen dominance, you can be assured that by balancing hormone levels by flushing œstrogen to a safe level, you will not only naturally increase the other hormones, but every health system - including your appearance, will improve. Stop playing dominoes with your health. Consider it just a part of the fountain of youth.