High estrogen levels are not a very popular topic for menopausal women these days.
In fact, the hottest topic in menopause is low estrogen, but what about all the women who experience high estrogen symptoms?
Typically, women in perimenopause (the early stages of menopause) experience estrogen-predominant symptoms before experiencing low-estrogen symptoms.
Why? During this time, our progesterone levels are low. Progesterone is a hormone that balances estrogen, so a low level of progesterone allows estrogen to dominate and we experience estrogen dominance symptoms even if our estrogen levels are normal.
1. Weight gain
The average perimenopausal and menopausal woman gains 5 to 12 pounds.
Oh! Too much estrogen can slow down your metabolism and enlarge the fat cells in your abdomen and thighs.
Stay away from refined carbohydrates, participate in an exercise program that you enjoy, and eat your veggies.
2. Tender breasts
Oh! This is not funny. It is difficult to function when your breasts are sore. You have probably noticed that as you progress through your menstrual cycle, your breasts tend to sore just before your period comes. This is when your estrogen level rises and your breasts become fuller and more fluid. All of this makes our breasts tender.
It’s a bit harder to predict breast pain if you’re perimenopausal and have irregular periods.
Incorporating omega-3 fats, fruits, vegetables, and high-fiber foods into your diet will help you feel better.
3. Uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are the most common type of fibroid found in women. They are non-cancerous growths of tissue and muscle in the uterus.
While they are not cancerous, they can cause bleeding and other unpleasant symptoms. Also, in a very small number of cases, uterine fibroids can pose a high risk of cancer, so see your doctor!
Excess estrogen promotes the growth of uterine fibroids, as does high blood pressure and obesity.
4. Fatigue
Extreme tiredness is another symptom of high estrogen levels. Fatigue can manifest as exhaustion, or you may have headaches, joint pain, muscle aches, or fever.
After being fatigued for a long time, it’s easy to slip into depression, so see your doctor and discuss treatment options if you feel consistently tired.
5. Headaches
While the exact cause of menopausal headaches and migraines is difficult to pin down, it is clear that hormone changes and too much estrogen can make our heads throb.
Some birth control pills can cause headaches in addition to not getting enough sleep and excess caffeine and chocolate.
Many women use the herb feverfew to decrease menopausal migraines.
Help!
Increasing your progesterone level will help treat these symptoms.
You can use progesterone cream by rubbing 1/2 to 1/4 teaspoon on your face, thighs, stomach, or neck once a day. Progesterone cream will also help your skin look fresh and plump, so there is an added benefit to using it!
