Hormone imbalances can feel confusing, especially when your body is giving you mixed signals — bloating one day, mood swings the next, breakouts, fatigue, painful periods… the list goes on. One of the most common patterns I see in women (especially those in their 30s–40s) is estrogen dominance — when estrogen levels are too high relative to progesterone.
Unfortunately, most doctors won't test for this, and countless women in their fertile and perimenopausal years are either told "this is just a part of aging" or "go on birth control to manage your symptoms" if they would only dig a little deeper.
This doesn’t always mean you have excess estrogen — sometimes it just means you don’t have enough progesterone to keep it in balance. And when that balance is off, you feel it.
Signs You Might Have Estrogen Dominance:
• Heavy, painful, or irregular periods
• PMS (especially mood swings, anxiety, irritability)
• Bloating or breast tenderness
• Weight gain around hips and thighs
• Fatigue or low libido
• Fibroids, endometriosis, or ovarian cysts
• Trouble sleeping
• Brain fog or headaches
If you nodded along to any of those, you’re not alone. And it’s not your fault — many modern lifestyle factors are working against your hormone balance.
๐งช What Causes Estrogen Dominance?
We’re living in a world full of estrogen disruptors — and they add up:
Stress:
Chronically high cortisol depletes progesterone (your calming, grounding hormone) and lets estrogen take the lead.
Toxins:
Chemicals in plastics, skincare, cleaning products, receipts, and processed foods mimic estrogen in the body — these are called xenoestrogens and they confuse your endocrine system.
Gut health:
Your gut helps you detox excess estrogen. If you’re constipated, inflamed, or have dysbiosis, estrogen gets reabsorbed instead of eliminated.
Blood sugar imbalances:
Frequent crashes and spikes can disrupt ovulation, which is where we make progesterone. No ovulation = no natural balance.
๐ So What Can You Do? Simple Ways to Rebalance:
If estrogen is running the show, here are some ways to support your body in restoring harmony:
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Support your liver + gut:
Add cruciferous veggies (lightly cooked), ground flax, and bitter greens. Consider seed cycling and magnesium-rich foods.
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Lower your toxic load:
Swap plastic containers, clean up your skincare, avoid synthetic fragrances, and use a water filter.
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Manage stress intentionally:
Yin yoga, meditation, breathwork, journaling — whatever helps you slow down and shift out of fight-or-flight. (I’ve got a free meditation for this — reply if you want it!)
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Prioritize blood sugar balance:
Start your day with a protein-rich breakfast. Avoid skipping meals and add fiber + fat to every plate.
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Cycle-sync your workouts + lifestyle:
Honor your body’s shifts throughout your cycle. More intensity when estrogen is higher (follicular/ovulation), and more restoration when progesterone rises (luteal).
๐ Want personalized support to rebalance your hormones?
This is exactly what I help women do through 1:1 coaching and inside my hormone mini-courses.
Estrogen dominance isn’t a life sentence — it’s a signal (and NOT something to band-aid with birth control). And when we listen to it with curiosity (not fear), we can shift into a more balanced, vibrant version of ourselves.
Sending you clarity & calm,
Kelley
Founder, Wellness by Kelley
wellnessbykelley.com
