Estrogen Dominant BUT Estrogen Deficient
I know this may sound like a contradictory statement but you can actually be estrogen dominant and still be estrogen deficient. This happens to a majority of women who are going through menopause. As their ovaries shut down, they begin producing less of all the hormones, both progesterone and the three estrogen hormones: estrone, estradiol and estriol.
A tell-tale sign of estrogen deficiency is hot flashes, night sweats or vaginal dryness, which is often associated with menopause. In patients who are experiencing these symptoms, I recommend is oral micronized bi-estrogen, called Bi-Est. Bi-Est is composed of 80 percent estriol, the least stimulating of the estrogens and the one that seems most beneficial to the vagina, cervix, and vulva, and 20 percent estradiol, the most stimulative of the estrogens. The ratio of estriol to estradiol may be varied to control symptoms.
When used in conjunction with progesterone, bioidentical estrogen also may be useful for women at risk of osteoporosis. While it will not help build bone, which is the function of progesterone, the use of bioidentical estrogen can help slow bone breakdown.
However, not all women, even those who are menopausal or who have had a hysterectomy, need estrogen. As I hope I’ve made clear, many of the symptoms attributed to estrogen deficiency are actually caused by a relative excess of estrogen and are best treated with natural progesterone to restore the proper balance. In addition, even after menopause or a hysterectomy, a woman’s body continues to make estrogen in her fat cells.
