Estrogen Dominance: The Hormone Imbalance No One Talks About (But Should)
Can I be honest with you? This week felt like a hormonal roller coaster—and I know I’m not alone. One minute I was craving all the chocolate, the next I was cleaning out every drawer in the house like it was my full-time job. Spring energy is real, and so are the hormonal shifts that come with it.
There’s something about this season that makes us want to reset, refresh, and get things back in balance—both in our homes and in our bodies. If you’ve been feeling bloated, moody, or like your jeans suddenly shrank in the wash (spoiler: they didn’t), your hormones might be trying to get your attention.
This week, we’re diving into something that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime—estrogen dominance. It’s more common than you think during perimenopause, and once you understand what it is and how to support your body through it, you’ll feel more empowered to make real, lasting changes.
What Is Estrogen Dominance?
Let’s clear something up right away: estrogen isn’t the enemy. In fact, it plays a powerful role in your energy, mood, bone density, and even how your skin glows. But like anything in the body, hormones need to work in balance.
Estrogen dominance happens when there’s too much estrogen relative to progesterone—not necessarily too much overall estrogen. And this imbalance is especially common in your 40s and early 50s as ovulation becomes less predictable and progesterone begins to dip.
Even if your estrogen levels are technically normal or low, if progesterone drops more quickly, it can leave your body in a state of imbalance.
Common Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance
Bloating and water retention
Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability
Breast tenderness (especially mid-cycle or before your period)
Poor sleep and daytime fatigue
Weight gain, particularly around the belly
If you’ve chalked any of these up to "just aging" or "a rough week," you’re not wrong for noticing them—but they’re not things you have to suffer through. These are signs that your body is waving a flag for support.
What Causes Estrogen Imbalance?
There are a few key reasons estrogen dominance can creep in:
Irregular ovulation during perimenopause lowers progesterone production
Chronic stress suppresses progesterone and elevates cortisol
Liver sluggishness can impair how your body detoxifies estrogen
Xenoestrogens—synthetic compounds found in plastics and personal care products—mimic estrogen
Low-fiber diets reduce your body’s ability to eliminate used hormones
Each of these factors can add up over time, especially when life is busy and you’re balancing work, family, and your own health needs.
What You Can Do to Restore Balance
Here’s the empowering part: you are not at the mercy of your hormones. With some intentional shifts, you can help bring things back into balance. Start with these foundational steps:
Eat more cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale to support liver detoxification
Increase your fiber intake to promote daily elimination and help your body excrete used estrogen
Swap plastics for glass containers, choose fragrance-free products, and use clean household cleaners to reduce xenoestrogen exposure
Prioritize rest and recovery through movement, journaling, or quiet time to support progesterone and reduce cortisol
Stay hydrated and aim for daily movement to help your body process and eliminate toxins
These strategies aren’t meant to overhaul your life overnight—they’re practical, science-backed steps that support your body’s natural rhythms and bring you back to a place of feeling good in your skin.
Want a Deeper Dive?
If you’ve been nodding along thinking, “This sounds just like me,” I want you to know you’re not alone—and you’re not stuck.
In my ebook, Thriving Through Menopause, I go deeper into what estrogen dominance is, why it happens, and how to reset your hormones with everyday changes. It’s available when you join the Lady Warrior Meno Core Program, where we combine real-life strategies with expert support to help you thrive.
Visit www.ladywarrior.com to learn more and get started.
Final Thoughts
Hormonal imbalance can feel overwhelming, but knowledge changes everything. When you understand what estrogen dominance is and how to support your body, you stop feeling like your hormones are working against you—and start feeling like yourself again.
This season is the perfect time to clear out what’s not serving you and make room for balance, energy, and vitality. Let’s spring clean your hormones, reconnect with your body, and start fresh—with clarity and confidence.
You’ve got this, Lady Warrior.
—Shannon