Can Too Much Estrogen Cause Hot Flashes

What Causes Hot Flashes

Unfortunately, despite the common occurrence of hot flashes and the high number of women who experience the symptom, very little is known about the cause of hot flashes. For many years, science had no insight on why this happened or how to influence it. Although we have learned more in recent years, much of the mechanism of hot flashes is still a mystery.

What Are Hot Flashes

A hot flash is a sudden and uncomfortable feeling of warmth or increase in body temperature that can last for a few minutes. The sensation is usually most intense in the face, neck, and chest. Your skin may redden, and you may start to sweat. Then, as the hot flash passes, you may have chills.

Night sweats are hot flashes that happen while you are sleeping. They can cause you to sweat a lot.

Hot flashes are a very common complaint of women who are near or in menopause, when estrogen levels decline. But hot flashes can also be caused by hyperthyroidism, certain medications, and pregnancy.

Treatment may include lifestyle changes, hormone replacement therapy, supplements, and other medications, depending on the cause.

Dr. Rx

Patients often describe the hot flashes as coming in waves. They describe it as a sudden heat that starts in their chest and moves upward towards their face. They may also complain that they feel anxious or that their heart starts beating fast. Dr. Jessica White-Videa

How Your Gut Health Can Cause Estrogen Dominance

Oh and you know those rockstar gut bugs that your body depends on to function? If they are out of balance and making too much beta-glucuronidase, you can also find yourself with estrogen excess.

Calcium d-glucarate can help with this, which is why you’ll find it in Balance Women’s Hormone Supplement. This supplement also contains B vitamins, DIM, and broccoli seed extract to support the liver’s role in breaking down estrogen.

Do you notice constipation around period time? How does your skin look? How is your mood? Are your breasts more tender? Have you had hot flashes or difficulty sleeping?

In my naturopathic medical practice, these are the kinds of things I ask my patients to monitor. Many of my patients are able to begin making the connection between their gut health and how their gut functions with how this impacts their hormones. I’d encourage you to do the same.

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The Hot Flash Estrogen Deficiency Myth

If estrogen deficiency was the cause of hot flashes, then it would make sense that women who suffer from hot flashes would be more deficient in estrogen than those who do not.

However, according to renowned hormone physiologist Dr. Raymond Peat, thats not the case at all.

At menopause, there are a number of hormonal changes that occur, including:

While estrogen production may decline, progesterone production declines more severely resulting in estrogen dominance.

Its important to understand that its the balance of estrogen to progesterone that matters most.

In menopause, the more estrogen dominant and progesterone deficient you become, the greater the danger to your thyroid health.

Osteoporosis Prevention In Women

Other studies show that phytoestrogens could help prevent bone loss in aging women. Natural estrogen is known to help maintain normal bone density. When women age, estrogen levels drop, making them more vulnerable to osteoporosis.

Because phytoestrogens act much like estrogen, taking them may stop this from happening. Still, more research is needed before a doctor would advise this use.

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When Should I Be Worried About Night Sweats

Schedule a visit with your healthcare provider if youre regularly experiencing night sweats that disrupt your sleep or if youre experiencing night sweats alongside other symptoms. If youre close to age 50 and youre waking with cold sweats menopause is likely the cause. Experiencing night sweats in addition to other concerning symptoms may be a sign of something more serious.

Still, only your provider can make a definitive diagnosis. Once your provider determines the cause, they can prescribe treatments to help.

Menopause And Excessive Sweating: What You Can Do

Some changes to your regular routine may help cool hot flashes.

Work on your weight. Women who are overweight or obese are more likely to have frequent hot flashes, Omicioli says. A study of 338 overweight or obese women found that those who lost weight over 6 months had a bigger improvement in hot flashes than those who didnât lose weight.

Exercise. Although studies havenât been conclusive, itâs thought that regular physical exercise lowers hot flash frequency.

Stop smoking. Several studies have linked smoking to hot flashes. One study found that heavy smokers were four times more likely to have hot flashes than women who never smoked.

Include soy in your diet. According to the National Center for Complemetary and Alternative Medicine, results of studies showing that soy reduces hot flashes has been inconsistent. To see if it works for you, you might try adding two to three servings of soy to your diet, Omicioli says. Try soybeans, tofu, tempeh, or miso.

Stock up on tanks and cardigans. Wear lightweight clothes and dress in layers so you can shed heavier clothing when a hot flash strikes. Wearing a material at night that wicks away moisture may help you sleep

Control the air temperature. Lower the heat, run the air conditioning, open a window, or run a fan during the day and while you sleep.

Pay attention to potential triggers. Alcohol, caffeine, and spicy food may trigger hot flashes in some women.

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Can Progesterone Cause Insomnia

There is no definitive answer to this question as everyones body chemistry is different. However, some women who take progesterone as a medication to help with fertility or menopause symptoms report that it causes them to have difficulty sleeping. If you are taking progesterone and having trouble sleeping, you should talk to your doctor to see if there is an alternative treatment that would be more suitable for you.

Both estrogen and progesterone have negative effects on the body and must be consumed in a balanced manner in order to be in good health. It is critical that the amount of either or both is controlled in order for a female to feel at ease. Many women I counsel have low progesterone levels as well as a variety of symptoms associated with it, such as insomnia. In the liver, 80% to 90% of progesterone is converted to allopregnenolone, which is used for biological purposes. In other words, it makes it easier to fall asleep. It is critical to remember that each person has their own distinct set of dosage requirements, which may differ from person to person. When it comes to hormone therapy, it is best to start slowly and gradually.

Dr. Jones recommends giving the slow-release progesterone capsule before bedtime for two nights. If a person is asleep for two nights, the recommended dose is 12.5mg. A single dose of 50mg, 100mg, or 200mg may be sufficient.

Hot Flash Trigger #: Increased Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide levels are known to rise in hypothyroidism, estrogen dominance, and in response to severe traumatic stress.

Its also known to trigger hot flashes.

Nitric oxide synthase inhibition attenuates cutaneous vasodilation during postmenopausal hot flash episodes.

CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that the mechanism for cutaneous vasodilation during hot flash episodes has a nitric oxide component.

Research also shows that inhibiting nitric oxide can prevent or stop hot flashes from occurring.

Regulating thyroid function and metabolism will effectively lower nitric oxide levels, as can addressing the underlying estrogen dominance, which we often do with our Molecular Progesterone Oil and our Vitamin E Complex.

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Buyer Beware: Unproven Nonscientific ‘treatments’ For Hot Flashes

You may have heard about black cohosh, DHEA, or soy isoflavones to treat hot flashes. These products are not proven to be effective, and some carry risks such as liver damage.

Phytoestrogens are estrogen-like substances found in some cereals, vegetables, and legumes , and herbs. They may work in the body like a weak form of estrogen, but they have not been consistently shown to be effective in research studies, and their long-term safety is unclear.

Always talk with your doctor before taking any herb or supplement. Currently, it is unknown whether these herbs or other “natural” products are helpful or safe to treat your hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms. The benefits and risks are still being studied.

Estrogen Levels After Implantation

Optimal estrogen levels are essential in priming the uterus for the implantation of a fertilized embryo however, the uterus only remains in this state for a limited amount of time each cycle. One study found a link between estrogen levels and the time the uterus remains in its ideal state for implantation. Higher estrogen levels resulted in a shorter ideal state for implantation, while lower levels resulted in a longer ideal state.

The same study highlights low in-vitro fertilization success rates when the uterus isnt receptive to implantation, establishing estrogen as a critical influencing factor.

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Does High Estrogen Affect Sleep

A study found that higher estrogen levels are linked to increased daytime sleepiness and a higher rate of insomnia.

Hormones, also known as messenger molecules in your body, are chemical messengers. Good sleep habits promote the development and secretion of healthy hormones. Your hormone levels will be lower, as well as your sleep quality and duration, if you are not sleeping well or staying awake for an extended period of time. Melatonin, a widely used health supplement, is becoming more popular. Both men and women produce progesterone and estrogen. Progesterone levels fluctuate throughout a womans life, affecting her sleep quality as she grows older. Estradiol, estriol, and estrone are three types of female sex hormones that are used in the female body.

Cortisol, as well as melatonin production, are required for you to sleep well. Because of the effects of sleep-disordered breathing and sleep apnea on hormone levels, it is possible that breathing difficulties at night will worsen. A sleep specialist, such as a physician or a sleep expert, should evaluate your condition. Some sleep problems go away on their own, but if you are consistently experiencing poor sleep, sleep loss, or daytime sleepiness, you may have a sleep disorder.

What Can Phytoestrogens Do For Your Health

A plant-based diet is very rich in natural phytoestrogens in healthy amounts, especially from soy.

To a limited extent, phytoestrogens could serve as a type of natural hormone replacement therapy. This is especially the case with phytoestrogen supplements.

Because they mimic your bodys own estrogen, phytoestrogens accomplish some of the same things. Other potential benefits of phytoestrogens include:

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Having Hot Flashes And Night Sweats

Does it feel like a heater is radiating deep inside your body? Do you experience night sweats that leave your drenched? Youre not alone.

For some women, hot flashes and night sweats are infrequent and manageable. But for others, they can be intense and interfere with quality of life.

Women experience these symptoms due to an imbalance in their hormone levels. Previously, it was thought that being too low in estrogen was the problem. But today, we understand the cause may also be too much estrogen and too little progesterone, or other hormone imbalances in your body that come from the adrenals, ovaries, thyroid pancreas or gastrointestinal tract. Theres a fine dance to keeping all these systems in balance, which becomes especially challenging as women go through midlife changes. But there are several things you can do to help maintain that delicate balance.

Estrogen Dominance And Thyroid Issues

Thyroid issues can also occur because excess estrogen blocks the thyroid hormones from hitting their receptor sites and doing its job. Excess estrogen can wreak havoc on your body if its not in proper balance with your other reproductive hormones, mainly progesterone. Since progesterone is a natural diuretic estrogen dominance can also lead to high blood pressure. Properly balanced progesterone will also stabilize blood sugar therefore, estrogen dominance has been linked to insulin resistance and diabetes.

American Statistics associated with estrogen dominance and hormone imbalances.

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The First Steps To Solving Estrogen Dominance

If you are concerned about your estrogen levels, its a good idea to ask your doctor about hormone testing. In the meantime, there are some simple steps you can try to reduce that excess estrogen and get back into balance.

1. Improve Your Sleep and Reduce Stress

Stress reduction and quality sleep can go a long way to restoring happy hormones. Here are some stress-busting practices that have helped my patients.

2. Maximize Your Nutrition

Focus on increasing dietary fiber, eating more liver-supportive foods, and organic nutrient-dense meals. If youre not sure where to start, grab a free meal plan here.

If you develop gas, bloating, or other symptoms during this step, it is imperative that you have lab testing done to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms.

3. Find a Practitioner to Partner With

You will need lab testing to understand if and why you have estrogen dominance. In my clinic, we use advanced hormone lab testing to develop an individualized protocol based on your body’s needs.

Can Too Low Or Too High Estrogen Levels Impact Fertility

Yes, and on either end of the spectrum. Estrogen is one of the hormones that keep our menstrual cycles going, so when levels are too low or too high, that can cause disruption.

In order to conceive, you need to release an egg during ovulation thats then fertilized by sperm cycle disruptions can make it harder to pinpoint ovulation and time sex or insemination around the days youre most likely to get pregnant. Decreasing estrogen levels can also indicate that menopause is coming, at which point conception wont be possible.

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Can Too Much Estrogen Cause Hot Flashes

Can Estrogen Cause Hot Flashes? Alvin Jackson answers

Ladies, I think we all know whats going on herehot, then cold, then hot, then cold, then hot, hotter, burning alive! Babe, just call me ice cream cause Im sleeping in the freezer tonight. Be honest, you know youve thought about itLOL.

No one deserves the pleasure of burning alive, especially when you can do something about it.

One question before we proceed though: What do you think is to blame for your body becoming an air fryer every hour on the hour? Is it lack of water? Side effects from your meds? Or is it one of your bodys trusted hormones? Which one? Dont panic, but it could be TOO MUCH estrogen.

Both hot flashes and night sweats are suspected to cause estrogen to flood the blood stream. If this happens, you might become desperate to try anything to make them stop, especially if this happens early in your life. Our solution? Natural Quicksilver Scientific DIM.

If youve never tried DIM before, this may be exactly what youve been waiting for to quench those horrible hot flashes and chilling night sweats. This miracle of modern development was carefully designed with body-friendly, safe ingredients which happen to be super effective at eliminating hot flashes and night sweats.

The National Institute of Aging Lists These Symptoms:

1. Change in Period Identified by periods that are closer together and last longer with heavy bleeding

2. Hot Flashes Also known as Night Sweats

Can Too Much Estrogen Cause Anxiety

There is a link between how much estrogen and testosterone you use and how much anxiety you experience. Your mood may be affected if you change your hormone levels.

When a womans estrogen levels are low, she is more vulnerable to trauma at certain points during her menstrual cycle. It is possible to reduce their emotional disturbance by having high levels of female sex hormone. Birth control pills have the potential to lower estrogen levels in the body, which may one day allow them to be used to prevent PTSD. The prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in women is twice that of men. If sex hormones influence fear learning, they may also influence extinction. Men and women have been combined in studies of the human brain, with the assumption that gender differences are relatively minor. In the 1970s, researchers studying sex differences in the brain were threatened with expulsion from academia.

According to a recent study, birth control pills may be beneficial in reducing post-traumatic stress. A study of 112 sexual assault survivors found that one in every five had experienced sexual assault six months earlier. Although oestrel was effective, Plan B was less so.

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Can High Estradiol Cause Insomnia

Several studies have shown strong associations between depression, hot flashes, and insomnia, indicating that the symptoms may be caused by a common cause or that changes in estradiol cause a cascade of symptoms, causing sleep disturbance.

The Many Benefits Of Estrogen Replacement Therapy

Many women benefit from estrogen replacement therapy in addition to improving sleep quality. According to a study published in the journal Menopause, estrogen replacement therapy may help with daytime awakenings, sleep cycles, and REM sleep all of which can improve memory. If you are concerned about your sleep quality, you should consult with your doctor first about ERT. There are numerous ways in which estrogen dominance can affect a womans body, and you should seek treatment if you suffer from any of the following symptoms: abnormal menstruation , PMS, headaches, decreased sex drive, bloating, mood swings, fatigue, anxiety,

How To Know If You Are Estrogen Dominant

Its recommended that you test your estrogen levels if youre experiencing signs of fluctuating hormone levels or if youre simply hoping for a greater understanding of your hormone levels.

If youd rather not make the visit to your local doctor, the best way to test your estrogen levels is with an at-home lab test.

The Female Hormone Test measures a number of key hormones, providing you with an overview of your reproductive health status

This test is beneficial for anyone who wants a comprehensive overview of their current fertility status and hormonal health. Online results will be available within 2-5 days and medical advice will be available every step of the way from our experts.

It will offer insight into your estrogen levels as well as other hormonal imbalances such as:

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

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