When you’re trying to conceive (TTC), the words ‘oestrogen dominance’ could be enough to raise your stress levels- particularly true if you think you have it. It doesn’t need to be that way and here’s why.

Knowledge is power. Armed with the right information, you’ll discover there are lots of ways to eliminate excess oestrogen. You can then achieve a hormonal balance that could increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Read on to find out what is oestrogen dominance, what causes high levels of oestrogen and natural ways to reduce it.

What Is Oestrogen Dominance?

Oestrogen and progesterone are two of the main hormones that affect women. We need the right balance of both to help secure a successful pregnancy.

Oestrogen dominance is a hormonal imbalance. It can present in two different ways:

1. Normal levels of oestrogen, but low progesterone.

2. Excessive oestrogen.

Either way, it potentially creates a problem for fertility.

Signs and Symptoms of Oestrogen Dominance

Symptoms of oestrogen dominance differ from person to person. They’ll depend to a large extent on how severe your hormonal imbalance is. Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms to watch for:

• Breast tenderness

• Increased PMS symptoms, hot flashes and irregular periods

• Depression, anxiety and mood swings

• Bloating and weight gain

• Fatigue, insomnia and difficulty concentrating

• Uterine fibroids

• Loss of sex drive

Some of these symptoms can be similar to those caused by other conditions. The more of them you have, the more likely it is that oestrogen dominance is the cause.

Some of the Main Causes of High Oestrogen

Lifestyle choices and conditions can contribute to oestrogen dominance. These include:

• Absorbing toxins from the environment

• Overloading the liver with internal toxins

• A low-fibre diet

• Depression and anxiety

• Being overweight

We are becoming more and more exposed to xenoestrogens. These chemicals mimic the behaviour of oestrogens. They can stimulate our oestrogen receptor sites with a powerful and dominant oestrogenic effect.

It’s not an understatement to say that you can find xenoestrogens almost everywhere in the environment. Here are some of the most common places:

• Chemical pesticides and fertilisers

• Heavy metal pollution

• Some types of contraceptive pill

• The water we drink from the tap

• Cleaning, skincare, sunscreen and makeup products

• Processed foods

• Feminine care products exposed to pesticides such as cotton wool

• BPA plastics found in water bottles

The good news is that it’s possible to make changes to the things we expose our bodies to. This can help restore a more natural hormonal balance to improve fertility and better your chances of getting pregnant.

Natural Ways to Balance Oestrogen

There are lots of practical steps you can take to achieve a better hormonal balance when you’re trying to conceive. Here are the key actions to take:

1. Make Dietary Changes

What you put into your body can help correct hormonal imbalances. It’s a good move to eliminate all foods treated with chemical pesticides or fertilisers. Wash all fruit and vegetables in filtered water before eating.

Go organic, if possible. This will help reduce ingesting chemicals that could interfere with your hormone levels. Some water supplies are full of hormone disruptors so it’s best to use a filter that can remove them.

You should increase your fibre intake as this can help to reduce oestrogen levels.

There are links between being overweight and oestrogen dominance because of the role fat plays in producing oestrogen.

When you store too much fat in your body, you are at risk of becoming oestrogen dominant. Eat healthily, avoiding processed meals and replacing them with whole foods.

2. Eat Certain Food Types and Cut Alcohol Consumption

You should eat plenty of phytoestrogen-rich foods such as organic soya beans, chickpeas and mung beans. A chemical process in the body can help to reduce the more potent oestrogen made in the ovaries from binding to your oestrogen receptors.

Research shows that certain other foods such as red clover, alfalfa and liquorice root may have similar effects.

Moderate alcohol consumption may also increase oestrogen levels. Heavy drinking is likely to wreak havoc on your reproductive health and well-being. When trying to get pregnant, it’s best to cut alcohol out altogether.

3. Take Natural Supplements

There are certain natural supplements that can help. These include Maca root. This can stimulate the endocrine system helping to maintain hormonal balance.

Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a compound commonly found in vegetables. These include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts. DIM supplements help adjust oestrogen to a healthy level.

DIM may have other positive oestrogen-related effects on your body. These include:

• Helping to prevent the adverse effects of oestrogen on cells

• Reducing toxins produced by your body’s natural metabolism

• Boosting antioxidants and promoting weight loss

• Improving mood and reducing the symptoms of PMS

Magnesium is an essential mineral for oestrogen detoxification and for the excretion of oestrogen from the body. Dark chocolate, nuts and seeds are all good sources of magnesium.

4. Reduce Your Stress Levels

Your body begins to use progesterone to make cortisol when you’re extremely stressed. This can have the effect of lowering progesterone levels to such an extent that it can lead to oestrogen dominance.

There are so many ways to relieve stress, here are three top suggestions to do every day:

1. Gentle exercise, like walking or yoga.

2. Meditate in the morning and practice mindfulness throughout the day.

3. Get eight hours of sleep each night.

5. Use Safer Personal Care and Cleaning Products

Take a good look at all the products you use in the house from shampoo to dishwashing liquids. Switch to chemical-free and non-toxic products. Replace plastic storage containers as well as water bottles with glass and stainless steel versions. Certain types of plastics placed in the microwave can allow harmful xenoestrogens to seep into food.

Improve Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

Now you have the knowledge and the power to eliminate excess oestrogen and help correct hormonal imbalances to improve your fertility.

Making changes to your diet and lifestyle is definitely going to have a positive impact on your chances of getting pregnant.

Oestrogen dominance is one of the factors that could be stopping you from getting pregnant.