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Understanding Estrogen Dominance: A Functional Medicine Perspective

If you’ve been feeling off lately, more irritable than usual, constantly bloated, struggling with stubborn weight gain, or just feeling unlike yourself, it’s possible your hormones are out of balance. At New Life Healthcare, we often see these symptoms tied to a common yet overlooked issue: estrogen dominance.

We work with women all across Florida, both in-person and virtually, who are navigating hormonal imbalances. And one of the most frequent patterns we uncover is that estrogen is running the show … when it really shouldn’t be.

What Is Estrogen Dominance?

Estrogen dominance happens when the amount of estrogen in your body is too high relative to other hormones, particularly progesterone. It doesn’t mean you necessarily have high estrogen; it means the ratio between your hormones is off. That imbalance can cause a ripple effect through your entire system.

At our clinic, many of the women seeking holistic health care in Jacksonville come to us with classic signs of estrogen dominance. As trusted functional medicine doctors in Jacksonville, FL, we often uncover this hormonal imbalance after other providers have dismissed their concerns or failed to dig deeper than standard lab work.

We see it most often in women dealing with:

  • PMS and heavy, painful periods
  • Mood swings or anxiety around ovulation or menstruation
  • Weight gain, especially around the hips and belly
  • Low libido and fatigue
  • Breast tenderness or fibrocystic breasts
  • Irregular cycles or spotting between periods
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Thyroid issues (yes, they’re often connected!)

And here’s the thing: many of these symptoms are dismissed as “normal.” But just because they’re common doesn’t mean they’re okay.

What Causes Estrogen Dominance?

This part gets a little technical, but we’ll keep it simple. Estrogen dominance can result from a few different root causes:

  • Poor liver detox: Your liver is responsible for breaking down excess estrogen. If it’s sluggish (due to stress, alcohol, toxins, or poor diet), estrogen can build up.
  • Low progesterone: This can happen after chronic stress, perimenopause, or even due to certain medications like birth control. When progesterone dips, estrogen becomes dominant.
  • Gut dysfunction: Yep, your gut plays a role in eliminating estrogen. If your microbiome is out of balance or you’re constipated, estrogen may recirculate instead of being flushed out.
  • Environmental estrogens: Chemicals in plastics, skincare, and even household cleaners can act like estrogen in the body (we call these xenoestrogens).
  • Blood sugar imbalances: Insulin resistance and blood sugar spikes can directly interfere with hormone balance, often driving excess estrogen.

How We Approach Estrogen Dominance at New Life Healthcare

We don’t believe in masking symptoms; we’re all about digging into the why. If you’re struggling with signs of estrogen dominance, we’ll look at your full hormone picture. That includes running a complete hormone panel (not just a quick estradiol test), and often evaluating thyroid, cortisol, and even nutrient levels too.

We use functional lab testing to get real answers. From there, we create a personalized strategy that supports your body in:

  • Balancing estrogen naturally
  • Boosting progesterone if needed
  • Clearing excess hormones through liver and gut support
  • Minimizing environmental exposures
  • Regulating blood sugar to stabilize hormonal rhythm

And no, we’re not just throwing supplements at the problem. Every plan includes guidance on food, movement, stress, and sleep—all the foundational pillars that affect your hormones every single day.

Real Talk: Is It All in Your Head?

We can’t tell you how many women come to us after being told their symptoms are “just part of being a woman” or “just stress.” We’ve seen women brushed off for years, being told their labs are “normal” even though they’re anything but.

You deserve more than that. We believe your symptoms are real. They’re your body’s way of asking for help, and it’s our job to listen.

Who We Help Most Often

Most of the women who come to us with estrogen dominance fall into one of these three categories:

  1. You’re in your 30s or 40s, and your PMS is getting worse. Maybe your periods are heavier, your breasts hurt more, or your moods are more intense than ever before.
  2. You’ve recently had a baby and haven’t felt the same since. Postpartum hormone shifts are real, and they often reveal hidden imbalances that were brewing all along.
  3. You’re navigating perimenopause, and it’s not what you expected. You’re not sleeping well, gaining weight despite trying everything, and feeling foggy or flat. We hear this every day.

No matter which stage you’re in, the common thread is that you know something feels off, and you’re not willing to settle for “this is just how it is.” At New Life Healthcare, we take your symptoms seriously and work to uncover the root cause, so you can feel like yourself again. You’re not broken, you’re just out of balance, and we’re here to help you restore it.

What You Can Do Starting Today

Even before you get labs, there are a few powerful shifts you can start making:

  • Cut back on plastics. Switch to glass containers, avoid microwaving in plastic, and choose BPA-free whenever possible.
  • Support your liver. Cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli and cauliflower), dandelion root tea, and plenty of water go a long way.
  • Get your gut moving. Daily bowel movements help your body remove estrogen. If that’s not happening, let’s fix it.
  • Prioritize protein and blood sugar balance. A steady supply of nutrients helps prevent hormone crashes and surges.

We’re Here to Help

If you’re tired of feeling dismissed or told “your labs look fine,” but deep down you know something’s off, you’re not alone. At New Life Healthcare, we take your concerns seriously. We listen. We test thoroughly. And we build solutions that actually make sense for your body.

Our clinic in Jacksonville offers in-person care for local clients, and we also work virtually with patients across Florida. Whether you’re just starting to explore functional medicine or you’ve tried everything else, we’d be honored to be part of your healing journey.

Let’s find the root cause together and finally help you feel like yourself again.

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