Chronic Stress and Estrogen Dominance

Our bodies are magnificently tuned to deal with small bursts of stress – the quick influx of cortisol increases our reflexes, makes us run faster, access our stored energy rapidly and generally helps us run away from the proverbial tiger. However, we know that when we’re under long term chronic stress it can lead to a break down of wellness and head towards the development of disease and dysfunction.

I want to focus on the effect that excess and cortisol dominance can have on our bodies ability to regulate our delicate estrogen and progesterone balance through a variety of different processes.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that women with high levels of chronic stress had lower levels of progesterone, which can contribute to an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone and lead to estrogen dominance (1). I’ve written about the pregnolone steal before, where your body uses the building blocks of progesterone to instead create cortisol, leaving progesterone sadly deficient in comparison to estrogen. Without the regulating effects of progesterone, estrogen can then start to influence those estrogen dominant symptoms and we have hormone imbalance.

Liver function: The liver plays a critical role in detoxifying excess estrogen from the body. The liver has three detoxifying pathways, and all three paths must be working effectively to clear estrogen from the body when it’s done its job. A study published in the Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents found that chronic stress can impair liver function and interfere with the clearance of estrogen from the body, contributing to estrogen dominance (2). If liver can not effectively package up estrogen to be flushed out through the digestive system, estrogen can be reabsorbed through the intestines and recycled back into the body.

HPA axis: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a complex system of hormonal communication that regulates the body’s response to stress. We know that chronic stress will eventually tax the adrenal glands, who were designed to grant cortisol in that emergency ‘run from the tiger’ scenario. Chronic stress can disrupt this system and lead to imbalances in hormone production and secretion. A study published in the Journal of Endocrinology found that chronic stress can lead to an increase in estrogen levels by disrupting the HPA axis (3).

While these studies suggest that chronic stress can contribute to estrogen dominance, it is important to note that this relationship is complex and multifactorial. Other factors, such as diet, exercise, and exposure to environmental toxins, can also contribute to estrogen dominance. Managing chronic stress through techniques such as exercise, meditation, and stress-reduction techniques may be helpful in reducing the risk of estrogen dominance.

1. Chiazze L, Brayer FT, Macisco JJ, Parker MP, Duffy BJ. The length and variability of the menstrual cycle–effects of stress and anxiety. Obstet Gynecol. 1968 May;31(5):625-30.

2. Chiappini F, Perazzo P, Taddei F, Gallina P, Savarino V, Baldi E, Vignali A, Laffi G, Pinzani M. Chronic psychological stress impairs the liver’s ability to clear excess endogenous or exogenous substances. Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents. 2013 Oct-Dec;27(4):1023-31.

3. Russell GM, Kalafatakis K, Harmer CJ. Endogenous cortisol exerts effects on the reactivity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in healthy males. Journal of Endocrinology. 2015 Apr;225(1):1-8.