Excess Estrogen Symptoms

Estrogen is the umbrella term for a variety of female sex hormones whose job it is to maintain a woman's reproductive health, regular menstrual cycle and secondary sexual characteristics. These hormones are important for good health and a balanced mood, but if a woman experiences an excess of estrogen for any length of time, it could lead to a variety of physical and psychological stresses.

Acquiring Excess Estrogen

• There are a number of different ways a woman can accumulate excess estrogen in her body. One way is by taking hormone supplements. Another is by eating meat that has hormones in it, which the body will take and use just as it would natural estrogen. Additionally, if estrogen becomes the dominant sex hormone (due to a drop in progesterone, for instance), some of the symptoms of excess estrogen may manifest.

Weight Gain

• One of the most distressing symptoms of excess estrogen is that a woman will gain weight. This excess fat will most often collect in a woman's hips, thighs and waist. Another cruel twist is that estrogen is produced in fat cells as well as in the ovaries, so the more fat a woman has, the higher her levels of estrogen production will be.

Menstrual Symptoms

• Another way that an excess of estrogen may make itself known is in a woman's menstrual cycle. She may find that her periods have become irregular and spotty, often with light bleeding or excess bleeding. There is also a marked increase in pre-menstrual symptoms such as bloating and breast tenderness.

Sex Drive

• Another notable symptom of excess estrogen is that a woman will lose interest in, and desire for, sex. This is because the testosterone is neutralized by too much estrogen, and the woman's desire fades away.

Other Psychological Symptoms

• Other emotional and psychological symptoms of excess estrogen vary from woman to woman. Many of the common ones include a depressed mood, mood swings, agitation and anxiety, memory loss, irritability and fatigue.