Xeno-estrogens, estrogen dominance and endometriosis

Why you need to cut out the use of toxic chemicals to improve your health 


Estrogen dominance is one of the main issues that can increase the development of endometriosis, and various compounds in the environment called xenoestrogens act in the same way as the natural estrogen in the body.


Endometriosis and estrogen dominance

Many women today are estrogen dominant, and interestingly a lot of women over the age of 35 are producing only 50% of the progesterone their mother’s produced. This is caused by a combination of factors. Some of the synthetic chemicals that are finding their way into our food, our water and environment actually mimic estrogen (xenoestrogens), which suggests that these xenoestrogens may stimulate endometriosis. 


It is excess estrogens in the body, whether natural or synthetic that exacerbates or possibly trigger endometriosis. The fact that synthetic chemicals can mimic naturally occurring estrogens has been known since the 1930s.  In recent years there has been a large increase in the discussion of environmental estrogens in scientific literature as well as in the popular press. 


Xeno literally means foreign.  So xenoestrogens means foreign estrogens.  Some of the 100,000 registered chemicals used in industry and agriculture in the world, have hormonal effects in addition to the toxic and carcinogenic effects. 


Some of these xenoestrogens may persist in the body fat for decades.  Could this be why we see so many young girls developing endometriosis?  They may have a diet which is saturated in xenoestrogens which has been taken up by the chemicals in the soil and the environment.  So when they start to produce estrogens in their own bodies with the onset of puberty, the delicate balance of hormones is already out of sync. 


The influence on the body of all these xenoestrogens, even for women without endometriosis is a complete disturbance of the delicate hormone system. This leads to what has been called estrogen-dominance.


Estrogen dominance has developed for many reasons, including the widespread use of estrogen-based oral contraceptives, and the widespread use of chemicals in our environment that mimic natural estrogens. Because xenoestrogens are taken up by estrogen receptor sites in the body they can disrupt the workings of the body as a whole. 


This group of environmental toxins includes hundreds of chemicals including: 

  • the PCBs used in the manufacture of electronics 
  • highly poisonous pesticides such as DDT and DDE which is even more toxic
  • herbicides 
  • general plastics used in the home 


Some researchers suspect that ethynylestadiol (EE) - the primary estrogen compound in birth control pills - plays a major role.  Because EE in the urine of women on the pill is able to pass through water treatment plants, it ends up in our drinking water.


Agriculture uses artificial estrogen compounds to fatten up cattle and chicken quickly.  Estrogen stimulates the retention of water giving a heavier weight and tender meat.  Some authorities say that artificial estrogen compounds disappear from the urine in a matter of days and the animals are then free of artificial hormones.  Other authorities say the artificial estrogens are stored in the fat and then eaten by consumers. 


Some of the sources of xenoestrogens which are regularly used by the general public are: 

  • plastics - drinking bottles and plastics used in food packaging 
  • spermicide 
  • household detergents 
  • personal care products 
  • canned food - found in the plastic coating inside the cans 
  • commercial raised beef, chicken, pork
  • birth control pills 
  • HRT drugs 
  • parabens used in nearly all commercial toiletries and cosmetics 

As well as these xenoestrogens being a possible cause or trigger of endometriosis, the other health problems that can be caused or made worse by estrogen-dominance are: 

  • allergies 
  • breast tenderness 
  • depression 
  • fatigue 
  • hair thinning 
  • excessive facial hair 
  • fibrocystic breasts 
  • headaches 
  • hypoglycemia 
  • increased blood-clotting 
  • infertility 
  • memory loss 
  • miscarriage 
  • PMS 
  • thyroid dysfunction 
  • uterine cancer 
  • uterine fibroids 
  • bloating 
  • fat gain 
  • gall bladder disease 
  • auto immune disorders 
  • risk of stoke and heart disease 
  • excess estrogen implies a progesterone deficiency.  This in turn leads to a decrease in the rate of new bone formation - the prime cause of osteoporosis. 


So the bottom line is - GET THOSE CHEMICALS OUT OF YOUR LIFE.

There are many companies that are now producing household products and toiletries that contains far fewer chemicals. You can try natural alternatives - you will find natural health care books or websites that contain information to make your own household cleaners, or natural traditional toiletries.  


Reduce your exposure to these chemicals will not only improve your symptoms of endometriosis but will also benefit your general health.




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About the Author

My name is Carolyn Levett, the Founder of endo-resolved - I am an Integrative Health Coach having studied nutrition, naturopathy, aromatherapy  as well as being a published author. I used to suffer from severe endometriosis and was able to regained my health and heal from the disease with the support of nutrition and natural therapies.

My motivation is to help other women with endometriosis to heal their bodies so they may overcome this awful disease without having to rely on toxic drugs and surgeries which can cause further damage  -  with healing thoughts, Carolyn.



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Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenoestrogen

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21747346

https://womeninbalance.org/2012/10/26/xenoestrogens-what-are-they-how-to-avoid-them/

http://jphs.iautmu.ac.ir/article_523793.html