The Journal

High Oestrogen - Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment Options

November 04, 2025

Oestrogen naturally fluctuates throughout a woman's different life stages, but how do we keep it in balance?

Oestrogen is a vital hormone that plays a key role in regulating our menstrual cycle, supports bone health, influences mood, promotes skin health, amongst many other necessary bodily functions! When oestrogen levels become too high - often due to poor detoxification, stress, or conditions such as endometriosis - this can throw your body out of balance. This imbalance, sometimes referred to as ‘oestrogen dominance’, occurs when oestrogen is excessive relative to progesterone, or when the body struggles to clear it effectively. Understanding and recognising the causes, signs, symptoms, and natural ways to manage high oestrogen is beneficial for a woman’s life, as oestrogen fluctuates throughout our different life stages.

Causes

High oestrogen can arise from a combination of external and internal factors, as well as imbalances in relation to our other hormones.

External factors - Certain medications (such as the oral contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy) and environmental exposures can elevate oestrogen. Compounds known as xenoestrogens mimic oestrogen’s effects in the body. Common sources include BPA and phthalates in plastic containers, water bottles, personal care products, pesticides, and cleaning supplies.
Internal factors - Endocrine disorders may cause overproduction of oestrogen, while gut issues (like bacterial overgrowth) or liver dysfunction can impair detoxification, promoting oestrogen recirculation.
Low progesterone - Can contribute to high oestrogen from a ratio perspective, often leading to what’s termed ‘oestrogen dominance’. This happens when progesterone levels are insufficient to balance oestrogen’s effects, even if oestrogen itself is within normal or low ranges. As we age, our levels of progesterone naturally drop, which can result in a relative dominance of oestrogen, creating these high oestrogen symptoms. If ovulation does not occur in a cycle, no corpus luteum forms, and therefore no progesterone is produced. Lack of ovulation can stem from various reasons, including the contraceptive pill, PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, hypothalamic amenorrhoea, chronic stress, or pituitary disorders. Addressing progesterone insufficiency alongside oestrogen management is key to restoring hormonal symptoms. I talk a lot more about low progesterone levels in this post.

On cycle day 2, oestrogen should be relatively low. In our mid-luteal phase, progesterone levels should be nice and high whilst oestrogen only has a small second wave.

Signs & Symptoms

→ Painful, heavy, or clotty periods

→ Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, low mood

→ High histamine symptoms such as headaches, hives, skin flushing

→ Acne, especially along the jawline

→ Breast tenderness, pain, changes in size, fibrocystic breasts

→ Bloating and fluid retention

→ Constipation or irregular bowels

→ Weight gain or difficulty losing weight

Conditions associated with high oestrogen levels include:

Endometriosis, due to excess oestrogen fuelling endometrial-like tissue growth outside the uterus, leading to pain and fertility challenges
PCOS, where insulin resistance increases ovarian oestrogen production
Insulin resistance which can impede liver detoxification
Fibroids, which are benign uterine growths stimulated by elevated oestrogen, though the link is complex and ongoing research explores the mechanisms

How to Test

To get a clear picture of your oestrogen status, testing is extremely helpful. Oestrogen levels fluctuate throughout your cycle, so timing is important:

Day 2/3 of your cycle. Test serum oestradiol (E2) early in the follicular phase for a baseline read
7 days post-ovulation. Test again in the luteal phase to assess oestrogen alongside progesterone.

If your cycles are irregular, work with a practitioner to estimate testing days based on your last few cycles. Aim to test 7 days before your expected period if unsure.

Treatment options

Dietary

Cruciferous vegetables - This family includes broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kohl rabi, bok choy, and watercress. These veggies contain indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which helps metabolise excess oestrogen via the liver. Aim to include 1 - 2 cups cooked daily.
Fibre - Oats, chia seeds, and legumes Binds to oestrogen in the gut for elimination via our bowels. Aim for 30g daily to support oestrogen detoxification through foods such as rolled oats, chia seeds, and legumes. Consider PHGG if stronger support is needed. Read more about fibre here.
Phytoestrogens - Found in plant foods like flaxseeds and soy products, they help modulate oestrogen by binding to receptors and reducing the impact of excess oestradiol. Include 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds daily, or prioritise the below foods.

Source: Advanced Clinical Naturopathic Medicine, Leah Hechtman, 2020

Nutritional

Calcium-D-Glucarate - This compound enhances glucuronidation, a process that occurs in the liver that promotes oestrogen clearance
Broccoli sprouts - A personal favourite of mine! Rich in sulforaphane, broccoli sprouts support phase II detoxification in the liver
DIM (Diindolylmethane) - A derivative of I3C, DIM promotes healthy oestrogen metabolism
Choline - Supports liver fat metabolism and oestrogen clearance and is found in abundance in eggs, salmon, chicken and beef liver, and prawns
Molybdenum - Aids sulfation of oestrogen as part of phase II detoxification in the liver. The highest levels are found in lentils, kidney beans, and chickpeas

Herbal

St Mary’s Thistle - One of my most prescribed herbs for liver support and oestrogen metabolism. It contains the active constituent silymarin, which protects the liver and supports oestrogen detoxification
Turmeric - Curcumin enhances phase II liver detoxification of oestrogen by upregulating conjugation enzymes and improving bile flow
Green Tea - Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in Green tea supports glucuronidation in the liver which promotes oestrogen excretion
Rosemary - Contains carnosic acid, which supports liver enzymes to locate oestrogen for removal and blocks gut bacteria from reactivating it

Turmeric (which is bright yellow!) alongside zinc and fish oil

High oestrogen is something I see and support commonly in my clinic. It often starts with a client mentioning painful and heavy periods, as well as mood changes in their luteal phase (2 weeks before the period begins). These signs and symptoms warrant us to test their baseline and luteal phase oestrogen, helping us to uncover what level and ratios of oestrogen and progesterone we are working with, and therefore what dietary tools and treatments would be best suited to support the client.

If you have endometriosis, PCOS, or insulin resistance - you are more at risk of high oestrogen levels and addressing oestrogen will be a crucial step in managing your health state.

Feel free to ask your oestrogen-related questions below, or reach out if you’re looking for one-on-one support with your hormone health or fertility.

Author

Jaclyn Cave
BHSc (Nat), BComm (Soc)
Masters Womens Health Med (UNSW)

References:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12197785/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18602823/

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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21059658/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32217147/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36014565/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24615943/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35635048/