How to Accurately Test for Estrogen Dominance (Without Testing Estrogen)

By Tom Brimeyer| December 14th, 2016|Hypothyroidism|22 Comments

196
4
2
99

Want to know if youre estrogen dominant, and whether or not its suppressing
your thyroid?

Well, regardless of whether youre male or female

if you suffer from hypothyroidism or Hashimotos, then its pretty much a sure thing.

Yet, I want to show you a way you can test this for yourself.

Now, if youve had your estrogen levels tested by blood, saliva, etc., then you might
as well toss your lab results into the garbage.

The problem with your typical estrogen labs is that they only account for estrogen in
your bloodstream.

What they fail to measure (and whats more important) is the amount of estrogen
within your tissue and cells.
Standard estrogen labs cant tell you this, and thats a BIG problem.

Studies comparing tissue estrogen levels to blood estrogen levels consistently show
higher concentrations in the tissue, regardless of age or menstrual status.

How much higher?

Studies consistently show tissue estrogen levels being 5 to 50 times higher

than blood estrogen levels.

This poses a major problem for women receiving estrogen treatment based on blood
labs.

Just imagine how much hypothyroidism and Hashimotos thyroiditis has been
caused, or worsened directly by unnecessary HRT (Hormone Replacement
Therapy)?

Imagine how many breast cancer cases could have been avoided?

So, much unnecessary pain and suffering could be avoided by simply using a more
accurate test.

Ill share that test with you in just a second.

But first, its always important to account for symptoms (and thyroid testing) when
interpreting any lab results.

(NOTE: I walk you through exactly how to properly interpret your thyroid labs and
show you exactly how you can test your thyroid function more accurately than any lab
test in this Ultimate Thyroid Testing Protocol.)
Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance is quite complex because estrogen has so many far-reaching
effects on thyroid function, metabolism, and a multitude of other hormone levels.

If youre a woman with a menstrual cycle, sometimes we can better gauge which
symptoms are directly related to estrogen dominance because they worsen at
specific times of your menstrual cycle.

In fact, thats a question I ask all of my relevant female clients.

This one question alone can provide a lot of information regarding estrogen status.

You would be amazed at how many women dont correlate their symptoms to their
menstrual cycle until they stop to think about it.

Below are some common estrogen dominance symptoms:

Weight gain
Fatigue
Insomnia
PMS
Migraines / Headaches
Bloating
Constipation
Mood swings
Infertility / Miscarriage
Fibroids
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Irregular menstruation
Breast tenderness
Edema / Water retention / Puffiness
Hot flushes/flashes
Depression
Hair Loss
Varicose veins
Skin problems

Acne
 Goiter / Enlarged thyroid gland
Joint pains / stiffness
Lack of flexibility
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
Muscle cramps
Recurring urinary tract infections
Candida / fungal infection
Histamine intolerance
Gall bladder disease
Enlarged Prostate
Gynecomastia
Hypoglycemia
Excessive clotting
Hashimotos thyroiditis
Arthritis
Autoimmune disease
Breast Cancer

If you suffer, or have suffered, from any of the above symptoms, then youre likely
more estrogen dominant than you may think.

How to More Accurately Test for Estrogen

Dominance
Since blood estrogen levels dont accurately match tissue estrogen levels

in order to more accurately test for estrogen dominance, we have to look for
another indicator of estrogen levels where blood and tissue levels do match.

One hormone with matching blood and tissue levels, which can also be used as an
indicator of estrogen levels is the hormone prolactin.

Prolactin is a hormone secreted under stress, and is most widely known for its ability
to draw calcium from bones (when calcium is deficient) in order to provide adequate
calcium for breast milk production.

Much like estrogen, studies also show that prolactin strongly suppresses thyroid
function.
[Metabolism of thyroid gland cells as affected by prolactin and emotional-
physical stress].
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1780295
A conclusion has been made that one of the most important mechanisms of the
adaptive effect of PRL is its ability to suppress thyroid function, thus decreasing the
metabolism level, which results in reduction of oxygen consumption and improves
body tolerance to stress.
Also, like estrogen, not only is prolactin increased during hypothyroidism and stress,
but it also increases in both men and women with aging.

The simplified diagram above shows how in hypothyroidism estrogen and prolactin
tend to increase together (along with parathyroid hormone and serotonin).

Hypothyroidism, estrogen, and serotonin all increase the production of prolactin.

Prolactin then suppresses thyroid function further, while increasing serotonin, which
further perpetuates prolactin production.

Prolactin Test for Estrogen Dominance

As mentioned earlier, prolactin can be accurately measured from the blood, and
tends to increase in proportion to estrogen tissue levels.

So, we can oftentimes get a more accurate indicator of true estrogen tissue levels by
simply measuring your blood level of prolactin.
This is a simple blood draw test that is underutilized by doctors today, mainly due to
poor interpretation of the lab itself.

Like many lab tests (including thyroid labs), the reference range for prolactin isnt
quite accurate.

Some hormone researchers, like Dr. Raymond Peat, state that prolactin must be low
in order to achieve healthy thyroid function and metabolism.

Below you can find the recommended healthy ranges for prolactin.

Females: 10 to 12 ng/mL
Males: 4 to 7 ng/mL
When it comes to testing for estrogen dominance, I would highly recommend you
have your doctor run a test for prolactin.

You can do this the next time youre due for thyroid labs and routine bloodwork.
Vitamin D should be added as well.

Hopefully this helped you better understand some of the intricacies of blood tests and
why some tests that you and your doctor may depend on may actually be highly
inaccurate.

Another great example of this is your thyroid labs.

Thyroid labs are known to be highly inaccurate and misleading.

This is why in the Ultimate Thyroid Testing Protocol, I walk you through exactly how
to properly interpret your thyroid labs and show you exactly how you can test your
thyroid function even more accurately.

Much like testing for prolactin, this protocol will help prevent you from making
potentially dangerous mistakes with your thyroid health.

Yet, unlike testing for prolactin, this testing protocol can be done at home and for
free. So, it wont cost you a dime.