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Maybe TMI, but there’s so much of that on this site, I figured you people could handle it! :-D
So…the lead up to my title: I’ve never had blood drawn to see my hormone panel, and I don’t plan to. But, looking at symptoms of low progesterone and/or estrogen dominance, I fit the bill…kind of. My periods have never disappeared and have typically been somewhat regular (anywhere from 21-30 days, but usually around 26), but I have zero sex drive and other stuff. I’ve been refeeding for probably 6 weeks now. I’ve noticed that from menstruation to ovulation, I have a hard time keeping my temp up, and from ovulation to menstruation, I could be a member of the hot girls club. Right now, I’m in the ovulation to menstruation phase, and I’ve noticed that my nipples are sore, kind of like when I was pregnant. (I’m not pregnant.) I’m wondering what causes this? I’m assuming it has something to do with my hormones getting back to a healthy state, but I don’t know that for sure. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?
Also, other than salt/sugar/starch/saturated fat, are there good sex hormone boosting foods? Raw carrots, I’ve heard. Any truth to that?
My understanding is that’s it pretty common. I’ve had sore, slightly enlarged boobs in the week before my period since I was a teenager, and it’s been really consistent in good health and bad, relatively higher weights and lower, high stress and low stress, clean diets and junky ones, etc.
While some estrogen dominance is probably near universal given the environment we all develop and live in, if I have that, I think it’s pretty mild in my case. (I share this to support my suggestion that sore boobs not necessarily a sign of a problem.) I have bad cramps on day 1, but that’s about it as far as menstrual troubles. When I was in my teens and 20s, I had really heavy flow and longer cycles, but it’s been more moderate and typical in my 30s. In other words, despite apparent normalcy in other ways, definitely got the sore boobs days 25-30!
Yeah sore boobs are pretty commmon, but they do indicate a bit of an imbalance, it’s just that most people are imbalanced. If you have a much higher temp post ovulation that is one of the signs that your progesterone levels are pretty good. How long is that phase for you (how many days does your temp stay high and does your period start the day your temp drops or starts dropping, or do you start it a little after it drops)?
Like pretty much everything. I would give it time, relax, and after it has been a while and things are normalizing assess where you are at.Hannah, as I detailed on another thread, I’ve had lots of hormonal issues since going off the pill. My period is pretty regular, and my temp has a big jump after ovulation. However, my temp drops AFTER my period begins (although I have a couple days of spotting first – it drops when my period really begins). What does that mean?
This is interesting. Hannah, what’s your theory on why most people are imbalanced Est vs Progest? Environmental influences? Near-ubiquitous undereating?
I’ve never been tested, but like I said, I had much more pronounced symptoms of imbalance when I was *younger* (and supposedly in the prime of fertility blah blah blah), and fewer signs now in my 30s. So it doesn’t fit the pattern of perimenopausal estrogen dominance, because it’s kind of going in reverse … at least so far, haha!
I really can’t think of any major difference in lifestyle, etc., that could account for the change. (Obviously my life has changed over the years, but in gradual ways, nothing drastic.)
Amy, I wish I had such detailed info! What a pro you are! Even though I suppose basal is the most important temperature to track, it’s the reading I’m most likely to skip. First thing in the morning is when I’m always most pressed for time (and impatient).
Amy – Sorry, I don’t think I saw that. You would consider your first day of your period to be the first day of flow, not the spotting, so it sounds to me as if your temp does drop the day your period begins. Spotting before your period could be a symptom of slightly low progesterone. Though a couple of days probably isn’t anything to worry about. It’s something you could use as an indicator of low progesterone corroborated with other signs, but in and of itself I wouldn’t worry about it.
mighty m – I’d say stress, poor sleep (and also not sleeping in darkness) and environmental influences would be the big ones negatively influencing estrogen to progesterone ratio.
I always track my basal because I use fertility awareness, and never take my temp otherwise!
yes, thanks, Hannah! Hmmm, I’ve always had night-owl tendencies, but they were much more pronounced when I was in my teens/20s. I keep pretty regular hours these days, but was all over the circadian map back then. Maybe that makes a bigger difference than it would seem.
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