Symptoms of Estrogen Excess in Men

Is Your Testosterone Blood Level Perfect for You? What is Your Estrogen Blood Level Is High?

 A high estrogen blood level isn’t just a problem for women, but also for men. Men can experience high estrogen signs and symptoms. In men testosterone breaks down in its normal metabolism into estrogen and when this happens their estrogen blood level can become elevated (or if there is not enough estrogen being made, depressed).

Most estrogen research has been rightfully focused almost exclusively on how estrogen affects women and how testosterone alone affects men, however, it is now known that estrogen in men can play a major role in the regulation of testosterone, as well as in men’s brain functions, bone health, skin health, sexual function/libido, cardiovascular function, and cholesterol regulation.

Symptoms of High Estrogen in Men

 Normally in most otherwise healthy men testosterone and estrogen are maintained in a correct ratio or balance. When estrogen blood levels increase, testosterone levels tend to accordingly decrease. This means that symptoms of high estrogen tend to occur along with symptoms of low testosterone. This changes with TRT for as testosterone levels are raised by testosterone replacement more estrogen is created and once again the Testosterone-Estrogen Ratio is thrown out of balance even as testosterone blood levels are going up. This is where the experienced physician has the ability to recognize signs of high estrogen symptoms even as signs of testosterone deficiency are not occurring. Here is where early detection can be vital in determining that estrogen is going up and differentiate this from symptoms of low testosterone.

What Are the Most Common Symptoms of High Estrogen in Men?

•  Unexpected onset of sexual dysfunction, decreasing, sudden or slow onset of low libido, decreased morning erections, decreased erectile function, marital issue regarding sex
• Unexpected onset of enlarging breasts, “man-boobs”
• Unexpected onset or recurrent lower urinary tract symptoms, frequency of urination, dribbling, leaking, incontinence with coughing, sneezing, burping associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
• Increased abdominal fat, “Central Obesity”, as a symptom of low estrogen
• Unexpected or gradual onset of fatigue, tiredness or feeling “weak”
• Loss of muscle mass
• Emotional disturbances, especially depression, mood swings, anxiety, crying
• Unexpected onset of Type 2 Diabetes, increasing HgA1c or increase fasting blood sugar
• Increase cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and reduced HDL-cholesterol

As you can see above, men with too much estrogen aren’t just at risk for non-serious symptoms like decreased sexual function and enlarged breasts. They are also at high risk for more serious problems such as type 2 diabetes and even heart disease and stroke.

The latest research tells us that this increased risk of diabetes risk is unrelated to blood testosterone levels—that is, it is most often due to high blood estrogen levels and as blood estrogen levels rise

the individual’s diabetes risk level also rises no matter the testosterone blood level. High estrogen in men also increases the risk for prostate cancer and a several autoimmune diseases.

What Causes High Estrogen Symptoms in Men?

 A number of factors can throw the estrogen/testosterone balance out of whack in men and cause high estrogen blood levels and symptoms. These factors include:

 

Aging:        Advancing age is associated with an increase in the Aromatase Process, aromatase enzymes in the body act to convert testosterone into estrogen. As men age the forces that block or stop the aromatase reaction are limited. Older men actually have higher blood estrogen levels than postmenopausal women.

Increased Fat:        A loss of lean muscle tissue along with an increase in fat tissue typically

to Muscle Ratio: occur with advancing age. These are often associated with certain metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Fat tissue contains aromatase (see above) and thus increases the rate at which testosterone is converted to estrogen. Fat also serves as a reservoir for storing estradiol. These combined factors can lead to a substantial increase in blood estrogen levels in many men.

Testosterone:        Men who are treated with injectable forms of synthetic testosterone often make
Replacement:        too testosterone therapy can also lead to high estrogen levels in men,
Therapy:         especially when testosterone blood levels are allowed to become too high,

testosterone is used to excess or used in men with obesity.

Faulty Feedback: Once a man has too much estrogen in his system, a vicious cycle can occur in which his high blood estrogen levels lead to a faulty feedback system. This faulty feedback can end up tricking his brain to tell his testes to produce even more estrogen. This leads to even higher blood levels of estrogen and more severe estrogen dominance and therefore magnifying his high estrogen symptoms.

Estrogen Deficiency Can Also Be a Problem for Men

 Surprisingly, men can also have too little estrogen and suffer from symptoms of estrogen deficiency. Some of these symptoms are similar to or the same as those of estrogen excess. Recent studies examining the importance of the role of estrogen in regulation of body fat and sexual function in men found that the most severe effects of estrogen deficiency in men occurs to his sexual desire. In these studies estrogen deficient men reported dramatic declines in their arousal and erectile function.

Additionally, the men with decreased estrogen blood levels demonstrated higher levels of the type of inner abdominal fat known as “brown fat” or “central obesity,” which is commonly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Men with estrogen deficiency also have decreased bone strength (osteoporosis) and are at increased risk for certain types of bone fractures.

How Can I Control My Blood Estrogen Levels and Lower My Blood Estrogen?

 Obviously, the first and most important factor is to monitor estrogen blood level periodically. This can be every 3 to 6 months with patients in active TRT. If estrogen level is elevated then there are three ways of dealing with it:

• Reduce and follow testosterone levels. This is done by simply decreasing the dosage of injectable testosterone, making sure that the individual is using natural testosterone and then monitoring both testosterone and estrogen levels closely.
• Managing and monitoring your diet to eat foods that either do not add estrogen or testosterone or reduce the intake of estrogen and testosterone containing foods

• Natural Therapies
• Adding prescription aromatase inhibitors

 

Since improving the hormonal balance of estrogen with testosterone is key, than 1) watching and reducing testosterone is the first step. This will immediately reduce the absolute levels of estrogen being produced, but may or may not on its own solve your problem.

There are a number of dietary, lifestyle, and natural therapies which can be used to reduce estrogen blood levels and rebalance testosterone-estrogen levels. Here are some changes you can make immediately:

• Add more cruciferous vegetables to your Add them to your meal plan several times a week, or as often as possible. Cruciferous vegetables include: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, and turnip greens. All of which contain high amounts of glucosinolates, which can help your body make bioactive compounds that help to decrease estrogen activity and increase estrogen detoxification.
• Over the counter supplement which include indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and 3,3 -diindolylmethane (DIM) can help you reduce blood estrogen levels. Using these supplements along with your cruciferous vegetable intake and their most beneficial compounds, Indole-3-carbinol (I3C)¹ 200 mg per day and DIM (100 mg per day), can work wonders
• Increase your daily intake of vitamin B12, folate, betaine, and choline. These nutrients are known methyl donors, that is they act to help improve the biochemical process known as methylation, which is an important function in estrogen metabolism and Good dietary sources include meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, spinach, beets, and quinoa.
• Increase total fiber your total daily intake, create a regular exercise program, and lose

Avoid Foods High in Estrogen or Estrogenic Activity

 Another natural approach is for you to avoid, as best as possible, all foods which are high in estrogen or estrogenic activity, for example:

• Seeds: flaxseeds and sesame seeds
• Fruit: apricots, oranges, strawberries, peaches, many dried fruits
• Vegetables: yams, carrots, alfalfa sprouts, kale, celery
• Soy products: tofu, miso soup, soy yogurt
• Dark rye brea
• Legumes: lentils, peas, pinto beans
• Chickpeas
• Culinary herbs: turmeric, thyme, sage

Foods and Supplements to Add To Your Daily Diet

 ¹ Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is often used to prevent the development of estrogen-enhanced/dependant cancers including breast, endometrial and cervical cancers. I3C causes growth arrest and triggers cell death of cancer cells and reduces the negative effects of estrogen. 

Recent studies suggested that men can help raise their testosterone and lower their estrogen levels by eating foods high in monounsaturated fat, magnesium and zinc. Consider adding the following foods to your daily diet.

• Avocados (monounsaturated fat and magnesium)
• Oils: olive, canola and peanut (monounsaturated fat)
• Olives (monounsaturated fat)
• Nuts: almonds and cashews (monounsaturated fat, zinc and magnesium)
• Oysters (zinc)
• Wheat germ (zinc)
• Shellfish: lobster and crab (zinc)
• Oatmeal (zinc)
• Kidney beans (zinc)
• Raisins (magnesium)
• Dark green leafy vegetables (magnesium)
• Bananas (magnesium)
• Low-fat yogurt (magnesium)

Lifestyle Factors that Can Assist In Lowering Estrogen and Testosterone

 There are a number of lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, a daily diet high in processed foods and saturated fats, that are essential for controlling estrogen and testosterone blood levels.

Living a sedentary lifestyle, lot’s of stress, living with medical problems such as uncontrolled high blood pressure and almost any level of obesity.

Controlling Stress: Whenever we are stressed, our bodies release cortisol, a hormone that may cause an estrogen imbalance and block the effects of testosterone. It is therefore essential that you work at managing your stress.

Strength Training: Studies have suggested that intense strength training can help raise testosterone levels. When training, try to regularly increase the amount of weight being lifted, lower the number of repetitions and select exercises that work multiple muscles groups, e.g., squats. Be sure that you consult your MD before beginning or revamping your current exercise program.

These steps listed above are the basic steps which are important to the natural treatment for reducing high estrogen symptoms in men with elevated blood estrogen levels on TRT.

If you don’t get immediate or reasonable relief within a few months of implementing these natural therapies, then talk with your doctor as you may need to start on a more intensive natural treatment regimen or on an aromatase inhibitor.

For more information and consultation, contact Advanced Wellness Medical by: Calling 626.365.1084 or

E-mail your questions or specific search for information to info@advancedwellnessmedical.com