[itsjust4fun91]

Out of all of the nbe choices, which would be the best option to increase estrogen? I know it's a crazy question since normally we all want to make sure we don't go too overboard with the estrogen, BUT I'm barely making any right now. Estrogen replacement is the only thing that stops my headaches it seems and my doc says I can no longer have BCP's and then refused to give me more premarin unless I agreed to have a mirena put in.

Anyway, I was pretty depressed at first and of course my doc is positive that I will buckle under the symptoms and give in to the mirena to get the premarin back, but then I remembered... hey, I'm a member of a great board with great gals that all specialize in so many different hormone options that there has to be a solution in there somewhere.

I've spent so many years making sure I didn't increase my estrogen load, so I only have focused on nbe that wouldn't do that, now that my endocrine system was fried by chantix, I have to change my thinking in that area.

I tried the maca, but it actually makes my headaches worse so I've had to stop it. I pulled out my BO even though I figured it wouldn't do much and the same happened with it, which isn't surprising since it's meant to NOT raise estrogen, so I need help from some of the members that have gone other routes for nbe. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,
Mel

[Anastasia916]

Maybe go the phytoestrogen route? Herbs, PM, etc? I know PM is the one that is suppose to be the highest in estrogen, right? Have you tried increasing soy in your diet?

[Ginie]

I used to get headaches few days before my period and sometimes during the first days of my cycle, when estrogen is the lowest. Since I started PM I didn't get those headaches, I wasn't paying attention to it until last week when the terrible headache was back. Guess what! I remembered that I wasn't taking PM capsules this month, just PM lotion becasue I've reached my goal and just wanted to maintain what I have. Next month I will be taking very very low dose of PM, without PM lotion. So maybe PM is really helping?

Also I read that FG is increasing your own estrogen, it is not like other phytoestrogens.

I would also recommend taking omega 3-6-9 which stimulate your body produce more sex hormones. I don't know the exact proportion if you decide to take them separately (borage oil, fish oil, etc).

[Ginie]

Forgot to ask - do you exercise? Weight lifting increases sex hormones. Excessive testosterone in a woman's body will be converted into estrogen. Btw, are you low on ALL types of estrogen??

[Isabelle]

Headaches are a symptom of estrogen dominance. So there may be something wrong with your progesterone too.

I had success with fenugreek just yesterday. As Ginie wrote, FG increases your own natural estrogens (gently), but also your natural progesterone. It allows you to increase estrogens without creating an imbalance problem. In my opinion, this is the option that will prevent awkward discussions with your doc down the road.

Phyto-estrogens like PM or hops increase your own estrogens by first increasing the number of receptors, so it takes a while.

If your estrone is particularly low, you may be metabolizing estrogens too fast. Then wild yam will help. It blocks the metabolism of estrone to 16α-hydroxyestrone. But if your progesterone is also low, wy will cause an imbalance, and make the headaches worse.