Estrogen Dominance?

[kellt]

I've been on the pill for 13 years. My naturopath (I do see allopathic physicians regularly also) feels that I am suffering from "estrogen dominance," which is causing/contibuting to my sjogren's syndrome, abdominal pain & bloating, depression, insomnia, decreased memory, etc. Is it possible to be on the pill for too long, and can it cause estrogen dominance?

[Brandye]

I am allopathic. Our answer would be "no." Even among us, there are many who advocate "drug holidays." That would be a period of time that the pill is stopped and other forms of non-hormonal contraception would be used. There are good naturopaths and there are charlatans. Allopaths, too, but we are more stringently licensed and regulated.

I would recommend talking this out with your usual gynecologist and, given other symptom, perhaps an endocrinologist.

If you are truly concerned about over medicating and wish to stay on hormonal birth control, consider the ring. The ring has shown equal effectiveness to other hormonal measures with lower systemic levels of estrogen. Talk to your prescriber. I have women wear a non-medicated ring for a month or so to test tolerance. Most tolerate it well but some have difficulty keeping it in place or feel that it interferes with sex. I also usually have a one month break between being on the pill and starting with a medicated ring. Other physicians treat this differently because it would require two months of alternative birth control.

When the ring first was introduced I did wear a non-medicated one for two monthsI never felt it, it never slipped and two male partners, one another physician, seemd not to notice. Most experience is close to this. The primary advantage in yur situation is lower levels of medication attaining the same result.