Too much Estrogen interferes with Thyroid
Hormone
Progesterone Use Restores Thyroid Function
American women and women in developed countries
have too much estrogen.
This estrogen excess, labeled estrogen dominance by John
Lee, M.D., creates hypothyroid symptoms despite normal serum levels of thyroid hormone. Excess estrogen impedes
the cellular utilization of thyroid hormone. Progesterone restores thyroid function in the body.
by Elizabeth Smith, M.D.
Thyroid hormone made by the thyroid
gland regulates the metabolic rate. Low thyroid tends to cause low energy levels, cold intolerance, and weight
gain. Excess thyroid causes higher energy levels, feeling too warm, and weight loss.
The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormone in two basic flavors T3 and T4. T3 is the 
more
potent of the two. The thyroid gland is stimulated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) produced by a small gland
in the brain called the pituitary gland. This gland is stimulated in turn by thyrotropin-releasing hormone produced
by the hypothalamus, another part of the brain.
Frequently, Dr. Lee, corrected symptoms of PMS in his patients by using progesterone cream. PMS symptoms caused
by estrogen dominance included fat and water retention, breast swelling, headaches and loss of sex drive. He also
found that they also had thyroid supplements prescribed based upon hypothyroid-like symptoms such as feeling tired
or sluggish, a little cold intolerance, and thinning hair. However, laboratory measured thyroid levels T3 and T4
were normal, and TSH was only slightly elevated. After Dr. Lee corrected the PMS symptoms with progesterone, the
patients with presumed hypothyroid symptoms became normal. Their hypothyroid symptoms decreased or disappeared!
After
Dr. Lee corrected the PMS symptoms with progesterone, the patients with presumed hypothyroid symptoms became normal.
Their hypothyroid symptoms decreased or disappeared!
One woman patient that I had did not shave her underarms for 5 years. She had a low normal T3, T4 and TSH. After
taking natural progesterone and avoiding heated plastics in her food for her fibrocystic breast disease, she noted
that the hair under her arms had begun to grow once more. She had to begin shaving her underarms again! Her hypothyroid
symptoms, non growing hair under her arms, were due to estrogen dominance.
Confirming Clinical Hypothyroid (normal
lab tests T3, T4, TSH, but feeling lousy)
The most reliable way to confirm clinical
hypothyroid is to measure the urine temperature for three consecutive days. Urinate in a Styrofoam cup for 3 consecutive
days in the morning as soon as you get up. If you forget one day then don't worry just continue until you get 3
consecutive days. Measure the urine temperature with an ordinary health care thermometer. If the temperature is
below 98.6 consistently, ( usually 97) then you most probably have clinical hypothyroid.
Why Do Hypothyroid Symptoms Disappear with Progesterone?
Dr. Lee reasons that thyroid and estrogen
oppose each other. Estrogen causes food to be stored as fat. Thyroid hormone causes fat to be burned as energy.
Patients with normal thyroid hormone levels measured by laboratory tests have symptoms that suggest they have hypothyroidism.
When these same patients are given progesterone which is know to oppose estrogen their hypothyroid symptoms ceased.
This implies that too much estrogen in the body, estrogen dominance, interferes with thyroid hormone action.
Summary
Fibrocystic breasts are caused by too much estrogen. Cutting down your intake of estrogen
and taking progesterone causes fibrocystic breasts to become normal in 2-3 months according to Dr. Lee. Because
estrogen dominance also interferes with thyroid hormone action, fibrocystic breast patients are likely to have
symptoms of hypothyroidism and be on thyroid supplements even though measured T3 and T4 are normal.
After taking progesterone for several months, thyroid function becomes normal and thyroid supplements can be cut
back and possibly eventually discontinued.