Expert: Mia - 12/9/2008

Question
Hi, is it normal to experience "estrogen dominance" when coming off the birth control pill?

Answer
Hi Cat,

When coming off birth control, your body will start readjusting to the hormone levels you had before going on the pill. You can experience side effects such as irregular bleeding, headaches, nausea, mood swings, and breast tenderness. these side effects are due to hormone fluctuations during this time and not necessarily "estrogen dominance". Estrogen dominance occurs if a woman has little or no progestin at all (which is why this can be seen in women during menopause); it is not related to normal fluctuations of estrogen and progestin during a woman's cycle. However, if estrogen dominance was a problem for you before going on the pill, then yes this is a possibility since your body is reverting back to that state.  I recommend you give your doctor a call to discuss this and possibly take a hormone level test.

I hope this helps. If you have further questions let me know.

-Mia