The Hidden Impact of the Pill, IUDs, and Environmental Estrogens
by Lori Finlay, MSN, NP, CNS — Functional Medicine Practitioner & Vitality Mentor
“Your hormones aren’t the problem — they’re the messengers asking for help.” — Lori Finlay, NP, CNS, BCC
Welcome to the Vitality Cycle
This January begins a new rhythm on my blog — The Vitality Cycle — a four-week rotation that mirrors the rhythm of a woman’s body and the layers of true healing.
Each week we’ll explore one pillar of vitality:
- Hormones & Detox
- Nervous System
- Mind-Body-Spirit
- Lifestyle Rituals.
We start with the foundation — your hormones — and the quiet ways synthetic hormones and everyday toxins can disrupt the natural conversation between estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4).
The Harmony You Were Born With
Your body was designed with a beautiful rhythm.
Estrogen rises to build and create.
Progesterone follows to calm and sustain.
When that dance is balanced, you feel grounded, creative, and connected.
But when synthetic hormones, stress, or toxins interfere, the rhythm turns to noise.
How Synthetic Hormones Hijack the System
The Pill and many hormonal IUDs contain synthetic progestins — chemical look-alikes that do not behave like your natural progesterone.
They can suppress your body’s own P4 production and alter how your liver processes estrogen (E2).
Over time, that suppression can cause:
- Estrogen dominance
- Anxiety or mood dips
- Weight gain or fluid retention
- Brain fog and fatigue
Your internal communication loop — the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis — hears “we already have hormones” and shuts down its natural production.
The Toxin Connection
Beyond prescriptions, your environment is full of xenoestrogens — estrogen-mimicking chemicals found in plastics, pesticides, fragrances, and skincare.
They attach to estrogen receptors and convince your body it has plenty.
Over time, this creates estrogen dominance — too much estrogen relative to progesterone — which contributes to PMS, tender breasts, weight gain, irritability, and disrupted cycles.
Your liver and gut then work overtime trying to clear the excess, often leaving you inflamed and exhausted.
The Three Phases of Estrogen Metabolism
(And Why Your Liver Deserves a Standing Ovation)
Your body has a built-in cleanup crew for used hormones.
Most of the work happens in the liver and gut, moving through three essential steps.
If any step stalls, old estrogens can accumulate — leading to PMS, stubborn weight, or even higher risks of hormone-related cancers (Zhao et al., 2021).
Phase 1 – Conversion (Hydroxylation in the Liver)
Liver enzymes called cytochrome P450s convert active estrogens (E1, E2) into smaller fragments called metabolites.
If this conversion runs too slowly — or too quickly without antioxidant protection — it can produce inflammatory estrogen types linked to breast and endometrial cancer (Zhao et al., 2021).
Support Phase 1 with:
- Glutathione — master antioxidant protecting liver cells during detox (see my detailed blog here)
- Resveratrol (from berries & grapes) — steers estrogen toward safer pathways
- Castor-oil packs over the liver — encourage lymphatic & blood flow
- B-vitamins (B2, B3, B6, B12, folate) and vitamin C
Science name: Hydroxylation
Plain talk: “Your liver’s first pass at taking apart used estrogen.”
Phase 2 – Neutralization (Methylation in the Liver)
Those estrogen fragments now need to be methylated — essentially “bubble-wrapped” so they can’t harm tissue or DNA.
When methylation is sluggish (low magnesium, high stress, MTHFR variants), these reactive pieces linger, potentially damaging DNA and raising cancer risk (James et al., 2020).
Poor methylation can also cause headaches, anxiety, and fatigue.
Support Phase 2 with:
- Magnesium
- Methylated folate & B12
- Choline, SAMe, and glutathione-rich foods
Science name: Methylation
Plain talk: “Your liver’s safety step — wrapping used hormones so they can’t do damage.”
Phase 3 – Elimination (in the Gut)
Finally, your gut moves those neutralized estrogens out through daily bowel movements.
If digestion slows or gut bacteria are off balance, an enzyme called β-glucuronidase can unwrap them, sending toxic estrogens back into circulation (Plottel & Blaser, 2011).
Support Phase 3 with:
- Daily fiber and hydration
- Probiotics or fermented foods
- Gentle movement and PSNS (Pretty Safe Nervous System) activation
Science name: Elimination
Plain talk: “Your gut’s job — taking the trash out for good.”
Why the Nervous System Matters
You can’t detox efficiently in a body that doesn’t feel safe.
When your Survival Nervous System (SNS) is constantly switched on, blood flow leaves your liver and gut and rushes toward muscles for “fight or flight.”
Shifting into your Pretty Safe Nervous System (PSNS) — through breathwork, prayer, or simple pauses — restores the calm your body needs for hormonal harmony.
Your Next Step
Of course, these are general strategies.
Your body’s exact needs depend on your unique hormone metabolism, nervous system patterns, and lifestyle stressors.
That’s what we uncover together in a personalized Vitality Consult.
If you suspect synthetic hormones or environmental toxins have thrown your balance off, I’d love to help you decode your symptoms and design a personalized path back to balance.
Schedule a complimentary 15–20 minute Vitality Consult here.
Together we’ll map a gentle, evidence-based path back to balance and vitality.
