Why Your Estrogen Metabolism Matters (and How to Fix It)
Feeling Off Before Your Period?
Tired, moody, or bloated before your period? Dealing with heavier cycles or unpredictable hormones? The problem might not be how much estrogen you have — it's how your body is processing it.
At NYC Total Health, we help women throughout New Jersey understand their hormone patterns using the DUTCH Complete Test. This comprehensive hormone testing shows us exactly what your body is doing with estrogen, so we can create a personalized treatment plan that actually works.
Understanding Estrogen Metabolism
Your liver breaks down estrogen in two phases. Phase 1 is the first step, and it sends estrogen down one of three pathways:
2-OH Pathway (The Good One): Clean and safe — this is what we want.
4-OH Pathway (The Problem Maker): Can create stress on your cells and DNA.
16-OH Pathway (The Troublemaker): Can cause heavy periods, bloating, and breast tenderness.
When your body uses too much of the 4-OH or 16-OH pathways, you might experience estrogen dominance symptoms like:
- Bad PMS and mood swings
- Heavy or painful periods
- Fibroids or cysts
- Breast tenderness
- Fatigue and brain fog
Why This Matters for Hormone Balance
It's not about having "too much estrogen" — it's about which pathway your body is using. When the wrong pathway dominates, estrogen can build up in unhealthy ways, causing inflammation and hormone imbalances. This is especially common during perimenopause when hormone fluctuations become more unpredictable.
DUTCH Test NJ: What It Shows You
Regular blood tests only tell you your total estrogen level. DUTCH hormone testing shows you the whole story — which pathways your body is actually using.
For example:
- High 16-OH might explain heavy periods
- High 4-OH might mean oxidative stress
- Low 2-OH means your detox system needs support
Once we see your results, we can create a personalized functional medicine plan with food, supplements, and lifestyle changes to shift your metabolism toward the safer pathway.
How to Support Healthy Estrogen Metabolism
Foods That Help
- Eat your veggies: Broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts help push estrogen toward the good pathway
- Add omega-3s: Fish oil or flax seeds reduce inflammation
- B vitamins: Found in leafy greens, eggs, and meat — essential for liver detox
Simple Lifestyle Changes
- Cut back on alcohol — it slows down liver detox
- Exercise regularly to help your body clear estrogen
- Avoid plastics (especially heating food in plastic containers)
Supplements That Can Help
Based on your DUTCH results, we might recommend:
- DIM to support the healthy pathway
- Sulforaphane for liver support
- Magnesium and B-vitamins for overall hormone balance
Real Results from Real Patients
Many of our New Jersey patients come to our Manhattan office after struggling with hormones for months or years. Once we test their estrogen metabolism with the DUTCH Complete test and make the right changes, they usually feel better within a few months — more energy, lighter periods, better moods, and clearer skin.
Hormone Testing New Jersey : Virtual & In-Person Options
NYC Total Health is a functional medicine practice located in Manhattan, serving patients throughout New Jersey — and you don't have to travel to get started.
How Virtual DUTCH Testing Works
1. Initial Consultation (Virtual or In-Person): We discuss your symptoms and health history to determine if DUTCH hormone testing is right for you.
2. Test Kit Delivered to Your Home: We ship the DUTCH Complete kit directly to your door anywhere in New Jersey.
3. Collect Samples at Home: The urine collection is simple and done in the comfort of your own home.
4. Results Review (Virtual or In-Person): We schedule a video call or office visit to walk through your hormone test results and create your personalized treatment plan.
5. Ongoing Support: Follow-up appointments can be done virtually or in-person — whatever works best for your schedule.
This means you can access our full integrative functional medicine approach without the hassle of regular trips to Manhattan. Many of our New Jersey patients complete their entire care journey virtually.
