Estrogen Metabolism 101: A Practical Guide to Understanding and Measuring

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This webinar focuses on estrogen metabolism, an often-misunderstood aspect of hormonal health. Most people know that estrogen can be the culprit in hormone-related symptoms, and that several women’s health concerns are impacted by estrogen directly, such as endometriosis and breast cancer. Estrogen symptoms and risks can also be impacted by how it is metabolized by the body. This is a practical guide through the phase I and phase II pathways, where key players like P450 and methylation enzymes will be explored.

Starting phase I with 2-OH, known for its stability and neutral impact, to 16-OH with a stronger estrogen receptor activity, to the unstable and potentially damaging 4-OH. In phase II, catechol estrogens undergo methylation, another crucial step that impacts estrogen’s actions in the body. Not only can these pathways be measured in urine, but this guide will explain how to interpret them, emphasizing the significance of ratios over absolute levels. New and experienced learners will find these pathways clarified and gather useful tools for exploring detox and long-term hormonal health.

Key Moments 

• 1:35  Introducing Dr. Hilary Miller
• 2:30  Webinar Outline
• 3:36  What does estrogen do?
• 4:57  Estrogen and Breast Cancer
• 6:58  Estrogen and High Estrogen Conditions in Females
• 7:42  Assessing Estrogen
• 10:26  Phase I Estrogen Metabolism
• 14:08  2OH Pathway
• 17:00  16OH Pathway
• 22:51  2:16 Ratio
• 24:38  4OH Pathway
• 29:14  Phase II COMT Methylation
• 33:46  Estrogen Metabolism Overview
• 35:13  What affects estrogen detox?
• 36:41  How do we measure estrogen metabolism?
• 40:23  DUTCH Estrogen Metabolism Testing - DUTCH Report Examples
• 51:44  Treatment Considerations
• 54:42  Webinar Summary