Female Reproductive Disorders 205
Miscarriages
High estrogen levels trigger miscarriages for a number of reasons. The
most obvious is that excess estrogen causes excessive bleeding in the
uterus during pregnancy. One of estrogen’s functions during pregnancy
is to reduce ox ygen in the uterus so that fast-growing cells that generate
energy anaerobically (without oxygen) can instantly attach the embryo
to the uterine wall. But when estrogen levels are excessive it devours so
much oxygen that there is not enough left over for the embryo. Profes-
sor Soderwell and his students at the University of Oregon found that
miscarriage in older women was caused not by their older ova but rather
by the unsuitability of the uterus.^10 Excessive estrogen’s destruction of
oxygen in the uterus could very well be why Soderwell’s ova could not
be implanted in the uterine wall.Fibroid Uterine Tumors and Cystic Breasts
When estrogen levels are normal, after the menstrual period has ended,
estrogen causes the uterine wall to rebuild its tissue in preparation for
the possibility that the next egg released in the fallopian tube will be
fertilized. Excess estrogen, however, overstimulates the growth of tis-
sue in the uterus, sometimes creating such a thick uterine lining that it
fails to disintegrate when the egg is not fertilized. Without impregna-
tion, one layer of tissue is laid over another in the uterus. The hard,
fi brous tissue thickens and forms a tumor. It seems probable, since
elevated estrogen causes the growth of excess tissue in the uterus, that
hormone replacement therapy containing estrogen extracted from➤ Avoid caffeine in coffee, tea, chocolate, and cola
soft drinks.
➤ Black cohosh, valerian, and wild yam roots. These
contain hormones that normalize estrogen and progesterone
levels.*Take as many as possible of these nutrients in the form of whole-food complexes. For
dosage, follow the directions on the label.