Does Estrogen Live Forever?
You make estrogen. You might even take estrogen.
But what does your body do with it once it’s done? 🤔
Does it just hang around forever?
How does it actually get out?
That whole process is called estrogen metabolism (or detoxification), and it happens primarily in your liver, bile/intestines, and kidneys.
And the best part? There’s a lot you can do to support it.
Detox: It’s Happening All the Time
Detoxification isn’t a once-a-year juice cleanse. It happens 24/7/365 — through birthdays, holidays, stress, and every “I’ll start Monday” moment.
Your body is constantly transforming, neutralizing, and eliminating compounds. The only question is: how efficiently is it doing it?
That’s where nutrition, lifestyle, and genetics come in. 🌱
Detoxification requires a steady supply of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.
Some experts say, “You’re born with a perfect liver, you don’t need to support it.”
That sentiment is partly true — but for many women, that liver has a full plate.
You might have genetic variants that slow down detox enzymes, nutrient deficiencies (like low iron or B12), or lifestyle factors — like alcohol, medications, vaping, or environmental toxins — that add extra load.
What Gets in the Way?
Your liver has to process nearly everything you eat, drink, breathe in, or swallow like:
Alcohol 🍷
Tobacco or vaping products 🚬
Endocrine disrupting chemicals ❌
Medications (like acetaminophen) 💊
If your intake of any of these has been a little high lately, your liver’s politely saying, “Girl, I’m tired.”
Give it a break. Talk with your healthcare provider. And then let’s talk about how to support what’s already happening inside you.
The Phases of Estrogen Detoxification
There are technically two or three phases of estrogen detoxification depending on which pathway it takes.
Most of it begins in the liver, then moves through bile and intestines to be pooped out, or into the bloodstream to be filtered through the kidneys.
Phase 1: Hydroxylation (The Prep Work)
This is where your liver’s CYP enzymes get to work. These are heme-dependent, which means iron plays a starring role.
Low iron? That can slow this phase down.
This is also where compounds like DIM (Diindolylmethane) and I3C (Indole-3-carbinol) come in — both help move this pathway along.
⚠️ Quick note: DIM and I3C can lower circulating estrogen. Great if you’re making a lot, not so great if you’re already low.
I never start with Phase 1 when working with patients.
Think of detox like a bathtub 🛀:
Phase 3 is the sewer line.
Phase 2 is the drain.
Phase 1 is the water coming in.
You don’t open the faucet until you know the drain (and the sewer) are clear otherwise you get problems.
Phase 2: Conjugation (The Neutralizer)
This is where estrogen gets packaged for elimination.
There are three routes. Methylation to sulfation, or glucuronidation. Or, skip methylation and go right to sulfation or glucuronidation.
1. Methylation
Adds a methyl group to estrogen to deactivate it.
Requires: magnesium and SAMe
Also beneficial: folate, choline, B12, B2, B3, zinc, and trimethylglycine (TMG).
2. Sulfation
Adds a sulfur group to make estrogen water-soluble for excretion.
Needs sulfur donors and amino acids like methionine, taurine, and cysteine.
Nutrients that support this phase: Vitamin B6, molybdenum, magnesium, B3, and iron. Sulforaphane (from organic broccoli sprouts) upregulates the SULT enzymes that power this pathway.
3. Glucuronidation
Adds a glucuronic acid “handle” from glucose to estrogen (also makes it water-soluble).
Requires magnesium, manganese, B2, B3, and healthy glucose metabolism.
Sulforaphane (or organic broccoli sprouts) upregulates the UGT enzymes that power this pathway.
Phase 3: The Exit (Where the Magic Happens Once It’s Water Soluble)
You can have perfect liver function, but if the sewer line is clogged, detoxification stalls.
Phase 3 is where estrogen leaves the body. 👋
It’s like the genie in Aladdin 🧞♂️ saying, “Thank you. Good bye now. Good bye. Thank you.” This is done through your poop and pee.
Your liver makes bile (yes, even if your gallbladder’s gone), and that bile carries conjugated water soluble estrogen into your intestines. From there, you eliminate it — if your digestion and microbiome are on board.
Support your sewer line (intestines) with:
Fiber (leafy greens, jicama, artichoke, ground flax seeds)
Hydration with water
Probiotic & prebiotic foods (fermented veggies, pomegranate seeds)
Taurine, glycine, beets, bitters, and dark leafy greens (for bile flow)
Calcium-D-glucarate (keeps estrogen bound for elimination)
Butyrate or Urolithin A (nourish intestinal cells)
And yes — brush your teeth, floss, and see your dentist. Oral bacteria in your mouth influence gut bacteria more than you’d think. Think of how many times you swallow! 👄
So, What Can You Actually Do?
Supporting estrogen detox isn’t about “flushing” your system. It’s about giving your liver, gut, and kidneys what they need to do their jobs brilliantly.
You have far more control over this than you might think.
Every meal with protein and cruciferous veggies, every glass of water, every bowel movement, every night of decent sleep — those are all acts of detox.
They’re micro-votes in favor of your hormonal balance. 🤩
The Bottom Line
Estrogen detox isn’t a cleanse. It’s chemistry.
Thankfully, your body can run beautifully every day, as long as it has the raw materials. 🙌
When you feed it what it needs, move your body, manage stress, and keep your gut healthy, you’re not “boosting detox.”
You’re simply letting your physiology do what it’s been designed to do since day one.