How Does Copper Affect Estrogen? Learn The Link Between Copper and Hormonal Imbalance

I’m going to start us off with a little lesser known fact: high copper is a potential cause of elevated estrogen. While it’s not overly common these days, as endobabes, it’s good to be aware of any and all potential contributors of elevated estrogen, as endometriosis loves estrogen.

Luckily, the link between copper and estrogen has become more clear in recent years, and we know that an imbalance of one, or both, can be corrected through nutrition. Our bodies are constantly working hard to keep everything in check, and sometimes the pendulum swings too far one way, especially with endometriosis. That’s where an expert comes in to give you the support you need to restore balance.

So, how exactly does copper affect estrogen? Read on to learn about how they interact in the body, the common symptoms and causes, as well as what can be done to correct an imbalance.

The Liver Plays a Part

Copper likes to hang out in the liver and when unchecked, can affect the way the liver functions. If you have too much copper, it inhibits the detoxification of estrogen from the body (which coincidentally, happens mostly in the liver). Over time, these imbalances can eventually lead to estrogen dominance and progesterone deficiency, ie. some gnarly endometriosis symptoms.

When functioning optimally, our adrenal glands send a signal to the liver to produce a protein called ceruloplasmin. This is the primary copper-binding protein that transports copper throughout the body. Many women with endo have reduced liver and adrenal function due to chronic inflammation. This creates the perfect environment for copper toxicity (or elevated copper), as low ceruloplasmin means less is bound and removed from the body via the liver.

It’s easy to end up with a snowball effect, where copper and estrogen levels continue to increase until symptoms become so unbearable that we reach out for help.

“OUR BODIES ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING HARD TO KEEP EVERYTHING IN CHECK, AND SOMETIMES THE PENDULUM SWINGS TOO FAR ONE WAY.”

Symptoms of Copper Toxicity

The most common symptoms related to a copper imbalance include:

• Premenstrual syndrome

• Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)

• Amenorrhea (absence of periods)

• Uterine fibroids

• Ovarian cysts

• Yeast infections

• Endometriosis

• Miscarriages

• Morning sickness

• Toxemia of pregnancy (preeclampsia)

• Postpartum depression

Are any of these relatable for you?

The great news is that many of these symptoms can be eliminated once the imbalance is reversed, mainly through proper nutrition.

Estrogen Dominance

Remember when I mentioned that a copper imbalance can lead to estrogen dominance? These symptoms might be easier to catch:

• Breast swelling and tenderness

• Premenstrual syndrome

• Headaches (especially cyclical headaches)

• Brain fog

• Decreased sex drive/low libido

• Weight and/or fat gain, particularly around the abdomen

• Irritability 

• Depression

• Insomnia

• Fatigue

Not all estrogen dominance is caused by a copper imbalance, but it might be worth looking into if you can’t quite figure out the source of your estrogen dominance.

Causes of Copper Toxicity

So, you’ve heard the symptoms. Now, let’s look at the most common causes:

• Physical and emotional stress

• Birth control (especially the copper IUD)

• Adrenal fatigue

• Zinc deficiency

• Vegetarian diets (they tend to be low in zinc and high in copper)

• Other sources of copper in our environment (i.e. cookware, water pipes, fungicides)

• Cadmium and lead toxicity

• Congenital high copper (being born with high copper due to an imbalance in mom)

• Exposure in the air or water supply

Do any of these surprise you?

Taking care to listen to our bodies, research what we are putting into them, and analyzing our environment is crucial to optimal health.

Reduce physical and emotional stress when you can (hello, self-care routine!), consider all contraception options, pay attention to your energy levels, your cravings, and how you cook your food.

Ultimately, you get to decide how best to take care of you, but I believe that nutrition is the key.

Careful Considerations

What we put into our bodies needs careful attention when trying to restore balance.

The copper IUD is among the best choices for someone who is trying to avoid hormonal birth control while still protecting against unwanted pregnancy. I completely understand this choice, and recommend simply taking a look at your copper levels through the blood or hair tissue, especially if you’re having some of the symptoms I mentioned above.

Additionally, consider what type of piping you have in your home. If it’s an older home you likely have copper piping. If you cook with copper pans and have estrogen dominance symptoms with no explainable origin, consider ruling this out as a source too!

Fun fact: Chocolate is high in copper, and cravings for chocolate may indicate a need for bioavailable copper, especially during the luteal phase of your cycle, when PMS symptoms begin to arrive.

Restoring Balance

As always, we need to get to the root of the problem, and I recommend starting with your adrenal glands.

Remember this tidbit from earlier: healthy adrenals signal the liver to produce ceruloplasmin, the protein that binds to copper for transport and removal from the body.

Limiting processed and fried foods, caffeine, and simple carbohydrates like white refined donuts, cookies and croissants will make a difference fairly quickly.

Making a lifestyle change that includes eating high quality vegetables, proteins and fats regularly sets you up for long-term success in the function of your adrenal glands and overall health.

Giving our adrenals an extra boost can also include incorporating supplements or food sources of:

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin E

• Vitamin B and B-complex

• Folate

• Zinc

• Magnesium

• Manganese

• Molybdenum

• Choline

• Potassium

Copper lowering nutrients help to support the liver by increasing clearance speed of toxins. This can include:

• Zinc

• B6

• Molybdenum

• Sulfur

• Choline

• Methionine

• Betaine

• Folic acid

• Vitamin B12

Low Copper Can Result in Low Iron

All this being said, please don’t jump to assume you have elevated copper. As I mentioned in the beginning of this blog, it falls on the list of rarer contributors to estrogen dominance. Copper has a key role in iron absorption in the gut, so making great efforts to lower your copper when it doesn’t need to be lowered can result in iron deficiency, and this unfortunately, comes with its own collection of symptoms and concerns. Have your serum levels checked annually, or consider doing a hair tissue mineral analysis to confirm.

“ULTIMATELY, YOU GET TO DECIDE HOW BEST TO TAKE CARE OF YOU, BUT I BELIEVE THAT NUTRITION IS THE KEY.”

Alright Endobabe, that was a lot of information.

Now you have the tools to understand the link between copper and estrogen, and how the liver plays a part in their detoxification.

You know what the symptoms can look like, and potential causes to watch out for.

I’ve given you some tips on how to get started on healing an imbalance, or halting the progression of an imbalance in its early stages.

Are you looking for some more help to balance your hormones? I have a couple of options for you!

Find my Hormone Balancing, Endobabe Mini Meal Plan here:

The best ways to check for copper toxicity are through samples of the blood or the hair tissue. The hair tissue is a good indicator of copper that's been there for the last 3-6 months, whereas blood work will tell you what's hanging out in your blood right now.

Psst, I have a secret! My comprehensive ‘Endo Foundations’ course is launching soon, and because I want to give each and every one of you solid tools to minimize symptoms of endometriosis, I'm throwing in a VERY relevant TEST to get you some good information on your endo journey! Stay tuned for that!