Why That Hormone Supplement Might Be Making You Feel Worse (Blame Your Genes)

Elly Young
Jul 1
2 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

So, you stocked up on hormone-balancing supplements, hoping for clearer skin, fewer mood swings, and a lighter period.

But instead? You’re more bloated, foggy, or moody than ever. 😩

What gives?

Here’s the deal: Not all supplements are a good match for your body—especially when they’re messing with your hormones. And if you’re not factoring in your genetic blueprint, you might be speeding things up in your detox system without giving your body the tools to keep up.

Let’s break it down...

Your Estrogen Detox System = A 3-Phase Conveyor Belt

Your body detoxifies estrogen through three main phases—Phase 1 and 2 happen in your liver, and Phase 3 happens in your gut.

Phase 1 breaks estrogen down into metabolites.
Phase 2 neutralizes those metabolites so they can be excreted.
Phase 3 (in your gut) gets them out for good.

Sounds simple enough. But here’s where your genes come in.

Meet COMT and GSTT1—Two Genes That Can Make or Break This Process

COMT is a gene that helps clear out estrogen, dopamine, and stress hormones. Some people have the slow version of COMT, which means they’re more likely to feel overwhelmed by stress or estrogen buildup. Others have the fast version—which sounds great, until you realize it can actually dump metabolites too quickly into Phase 2 before your liver is ready.
GSTT1 plays a key role in Phase 2 detox. If this gene is deleted or slowed, your body can struggle to neutralize those Phase 1 metabolites. Which means... backed-up estrogen, inflammation, and symptoms like migraines, mood swings, heavy periods, and histamine overload.

Why Supplementation Matters

When you take a supplement like DIM (diindolylmethane)—which is popular for estrogen detox—you’re essentially speeding up Phase 1. That’s great if the rest of your detox system is humming along.

But if your COMT is fast and your Phase 2 genes like GSTT1 are sluggish, you're creating a traffic jam.

🔁 Picture a conveyor belt that’s cranked up to full speed... but the worker down the line is moving in slow-mo. Things start backing up. Spilling over. Creating chaos.

That’s your estrogen detox system on the wrong supplement.

Test, Don’t Guess

This is exactly why some women feel worse when they try to “balance their hormones” with popular supplements. They’re treating symptoms without knowing what’s actually going on under the hood.

Hormone health isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s personal. It’s genetic. And it’s 100% figure-out-able.

Ready to Get Started?

🔬 Your genes are your cheat code. Let’s use them wisely.

And be sure to follow me on Instagram @find_myself_free for more tips on genetic nutrition, hormone health, and everyday upgrades for your wellness game.