Believe it or not, estrogen balance is not just an issue for women. Men are affected, too. Men do produce a small amount of the hormone, which helps to balance testosterone. But some men end up with too much estrogen.

With aging, men naturally develop lower levels of testosterone and higher levels of estrogen. This imbalance can get even worse if a man is carrying excess belly fat because fat cells produce an enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen, upsetting hormonal balance. Certain medications and illnesses can elevate estrogen levels in men, and excessive alcohol intake can prevent the liver from eliminating excess estrogen. Hormones in food and the environment also increase estrogens in the body.

Even in younger men, too much estrogen is linked to high cholesterol and is a marker for later heart disease. In a University of Leicester study of 933 young, healthy men (average age 19), high levels of estrogen increased LDL cholesterol and decreased HDL cholesterol, leading to higher risk of heart disease much later in life. This is the same effect as declining estrogen levels in menopausal women.

Symptoms of excess estrogen in men include fatigue, loss of muscle mass, increased abdominal weight, and development of the breasts. Excess estrogen also promotes the formation of abnormal blood clots and doubles the risk of stroke.