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I am hoping you could answer some questions about the estrogenic effects of whole soy products, and your opinion as to whether my soy intake is affecting my body in a significant way. What is the effect of soy intake on estrogenic activity in a women?s body? Does eating whole soy increase a women?s estrogenic activity of does it decrease estrogenic activity? Some sources say that soy increases estrogenic activity because the phytoestrogen found in soy increases estrogen levels. Other sources say that soy decreases estrogenic activity because the phytoestrogen binds with estrogen receptors and therefore decrease the body?s intake of more potent estrogen compounds. I am concerned that my soy intake is decreasing the estrogenic activity in my body. What is your impression? From what I?ve noticed, my periods get lighter the more tofu I consume. I am concerned because I naturally have very light periods (3-4 days), and when I am in a phase where I consume lots of tofu they get even lighter (barely two days). I have had my blood drawn on more than one occasion, and I am not iron deficient or vitamin deficient in any ways. Also, although my breasts are of normal size, from what I can tell, underdeveloped for my age. For reference: I am 18 years old, my areola have not darkened, but have formed a second ?mound? on top of my breast, and I have B-C cup breasts (that fluctuate throughout my cycle). For further reference, I am now a healthy weight, and have been a healthy weight for a while (right now my BMI is about 22), but when I was 13 I was significantly underweight. My puberty was delayed, and my breasts didn?t start to develop until I was 14, and I did?t get my period until I was 15. Because my puberty was delayed, my estrogen levels and uterine lining were tested when I was 13. Both were found to be normal, but my bone density was found to be slightly low. Also, for further reference, I do eat a lot of tofu. I have gone through phases where I ate three cups of tofu a day, but I don?t drink soy-milk of eat other soy products (that I know of). I would definitely eat less tofu if I thought it was decreasing the my estrogenic activity. I hope to someday become a mother, so I don?t want to do anything to decrease my estrogenic activity. I don?t currently take birth control, but I am open to taking an estrogen supplement if that is your recommendation. I have not discussed this with my primary care doctor (as I do not see her often), but if you have any suggestions for questions I should be asking or tests you think I should be taking, I would greatly appreciate your recommendations. Any information that you have to offer me would be greatly appreciated, and I appreciate the time and energy that you have already devoted to reading this. Thank you so much.


1Doctor Answered
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