Did you know there was a link between oestrogen and histamine?

Oestrogen and histamine have a complex relationship that can significantly influence various physiological processes, particularly in women.

Histamine is a biogenic amine involved in immune responses, gastric acid secretion, and neurotransmission. It is produced and released by mast cells, basophils, and certain neurons. Oestrogen can enhance the production of histamine by increasing the number of mast cells and stimulating their activity.

Oestrogen plays a crucial role in regulating many bodily functions, but it can also influence histamine levels. Histamine is a compound involved in immune responses, and when oestrogen levels fluctuate, it can lead to increased histamine production, potentially exacerbating allergy symptoms, migraines, and other histamine-related issues.


Oestrogen exerts its effects through oestrogen receptors (ERs), primarily ERα and ERβ. These receptors are present in various tissues, including the immune system. When oestrogen binds to these receptors, it can modulate the activity of mast cells, leading to increased histamine release, particularly in response to allergens or inflammatory stimuli.
Higher levels of oestrogen can lead to an increase in the release of histamine, which may exacerbate your allergy symptoms.

Oestrogen can also influence the expression of histamine receptors in the body. This means that when oestrogen levels are elevated, the body's sensitivity to histamine may increase.


Histamine has the ability to influence the metabolism of oestrogen in the liver. It can affect the enzymes involved in oestrogen metabolism, potentially leading to altered levels of circulating oestrogen in the body which can lead to hormonal imbalances!


Some studies have shown that fluctuations in oestrogen levels can exacerbate allergic reactions. Higher oestrogen levels can lead to increased sensitivity to allergens and more severe allergic symptoms due to elevated histamine levels. This is particularly relevant during the menstrual cycle when oestrogen levels fluctuate significantly.


The menstrual cycle consists of several phases, each characterised by different hormonal profiles:

Follicular Phase/ In the early part of the cycle, oestrogen levels begin to rise as follicles in the ovaries mature. As oestrogen levels increase, mast cells may become more active, potentially leading to heightened histamine release. This can cause or exacerbate allergic symptoms in some women.

Ovulation/ Around the midpoint of the cycle, oestrogen peaks, which can lead to further increased histamine levels. Some women may experience heightened allergic symptoms or migraines during this phase, correlating with the peak in oestrogen.

Luteal Phase- After ovulation, progesterone levels rise while oestrogen levels decline slightly. This phase can be characterised by a decrease in histamine levels as progesterone can have a stabilising effect on mast cells, reducing histamine release. However, for some women, the changes in hormone levels can still lead to PMS symptoms, including headaches and mood changes linked to histamine activity.


Menstruation- During menstruation, both oestrogen and progesterone levels drop sharply. This hormonal shift can lead to a decrease in histamine levels and may alleviate some allergy symptoms. However, some women report an increase in migraines or other symptoms around this time, possibly due to other factors such as prostaglandin release and inflammation.

Women may experience various symptoms throughout their menstrual cycle that can be linked to changes in oestrogen and histamine levels:

Women taking the oral contraceptive pill may notice changes in their allergy symptoms and the frequency or intensity of migraines.

HRT typically includes oestrogen, which can enhance histamine release. Consequently, women undergoing HRT may experience heightened histamine levels, potentially leading to more pronounced allergic reactions or symptoms related to histamine.


The interplay between oestrogen and histamine is a significant factor for many individuals, particularly those with conditions like hay fever, histamine intolerance, or hormonal imbalances. Understanding this relationship can help in managing symptoms and making informed decisions regarding treatments like HRT or contraceptive pills.

In clinic, we commonly see risk factors such as gastro intestinal challenges playing out in the above cases as our gut is involved in oestrogen detox. In particular, chronic constipation can be a risk factor driving higher levels of oestrogen which then upregulates the histamine. Very commonly we see patients with IBS, SIBO etc with corresponding issues with hormonal imbalance. But the good news is that with a functional medicine approach we can get to the bottom of things, rebalance hormones and ensure that oestrogen is being appropriately detoxified which is key to prevention and management  when it comes to histamine. 

If you feel your hormones might be influencing your allergies an would like to talk more about our approach you can book a free discovery call and have a chat with us here