Estrogens in women

Translated from Greek, “estrogens” mean “vigor, brightness, genus.” In general, this is the collective name for a special subclass of steroid female sex hormones. Estrogens are produced primarily in the ovaries. Experts distinguish three types of estrogens: estrone, estradiol and estriol. The name of the hormone comes from their ability to release special odors in the female body, which are also called pheromones. 

Normal estrogen levels in women

First, a little about what role estrogen plays in a woman’s body and why it is so important to control its amount.

Estrogen is also called the hormone of youth, because it makes a woman look young and beautiful, full of vitality. The primary function of the female sex hormones estrogens is to ensure high-quality reproductive function; they also provide support to a woman during the perinatal period. They take an active part in the formation and normalization of the menstrual cycle, therefore, especially during puberty, their level increases significantly.

Under the influence of estrogens, girls develop secondary sexual characteristics: breast enlargement, body hair. Adipose tissue is deposited according to the female type, which gives the body graceful curves and features. The shape of the pelvis also takes on special shapes, which in the future make it possible to bear and give birth to healthy offspring. But not only beauty and purely female organs are affected by estrogens. Their positive work extends to the cardiovascular system, normalization blood pressure, maintenance cholesterol levels, prevention of atherosclerosis. Estrogens affect the nervous system and activate a woman’s brain function. Their influence is difficult to overestimate, and it is difficult to list the entire sphere of influence. But this alone makes it clear how important it is to monitor the level of hormones in the body.

The level of estrogen hormones in the female body does not stand in one place and constantly varies depending on the cycle. During the follicular phase of the cycle, the volume of estrogen is at a relatively low level, but as the dominant follicle grows and develops, the amount of estrogen also increases. During this period, estrogen levels in the blood vary between 5-50 pg/ml. Once the follicle has fully matured, ruptured and released eggs, estrogen levels reach their maximum, so 90-300 pg/ml is considered normal for ovulation. At the end of the ovulation period, the hormone declines and its concentration is 11-115 pg/ml.

During menopause, estrogen fluctuations are not so impressive and do not go beyond the border of 5-45 pg/ml.

Symptoms of high estrogen

Paradoxically, an excess of the most important female hormone affects the body much more seriously than its deficiency, and it is more difficult to remove it than to replenish it. If a woman’s estrogen hormone level is normal, she is sexy, attractive, has velvety skin and a pleasant, gentle voice, her emotions are bright, and her smile is radiant.

Excess estrogen is a serious problem. Ladies whose weight is 20% higher than normal often suffer from an excess of estrogen hormones. The body can cope with the initial stage of excess on its own, but the further the problem goes, the more difficult it is for both the body and the woman herself, because the symptoms are not the most pleasant. Under no circumstances should you prolong the problem and seek help from specialists in a timely manner. The first alarm bells of excess female hormones include:

• pain in the stomach and head;
• long and painful menstruation;
• constant mood swings;
• the presence of bleeding between menstruation.

Symptoms of estrogen surplus can be divided into two groups: physiological and psychological.

Psychological signs of excess estrogen:

• tearfulness;
• panic attacks and constant neuroses;
• decreased performance;
• feeling of weakness and fatigue;
• hot temper;
• memory problems;
• loss of interest in sex;
• depressive states.

Among the physical indicators are:

• hair loss;
• overweight;
• gallstone health problems;
• low blood sugar;
• high blood pressure;
• darkening of the eyes;
• disturbed sleep;
• brittle nails;
• the appearance of cysts in the breasts and ovaries;
• acne;
• feeling of heaviness in the legs;
• headaches;
• swelling of the limbs;
• disrupted menstrual cycle;
• tinnitus.

An advanced stage of hormone excess is fraught with very serious health problems. Convulsions, thrombosis, thyroid dysfunction, malignant tumors of the uterus and breast appear. There are no hopeless situations and it is possible to improve your hormonal balance, but to do this you should not self-medicate and promptly seek help from a specialist.

Why is there increased estrogen in women?

There are a lot of reasons for excess estrogen in the body, but all this remains speculation, because despite the development of medicine, experts still cannot accurately answer the question of what leads to this problem.

It is generally accepted that the provocateurs of excess estrogen are:

• poor nutrition;
• interruptions in sexual relations;
• diseases of the reproductive system;
• problems with the endocrine system;
• constant overvoltage;
• formation of cysts on the ovaries;
• pathologies of the adrenal glands;
• neoplasms that independently produce estrogen;
• problems with the pituitary gland.

Often problems with estrogen levels appear not for one reason, but for a whole combination of factors. Some reasons were not mentioned here, but still they can also be attributed to the provocateur of excess sex hormones, these are:

• perinatal period;
• alcohol and tobacco abuse;
• puberty;
• long-term use of oral contraceptives.

How to lower estrogen

First of all, to lower the level of estrogen in the blood, you need to consult a doctor. He will prescribe high-quality treatment that will normalize the condition with minimal damage to the rest of the body. However, you can lower the hormone with the help of traditional medicine.

Herbs that lower estrogen levels:

• The tree of Abraham has an excellent ability to keep the hormones estrogen and progesterone at normal levels. With its help, the menstrual cycle is normalized. Taking the herb in the form of a tincture is very simple: twenty drops three times a day. The effectiveness of this method is very good, and the effect is noticeable after ten days. However, the duration of the course must be six months.
• Maca shows good results - this plant lives in Peru. It significantly reduces the amount of estrogen and increases fertility in both men and women. The dosage is 500-1,000 mg three times a day.

There are also foods that help lower estrogen levels:

• Len. Flax seeds not only have the function of reducing estrogen, they also contain a sufficient amount of phytoestrogens, which replace the natural hormone and contribute to its normalization.
• Figs A very healthy dietary product with a lot of fiber. It helps fight excess weight and eliminates fat deposits, which, by the way, have a very high estrogen content. Helps prevent breast cancer.
• Fiber. A diet high in fiber causes a decrease in estrogen in the body. There is a lot of fiber in legumes, vegetables and fruits. Fiber must be present in the daily diet of healthy people.
• Pomegranate. It is a natural anti-aromatase. Aromatase is an enzyme that converts fats and steroids into estrogen. The ability of pomegranate to block the action of these enzymes can seriously reduce the level of estrogen hormones in the body.
• Grape. Helps neutralize excess estrogen production and promotes hormonal balance.
• Citrus. Due to the high content of vitamin C, hormonal levels are normalized in the body.

In the process of reducing estrogen levels in the blood, you should be aware of foods whose consumption should either be minimized or completely eliminated from the diet. This includes anything that contains a lot of caffeine. It is worth limiting your diet, or better yet, completely stopping consuming sugar and fatty foods for a while.

Symptoms of Low Estrogen

You can understand that the level of estrogen hormones is low by the following factors:

• the presence of hot flashes (i.e., feeling hot from time to time);
• decreased sexual desire;
• sudden changes in mood;
• constant headaches;
• weight gain;
• increased heart rate.

But this is not a complete list of signs of low levels of female steroid hormones. In addition to the above, you should be wary of excessive sweating, disturbed sleep, vaginal dryness, constant bloating even with proper nutrition, the appearance of wrinkles, and the occurrence of osteoarthritis.

Symptoms are symptoms, but in no case should you make a diagnosis based on them alone. If you suspect that you have a lack of estrogen hormones, contact a specialist and take tests that will accurately show the amount of the hormone. After which the specialist will determine what to do next and, if necessary, prescribe competent treatment.

Why is there a lack of estrogen in women?

There are two main reasons why estrogen deficiency is diagnosed. First of all, this is the period of menopause and an infection of the pituitary gland. The latter regulates the amount of estrogen hormones, although they are produced in the ovaries. When the pituitary gland becomes infected, or when a woman experiences menopause (ovulation stops), hormonal levels drop significantly.

The second most common causes of estrogen deficiency are poor diet and excessive physical activity. Recently, these factors have come to the forefront and, unlike menopause and the pituitary gland, they are under the control of a woman. Poor nutrition seriously reduces the amount of hormones produced, which immediately manifests itself in corresponding symptoms. Any physical activity also inhibits the formation of hormones and lowers their levels in the body. Estrogen helps reduce muscle mass in order to give the body shape a seductive appearance. Regular exercise aimed at increasing muscle mass leads to the fact that the body produces less female sex hormones, so as not to disrupt the process of muscle growth.

As you can see, there are not many reasons why hormones decline, however, everyone faces the listed factors, and some live in such a rhythm from day to day. And is it any wonder that every year “women’s” diseases become more common.

How to increase estrogen in women

You can increase estrogen levels with the help of medications or using natural gifts. In the first case, only a doctor prescribes treatment and medications, so we will not consider this point, but will tell you how you can increase estrogen in the body without resorting to medications. It is much safer and there are almost never side effects.

Foods that increase hormones in the body:

• sunflower seeds;
• grains;
• vegetables;
• fruits.

Most of these products contain what are called phytoestrogens, which are natural analogues of estrogens. There is a misconception that proper consumption of phytoestrogens leads to normalization of estrogen production in the body. This is wrong. They can act only as auxiliary elements, but not as a provocateur of increased production. It is difficult to find a higher concentration of phytoestrogens in fruits and vegetables than in legumes, but they are the basic key to proper nutrition, which helps maintain hormonal levels in proper condition.

Phytoestrogens are found in satisfactory quantities in sweet potatoes, cassava and yams, and in just 100 g of vegetables, such as garlic, broccoli and green beans, you can count 94-600 mcg. Dried dates contain 330 mcg per hundred grams; in the same amount of dried apricots, the amount of phytohormones is already 445 mcg. A lot of these elements are found in peaches, raspberries and strawberries - 48-65 mcg per hundred grams.

Soy can be called the leader in the content of phytoestrogens; just one hundred grams of the product contains 100-900 mcg of hormones. Moreover, both tofu and soy yogurt can be used in the “treatment”. Unfortunately, now all soybeans are genetically modified, so consuming it, as well as products based on it, is very dangerous to health. Nuts can be used as an additional source; on average, 100 g of nuts contain about 380 mcg.

Some herbs perfectly normalize the level of estrogen in the body; to do this, you just need to use their decoctions and tinctures daily. Just before doing this, make sure that you are not allergic to them.

• Since ancient times, the simplest and most familiar mint has helped women fight an excess of male hormones and a lack of female hormones. With its regular use, you can notice how the vegetation on the body ceases to be so abundant, and the general condition improves. To balance the level of hormones in the female body, just two cups of mint tea a day is enough.
• The fennel plant is very rich in anethole, a naturally occurring estrogenic compound. It has a beneficial effect on the female body, reducing the symptoms of menopause, improving lactation in nursing mothers and normalizing the cycle.
• With amenorrhea, pronounced PMS, hot flashes, excessive sweating and other unpleasant symptoms, Dong Quai, which is otherwise called female ginseng, helps very well.
• Red clover is also a type of natural estrogens, which are very similar to natural hormones, but in addition to correcting hormonal levels, it is often used to treat hot flashes, heart disease and bone problems. It is recommended to consume no more than 160 mg of the product per day, while observing all safety measures. 
• There are also a lot of phytoestrogens in licorice, also known as licorice. Moreover, regular consumption of a drink from it leads to normalization of the adrenal glands and endocrine system, which means that the production of natural hormones is stimulated. The herb is suitable for menopause and for normalizing the cycle, but long-term use is not recommended, as is simultaneous use with medications to normalize blood pressure.

You can stimulate hormone production by taking certain vitamins, including:

• B vitamins. Directly affect the health of the adrenal glands and prevent vaginal dryness. These are very important components in the process of producing estrogen hormones, and very often one can observe a deficiency of this group of vitamins in the body of women with this diagnosis.
• Vitamin C. After menopause, the adrenal glands are the only place where estrogen production occurs. The mentioned vitamin greatly affects the health of the organ, therefore, with its deficiency, the functioning of the adrenal glands is disrupted and, accordingly, problems with estrogen are observed.
• Vitamin E can stimulate estrogen production, which has been proven by scientific research.