What is Estrogen? How to Increase Estrogen Hormone Levels?

Estrogen is a hormone essential for maintaining sexual and reproductive health. Its levels naturally fluctuate during a woman's menstrual cycle and decrease during menopause. Constantly high or low levels may indicate conditions requiring medical supervision. It is important for hormone levels to be stable for overall health. A healthy and balanced diet can help maintain hormone levels at normal levels.

What is Estrogen?

What are the Types of Estrogen?

There are three main forms of estrogen, produced in different tissues and with specific functions:

• Estrone (E1): The primary form produced by the body after menopause. It is typically synthesized by adipose tissue and becomes the main estrogen in women after menopause.
• Estradiol (E2): The primary form of estrogen during reproductive years. It is the most potent form. Produced by the ovaries, estradiol regulates the menstrual cycle in young women. It also affects skin health, bone density, and sexual functions in women.
• Estriol (E3): Seen during pregnancy. The placenta plays a role in its production, and it is important for the health of the mother and baby during pregnancy.

What Should the Estrogen Levels Be?

The normal levels of estradiol, the most potent form of this hormone, are:

• For premenopausal women: 30 to 400 pg/mL
• For postmenopausal women: 0 to 30 pg/mL
• For men: 10 to 50 pg/mL

However, these values may vary depending on a person’s age and health history. Levels rise and fall throughout life. Fluctuation is normal. Typically, estrogen levels in the body increase during puberty and decrease as menopause approaches. It is normal for levels to rise to prepare the body for pregnancy during ovulation. It is normal for levels to fall when pregnancy changes are not valid. If hormone levels are consistently detected at low or high levels, a doctor should monitor them.

What are the Functions of Estrogen Hormone in the Body?

As a chemical stimulant, it indicates to the body when to start and stop processes that affect sexual and reproductive health. Significant changes can be observed in the body during these processes. Some of the functions of this hormone in the body are:

• Puberty: Estrogen levels rise during puberty. This important hormone plays a role in the development of female sexual characteristics. It causes breast tissue growth, hip widening, and changes in body fat distribution during puberty. It also affects secondary sexual characteristics such as body hair and voice tone.
• Menstrual Cycle: Estrogen, along with some hormones produced in the brain and progesterone, plays an important role in the menstrual cycle. These hormones exist in a delicate balance to keep menstrual periods regular. It promotes follicular development in the ovaries and ensures the maturation of the egg. It also helps the thickening of the uterine lining (endometrium) and prepares for the implantation of the fertilized egg.
• Pregnancy and Fertility: Estrogen levels rise in women in the days before ovulation. This hormone thins the cervical mucus. Changes caused by the hormone facilitate pregnancy. It keeps the vaginal walls thick, elastic, and lubricated.
• Menopause: Levels drop during the perimenopause period just before menopause. A decrease in hormone levels can lead to symptoms such as vaginal dryness, mood changes, night sweats, and hot flashes. During menopause, your body's primary estrogen transforms from estradiol (E2) to estrone (E1).
• Supporting Bone Health: This hormone increases the mineral levels in a person's bone structure and maintains bone health. Especially after menopause, a decrease in hormone levels can cause a decrease in bone density.
• Regulating Cholesterol Metabolism: Estrogen affects cholesterol metabolism by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the blood and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels. This has a risk-reducing effect on cardiovascular diseases.
• Supporting Skin and Hair Health: Estrogen also plays a role in maintaining skin and hair health. It has a moisturizing effect on the skin, delays the formation of wrinkles, and helps keep the hair healthy.

What are the Negative Effects of Low Estrogen Levels?

Low levels of this hormone are usually a sign that women are approaching menopause. Low levels can also indicate fertility problems, nutritional deficiencies, and conditions such as Turner syndrome. The negative effects of low hormone levels can include:

• Breast tenderness
• Weak bone structure
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Irregular periods or missed periods
• Headaches
• Decreased concentration
• Fatigue, drowsiness, difficulty sleeping
• Mood changes, irritability, and depression
• Vaginal dryness

What are the Negative Effects of High Estrogen Levels?

High levels can be seen due to conditions such as polyps, fibroids, endometriosis pain, and ovarian tumors. The imbalance increase in the hormone can affect many physiological processes and lead to serious consequences. Symptoms may include:

• Breast tenderness and enlargement
• Weight gain, especially around the waist and hips
• Irregular periods
• Weight gain
• Headaches
• Risky pregnancy conditions
• Cancer risk

How to Increase Estrogen?

There are some natural methods to increase hormone levels. Exercise and diet programs under the supervision of a doctor play a big role in improving levels. Including certain foods in the daily diet can help increase levels. These foods act as phytoestrogens. Some practices that can help maintain overall health in cases related to hormone imbalances are:

• Balanced Diet: It is important to include foods that will increase the levels of this hormone in the diet under the supervision of a doctor. Foods containing phytoestrogens such as soy products, flax seeds, peas, and lentils can increase hormone levels. Also, foods containing healthy fats can support hormone production.
• Exercise: Regular exercise under the supervision of a doctor can increase hormone levels. Activities such as exercise or strength training can help maintain hormonal balance.
• Vitamin and Mineral Supplements: Some vitamins and minerals can support estrogen production. If deemed appropriate by the doctor, nutritional supplements such as especially B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, and magnesium can increase hormone levels.
• Stress Management: Stress situations encountered in people's lives can lower estrogen levels. Therefore, reducing stress and using stress management techniques can help increase hormone levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Estrogen Level Detected?

Estrogen level is usually detected by a blood test. This test allows the measurement of hormone levels in the blood sample taken. The doctor requests a blood draw, and the blood samples taken from the patient are sent to the laboratory for analysis.

Which Department Checks Estrogen Levels?

The evaluation of estrogen levels may belong to many different medical specialties depending on the cause of the discomfort. However, doctors specialized in areas such as endocrinology, gynecology, or internal medicine usually control hormone levels.

Estrogen is a critical hormone that plays a role in many important processes in the body. It plays an important role in situations such as sexual development and reproductive development in women. People with estrogen level imbalances can start treatment by making an appointment from the endocrinology, gynecology, or internal medicine departments of hospitals.