What is Estrogen? How to Increase Estrogen Hormone?

Estrogen is a hormone necessary to maintain sexual and reproductive health. Hormone levels naturally fluctuate during a woman’s menstrual cycle. During menopause, their levels decrease. Consistently high or low levels may indicate conditions that require medical attention. It is important for people’s general health that their hormone levels do not fluctuate and are balanced. A healthy and balanced eating habit can help keep hormone levels at normal levels.

What is Estrogen?

Estrogen is a steroid hormone associated with the female reproductive organs. This important hormone plays a role in the development of women’s sexual characteristics. It is often called estrone, estradiol and estriol. Alongside progesterone, it plays an important role in reproductive health. This hormone works by binding to special cellular receptors called estrogen receptors. These receptors are located in the nuclei of cells and initiate a series of biochemical reactions when estrogen binds to them. It functions in the development of women’s sexual characteristics, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.

What are the Types of Estrogen?

There are three main forms of estrogen. These three types are produced in different tissues and have specific functions:

• Oyster (E1): It is the primary form the body produces after menopause. It is usually synthesized by adipose tissue and becomes the main estrogen in postmenopausal women.
• Estradiol (E2): It is the primary form of estrogen in the body during the reproductive years. It is the strongest form. It is produced by the ovaries and controls the menstrual cycle of young women. Additionally, estradiol also affects skin health, bone density, and sexual function in women.
• Estriol (E3): It is seen during pregnancy. The placenta takes part in the production of hormones and plays an important role in the health of the mother and baby during pregnancy.

What should be the estrogen value?

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

• 30 to 400 pg/mL for premenopausal women
• 0 to 30 pg/m for postmenopausal women
• 10 to 50 pg/mL in men

However, these values ​​may vary depending on the person’s age and health history. Levels rise and fall throughout life. Fluctuation is normal. Estrogen levels in the body usually increase during puberty and decrease as menopause approaches. It is normal for levels to rise during ovulation so that the body can prepare itself for pregnancy. It is normal for levels to decrease during the period when pregnancy changes are not valid. When the hormone value is constantly detected at low levels or high levels, it requires control by a doctor.

What are the Functions of Estrogen Hormone in the Body?

It is a chemical stimulant and tells the body when to start and stop processes that affect sexual and reproductive health. Significant changes can be seen in the body during these processes. Some functions of this hormone in the body:

• Puberty: Estrogen levels rise during puberty. This important hormone plays a role in the development of female gender characteristics. It enables breast tissue to grow, hips to widen and body fat distribution to change during adolescence. It also affects secondary sex characteristics such as body hair and voice tone.
• Menstrual cycle: Estrogen, as well as progesterone and certain hormones produced in your brain, also play an important role in the menstrual cycle. These hormones coexist in a delicate balance to keep menstrual periods regular. It promotes follicle development of the ovaries and ensures egg maturation. It also helps thicken the lining of the uterus (endometrium) and prepare it for implantation of the fertilized egg.
• Pregnancy and fertility: In the days before ovulation, hormone levels rise in women. This hormone thins cervical mucus. Changes caused by the hormone make it easier to get pregnant. It keeps the vaginal walls thick, elastic and lubricated.
• Menopause: Levels drop during the perimenopause period just before menopause. Decreased hormone levels can lead to symptoms such as vaginal dryness, mood swings, night sweats and hot flushes. During menopause, the primary estrogen in your body changes from estradiol (E2) to estrone (E1).
• Supporting bone health: This hormone increases mineral levels in people’s bone structure and protects bone health. The decrease in hormone levels, especially after menopause, can cause bone density to decrease.
• Regulation of cholesterol metabolism: Estrogen affects cholesterol metabolism, lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood. This has a reducing effect on the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• Supporting skin and hair health: Estrogen also plays a role in maintaining skin and hair health. It has a moisturizing effect especially on the skin, delays the formation of wrinkles and keeps the hair healthy.

What Are the Negative Effects of Low Estrogen Levels?

Low levels of this hormone are often a sign that women are approaching menopause. Low levels can also indicate fertility problems, nutritional deficiencies, Turner syndrome, etc. Negative effects of low hormone levels may include:

• Tenderness in breasts
• poor bone structure
• hot flashes
• night sweats
• Irregular menstrual periods or amenorrhea
• Headache
• 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, ovarian tumors. An unbalanced increase in the hormone can affect many physiological processes and lead to serious consequences. Symptoms may include:

• Breast tenderness and enlargement
• Weight gain, especially in the waist and hip area
• Irregular menstrual periods
• weight gain
• headaches
• Risky pregnancy situations
• 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 major role in improving the levels. Including certain foods in the daily diet can help increase their levels. These foods act as phytoestrogens. Here are some practices that will help maintain overall health in conditions associated with hormone imbalances:

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, flaxseeds, peas, and lentils, can increase hormone levels. Additionally, foods containing healthy fats can also support hormone production.

Exercise: Regular exercise under doctor supervision can increase hormone levels. Activities such as exercises or strength training can help maintain hormone balance.

Vitamin and mineral supplements: Some vitamins and minerals can support estrogen production. If deemed appropriate by the doctor, nutritional supplements, especially vitamin B group, vitamin C, vitamin D and magnesium, can increase hormone levels.

Stress management: Stress situations that people encounter in their lives can reduce estrogen levels. Therefore, reducing stress and using stress management techniques can help increase hormone levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Detect Estrogen Level?

Estrogen levels are usually determined by a blood test. This test takes a blood sample and measures hormone levels in the laboratory. The doctor requests a blood draw and the blood samples taken from the patient are sent to the laboratory for analysis.

Which Department Checks the Estrogen Level?

Evaluation of estrogen levels can often fall within many different medical specialties, depending on the cause of the condition. However, usually doctors who specialize in fields such as endocrinology, gynecology or internal medicine check hormone levels.

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