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Worried your estrogen levels are off? It’s worth looking into. Estrogen is a sex hormone that has a major role in fertility. In fact, you can’t get pregnant without it!
Estradiol is a type of estrogen that’s crucial during the reproductive years. Without enough, ovulation and implantation can’t happen.
Wondering what your estradiol levels should be? Keep reading. We’ll share handy estradiol level charts and explain how your age and menstrual cycle affect this hormone.
What is estradiol?
Estradiol is a form of the hormone estrogen. But it’s not the only one. There are three types of estrogen:
- Estrone (E1) is made by your adrenal glands, fat cells, and ovaries. It’s the weakest type of estrogen and the main one made post-menopause.
- Estradiol (E2) is the main estrogen made during a female’s reproductive years–and the most potent form. It’s made by the ovarian follicles.
- Estriol (E3) is the significant form of estrogen during pregnancy. It’s produced by the baby’s placenta.
Estrogen may be dubbed a female sex hormone–but both men and women need it. Males just make it much smaller amounts.
Estradiol plays a key role in reproductive health and helps regulate the menstrual cycle. But it also affects your bones, heart, skin health, and nervous system.
So when estradiol levels get too high–or too low–it can throw off many parts of your body.
Why is estradiol measured?
For women, there are loads of reasons to check estradiol, including:
- Period problems. If you’re missing periods or having infrequent periods, your doctor may check your estradiol levels.
- Fertility issues. Estradiol needs to be in the right range for successful ovulation and implantation. If it’s too high or too low, it can make it tough to get pregnant.
- In vitro fertilization. Estradiol levels are monitored during the ovarian induction phase of IVF. This helps find the right dosage of fertility meds to increase the chances of IVF success.
- Early or delayed puberty. If a female develops earlier or later than normal, their doctor may do estradiol testing.
Menopause. If you’re having menopausal symptoms like hot flashes your doctor may check your estradiol or estrone. - Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Postmenopausal women may have estradiol or estrone testing before starting HRT to find the right dosage.
Estradiol levels charts
Estradiol levels fluctuate throughout your life. In women, it rises during puberty and pregnancy and falls as you approach menopause.
If you take a blood test, here’s what normal estradiol levels should look like:
- Premenopausal women: 30 to 400 pg/mL
- Postmenopausal women: 0 to 30 pg/mL
- Men: 10 to 50 pg/mL
As you can see, the range for what’s ‘normal’ in premenopausal women is huge. That’s because estrogen levels shift depending on your menstrual cycle phase.
Normal estradiol levels in females
Here’s a peek at how estradiol changes throughout your cycle:
The follicular phase is the first half of your cycle or the time between the start of your period and ovulation. In the early follicular phase, estradiol is low.
But in your mid-follicular phase, estradiol shoots up. As it peaks, it causes luteinizing hormone (LH) to surge. This triggers ovulation.
Once the egg is released, estradiol falls. It rises again in the mid-luteal phase and then drops back as your cycle ends.
The chart above shows what estradiol levels should look like on a blood test. But in case you take a urine test, this estradiol level chart should help:
Measuring your urine estrogen levels is also helpful when you’re tracking your fertility. Estrogen rises around 3-4 days before ovulation and marks the beginning of your fertile window. So an increase in estrogen levels can tell you when to have sex if you’re trying to conceive.
The Inito Fertility Monitor tracks LH, estrogen, PdG (a metabolite of progesterone), and FSH, all on a single test strip to track your fertile window and confirm ovulation. You get quick results in our easy-to-use app and personalized charts to help you understand your hormone patterns better. It’s like having your own personal hormone lab at your fingertips.
Normal estrogen levels by age
This chart should give you a better idea of how estradiol levels shift with age:
Estrogen levels also vary depending on what phase of life you’re in. During puberty, rising estrogen levels cause the body to change. The breasts start developing and menstruation begins.
Estrogen stays steady for most of your reproductive years.
But as women approach menopause, estradiol levels begin falling. This is because ovarian reserve declines as women age. Ovarian reserve is how many healthy, immature eggs are left in your ovaries.
Remember, your ovarian follicles are what make estradiol. So as that pool of follicles shrinks, your estradiol levels do too. This is totally normal and part of the cycle of life.
Once all follicles are gone, the ovaries stop secreting estradiol. This leads to a steep drop in estrogen. Ovulation then stops and menopause begins.
Normal estradiol levels during pregnancy
Here’s a look at how estradiol levels change throughout pregnancy:
During pregnancy, estradiol levels soar. As it rises, it increases blood flow to your uterine tissues and delivers oxygen and nutrients to your fetus.
Estrone and estriol also help with this. But estradiol has the most potent effects.
Estradiol may also play a role in maintaining pregnancy. Studies show women with low estradiol levels are more likely to have a miscarriage.
Learn more: Healthy Estrogen Level for Pregnancy: Why It’s Important
How to measure estradiol levels?
You can take a blood test or urine test to check your estradiol levels. Here’s how the two differ:
- Blood test: Estradiol blood testing is done in a doctor’s office. Your healthcare provider introduces a needle into your vein to collect a small blood sample. It’s then sent off to a lab.
- 24-hour urine test: As you may have guessed, this involves collecting all your pee for 24 hours. Your doctor gives you collection instructions and a special container to store your urine. You then return the sample to your doctor’s office or a lab and wait for the results.
What if my estradiol level is too high?
While your body needs estrogen to stay healthy, having too much can pose problems and lead to a host of symptoms. 
High estrogen symptoms include:
- Breast tenderness or fibrocystic lumps in your breasts
Irregular cycles - Heavy bleeding
- Acne
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Low libido
- Depression
If estrogen levels stay elevated for too long, it could increase the risk of certain kinds of cancer. These include breast cancer, uterine cancer, and endometrial cancer.
So what causes estradiol to get too high? Here are a few culprits:
- Poor liver health. Your liver detoxifies hormones like estrogen. If your liver isn’t functioning well, it’ll have a harder time metabolizing excess levels of estrogen.
- Alcohol. Alcohol consumption can increase estrogen levels. This is because when you drink your liver breaks down the alcohol first, which can interfere with estrogen detox.
- Xenoestrogens. Some chemicals like BPA, phthalates, and PBCs mimic estrogen in your body. These are known as xenoestrogens. Being exposed to too many xenoestrogens may cause your estrogen levels to rise.
- Being overweight or obese. Your fat cells produce estradiol. The more extra body fat you have, the higher your estrogen levels tend to be.
- Health conditions. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and uterine fibroids can all cause high estrogen.
- Hormone replacement therapy. If you’re on HRT and your dosage isn’t right for your body, it may lead to elevated estrogen levels.
Treatment for high estrogen varies depending on the underlying cause.
Know more: What Causes High Estrogen Levels?
What if my estradiol level is too low?
Low estrogen levels can also disrupt the body and trigger a wide range of symptoms.
Signs of low estrogen include:
- Headaches
- Moodiness
- Fatigue
- Trouble concentrating
- Vaginal dryness
- Decreased sex drive
- Hot flashes or night sweats
- Weak or brittle bones
- Weight gain
- Irregular periods or no periods
- Insomnia
Here are a few things that can cause estrogen to get too low:
- Menopause. Once you hit menopause, your ovaries stop making estradiol.
- Primary ovarian insufficiency. This causes the ovaries to stop functioning before age 40. Just like menopause, this can reduce your estrogen levels.
- Eating disorders. Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia can cause malnutrition. And when your body’s low on nutrients it can’t make hormones as well.
- Drastic weight loss. As mentioned, your fat cells make estrogen. If you lose a lot of body fat quickly, this can interfere with estrogen production.
- Autoimmune disorders. Some autoimmune conditions can attack the ovaries. This can cause your estrogen levels to drop.
Your body needs estrogen for ovulation and successful implantation. So if you’re running low on estrogen, it can make it difficult to get pregnant.
The good news is you can increase your estrogen levels with some simple lifestyle shifts. If you need more of a boost, estrogen replacement therapy is also an option.
How to balance estradiol levels
Here are some ways to support healthy estrogen levels:
Eat a hormone-friendly diet
What you put on your plate affects your hormone health. To keep your estrogen levels healthy, try limiting processed foods. Instead, eat plenty of high-fiber foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, and legumes. Fiber supports digestion, which helps your body excrete excess estrogen in your poop.
Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, kale, and cauliflower can be especially helpful. They contain a compound called sulforaphane, which may boost estrogen detox. Eating soy products like tofu, edamame, and miso may also help. Soy foods are rich in isoflavones, a plant compound that mimics estrogen in the body.
Bump up omega 3s
Omega-3 fatty acids lower inflammation, which can throw off hormones. Try eating more omega-3-rich foods like salmon, sardines, walnuts, and chia seeds. Or consider taking a fish oil supplement for an extra boost.
Limit alcohol
Alcohol makes your liver work overtime, which can disrupt estrogen detox. To keep your liver and estrogen levels healthy, try reducing your alcohol intake. Consider ordering a delicious mocktail instead!
Avoid xenoestrogens
Ditching plastics is a simple way to lighten your xenoestrogen load. Swap out plastic water bottles and food containers for porcelain, glass or stainless steel. And if possible, opt for organic foods and natural personal care products to cut down your xenoestrogen exposure.
Maintain a healthy weight
Your fat cells produce estrogen. So if you have excess body fat–or not enough– your estrogen levels can get out of whack. Weight loss or weight gain can feel daunting. So if you need guidance, consider working with a nutritionist.
Keep a lid on stress
When you’re stressed, your body amps up the production of the hormone cortisol. High cortisol levels can imbalance other hormones, including estrogen.
To help estrogen stay balanced, carve out time for regular stress relief. Yoga, meditation, and deep breathing are all tried and true stress-busters. Be sure you’re getting plenty of sleep too. Lack of sleep can elevate cortisol and trigger other hormone imbalances.
Get regular exercise
Exercise does it all. It lowers cortisol, improves sleep quality, and reduces body fat. Plus, it helps the body metabolize estrogen. Just don’t overdo it. Too much exercise can have the opposite effect and disrupt hormones. Aim for 20-30 minutes of moderate exercise most days.
Takeaways
- Estradiol is the most potent form of estrogen made during a woman’s reproductive years.
- Estradiol is usually measured during fertility testing and in vitro fertilization. But it’s also checked for other reasons, like period problems, puberty issues, menopause, or hormone replacement therapy.
- You can ask your doctor for an estradiol blood test or urine test to check your levels. Or you can measure estrogen from home with Inito.
- For premenopausal women, estradiol levels should be between 30 to 400 pg/mL. Levels will fluctuate depending on the phase of your cycle.
- Estradiol levels take a steep dive after menopause to 0 to 30 pg/mL.
- Estradiol levels skyrocket during pregnancy to support implantation and nourish the developing baby.
- Stress, alcohol, poor diet, being overweight or underweight, and xenoestrogens can make estrogen get out of balance.
- Health conditions like autoimmune disorders, PCOS, and endometriosis can also imbalance estradiol.
- You can support healthy estrogen levels by making dietary and lifestyle shifts. Eating a high-fiber diet, reducing stress, and regular exercise can all help your estradiol stay in a healthy range.
FAQs
On a blood test, normal estrogen levels should be between 20-350 pg/mL in the follicular phase. On a urine test, 0-13 mcg/mL is the norm.
Normal estrogen levels for postmenopausal women are between 0-30 pg/mL. But if you’re on hormone therapy, they’ll likely be higher.
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- Estradiol (Blood) – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester Medical Center
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- Endocrinology of Pregnancy – Endotext – NCBI Bookshelf
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- Adipose tissue estrogen production and metabolism in premenopausal women – ScienceDirect
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- Moderate alcohol consumption and estrogen levels in postmenopausal women: a review
- Role of Sex Hormone Levels and Psychological Stress in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Diseases – PMC
- The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Estrogen Metabolism in Healthy Premenopausal Women – PMC
