High Estrogen vs. Low Estrogen Symptoms: An Overview

And just FYI, men have estrogen too. Regardless of their age, their levels are usually below 40 pg/ml. 

Your estrogen levels will vary throughout your cycle. And they are highest when you are pregnant. This is because estrogen plays a huge role during reproduction. But during your typical menstrual cycle, levels can change quite a bit. 

And what is “normal” for one woman won’t be quite the same for another woman, either. So just keep that in mind. Try not to get bogged down in comparing your baseline to others’. 

Maintain a healthy weight

Consuming a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight both help with managing estrogen levels. Keeping a healthy weight also just helps with your overall well-being and fertility in general. 

To manage your weight, consider doing the following:

• Switch to a vegetarian or Mediterranean diet
• Consume isoflavones like soy and flaxseeds
• Choose cruciferous vegetables like kale and broccoli
• Consume more fiber and anti-inflammatory foods like ginger
• Take a liver-supporting supplement like milk thistle
• Increase omega-3 fatty acid intake
  
  

Adopt healthy habits

Healthy habits like getting enough sleep and lowering stress also aid in estrogen balance. Too much stress can result in increased cortisol levels. Cortisol is another one of your body’s hormones. And too much of it can actually cause estrogen levels to decrease. 

To manage stress levels, try practicing mindfulness, yoga, deep breathing, and moderate exercises. Not getting enough sleep consistently also elevates your stress and cortisol levels. So make it a priority to get a good night’s rest whenever possible. 

Avoid harmful substances

Avoid consuming alcohol when you are trying to conceive as this can lead to weight gain and stress. And do your best to stay away from xenoestrogens (synthetic estrogens). 

These are chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body causing estrogen levels to unnaturally increase. 

Xenoestrogens are found in many plastics and even some cosmetic products (like shampoos). Any of the following on food labels could indicate the presence of xenoestrogens: phthalates, BPA, PBC, parabens. Check the labels on your foods and cosmetics for these chemicals. 

Supplementation/hormone replacement therapy

Some of the natural balancing remedies outlined above may work for you. But you can also talk to your doctor about medical supplements and treatments. 

The following can be used to help with managing high estrogen levels:

• (GnRH) Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists: these stop your ovaries from secreting estrogen. 
• Aromatase inhibitors: these not only help treat breast cancer, but they also keep fat cells from releasing estrogen.

If you need additional treatment for low estrogen levels, your doctor may have you consider hormone replacement therapy. 

This approach is still controversial. Some believe it can increase the risk for breast cancer and heart disease. However, the FDA does approve the use of estrogens for symptoms of menopause. 

One study found that for patients with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), pre-treatment with estrogen led to successful conception. They also found that estrogen treatment yielded better IVF outcomes.