Estrogens - what is it? The female hormone estrogen. Estrogens in men

Female hormones affect not only reproductive functions, but also the general condition of a woman.

In the first period of puberty, these special substances affect the formation of the figure, the skin and other signs that make the external data of a woman more attractive. It is worth noting that even the mood and character will depend on estrogen.

During the period of extinction, when the reproductive organs become weaker, symptoms become clearly visible, indicating a decline in the level of female hormones in the blood. In some cases, it is enough to use a number of drugs that allow you to retain estrogens.

How to get rid of female disease? Irina Kravtsova shared her story of curing thrush in 14 days. In her blog, she told what drugs she took, whether traditional medicine is effective, what helped and what did not.

Such a measure will protect women from the manifestation of possible diseases that are formed due to a weak hormonal background.

What is the hormone estrogen?

A number of sex hormones are called estrogens, they exert pressure on the course of various physiological processes. There will be an impact on the development and activity of the whole body of a woman.

The main role is allocated to three of them:

The production of all the described substances fails if there is a lack of LH in the body.

The role of estrogen in a woman's life

Due to the fact that estrogens belong to the group of steroid hormones, they are responsible for growth.

In the case described, they are responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics. In order for a lady to have a beautiful figure, her body must have enough female hormones.

Estrogens promote the distribution of body fat in the right places. For this reason, the desired roundness is in the right places.

Hormones of this type should not be underestimated, as they allow you to regulate the interval between menstruation and their duration.

After all, a lack of estrogen can lead to dangerous consequences that will depress the reproductive system.

With a deviation from the norm, a girl can notice a slow development. In adolescence, the girl notes psychological depression, frequent depression. Already in adulthood, frigidity may threaten her.

Main functions

A group of female hormones is responsible for the formation of anatomical features, a more pronounced pelvis than in men and less hair on the body. This group of substances is also present in the male body, only in smaller proportions.

What are the main functions of female hormones?

Stories from our readers!
“The gynecologist advised me to take natural remedies. We opted for one drug - which helped to cope with hot flashes. It’s such a nightmare that sometimes you don’t even want to leave the house for work, but you have to ... As soon as I started taking it, it became much easier, you even feel that some kind of internal energy appeared. And I even wanted to have sexual relations with my husband again, otherwise everything was without much desire. "

Symptoms of a lack of estrogen in a woman

At different age stages, the symptoms of pathology have many differences. For this reason, it is recommended to build on the age of the patient so as not to miss the dangerous signs of a serious illness.

puberty

A decrease in an important indicator can occur even in a girl at the stage of puberty. With normal maturation, the earliest signs should be detected at the age of 12 years.

Usually this is clearly visible visually, the mammary glands begin to swell, the figure gets pleasant roundness, there is hair growth in the armpits and on the pubis.

If the child does not have these manifestations, then you should start worrying about the lack of sex hormones in the body.

Provided that parents do not pay attention to this deviation, the formation and growth of the breast can greatly slow down or stop altogether.

The main indicator of a pathological change is problems with the menstrual cycle. Usually, the first spotting is detected around the age of 13 years. The formation of the schedule occurs much later, after a few years. If a girl does not have menstruation, then her figure is more like a man's. These are pronounced shoulders, a narrowed pelvis, well-developed muscles.

When viewed by a gynecologist, the specialist will note the lack of volume of the uterus and the weak development of the patient's genitals. This is noted not only inside, but also from the outside.

We must not forget that problems with menstruation, small breasts and other symptoms of a lack of estrogen may indicate a more serious disease.

Menopause

By the age of 40, the work of the female reproductive system is impressively fading away. Therefore, the low level of estrogen can be explained by the weak work of the reproductive system. With the onset of menopause, patients experience migraines, dizziness attacks, a rapid heart rate, and excessive sweating.

With menopause in the female population, the following symptoms are distinguished:

reproductive age

Symptoms:

In any case, the lack of estrogen will necessarily affect the morale of the patient. The feeling that her attractiveness is going away will be constantly depressing. For this reason, problems arise with a partner due to increased attention to this problem.

Reasons for a decrease in the hormone

The main organs that produce estrogen are the adrenal glands. Problems with the hormonal background arise due to a number of different factors, some of which may be hereditary.

Problems in the functioning of the reproductive organs can be triggered due to:

A drop in blood estrogen can be a natural occurrence during the onset of menopause. The recovery period after removal of the ovaries or uterus with appendages is difficult. Since during this period there is an artificial interruption in the production of sex hormones.

There are a number of factors that contribute to lowering the level of estradiol. We are talking about the rhythm of life in which there is very little movement. Moreover, strong physical activity also adversely affects the work of the ovaries. This phenomenon occurs when playing sports: swimming, figure skating.

DID YOU KNOW?

The disadvantage of most drugs are side effects. Often, drugs cause severe intoxication, subsequently causing complications in the functioning of the kidneys and liver. To prevent the side effects of such drugs, we want to pay attention to special phytotampons.

In various strength disciplines, some women are required to take testosterone supplements. This will allow them to improve their results in the sports field. Provided that the male hormone is in excess, the suppression of estrogen formation is noted.

Hormonal imbalance is noted in women who suffer from anorexia or adhere to a vegetarian diet. Almost always, the development of pathology provokes several reasons.

My personal history

With premenstrual pain and unpleasant discharge, it's over!

Our reader Egorova M.A. shared experience:

It is scary when women do not know the true cause of their illnesses, because problems with the menstrual cycle can be harbingers of serious gynecological diseases!

The norm is a cycle lasting 21-35 days (usually 28 days), accompanied by menstruation lasting 3-7 days with moderate blood loss without clots. Alas, the state of gynecological health of our women is simply catastrophic, every second woman has some kind of problem.

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Diagnostics

Due to the fact that the symptoms do not differ in their specificity, it is necessary to clarify the preliminary diagnosis with the help of laboratory manipulations. For this, blood is taken from a vein for further research.

Often, a standard analysis of blood material is not enough, therefore, they additionally collect urine and find out the level of FSH. The described tests will be required after the patient's estrogen count has been determined.

It should be borne in mind that, subject to their minimum content, the follicle-stimulating hormone will also be in short supply.

Analysis for estrogen levels

Material sampling is recommended 3rd to 5th day cycle a, since during this period a peak estrogen rate was recorded.

In some cases, a second test is performed, the collection of venous blood is done on the 21st day of the menstrual cycle.

Before going for tests, it is worth following certain rules for several days.

Do not load the body with various loads, exclude food that has an excess of fat in its composition, avoid addictions.

The patient comes to the analysis early in the morning, excluding breakfast before that. It is not even recommended to drink plain water so that there is no extraneous pressure on the test result. When consuming drugs containing hormones, the patient must tell the specialist about it.

The norm of estrogen in women

The indicators of sex hormones fluctuate depending on the age of the patient:

• In girls under 11 years of age, estrogen levels should not be higher than 5-22 pg/ml.
• In reproductive age, all changes are interpreted depending on the period of the menstrual cycle. The values ​​have a huge spread, fluctuations from 12 to 190 mg / ml are quite acceptable.
• But at the onset of menopause, due to the final stage of the ovaries, estrogen will not exceed 46 mg / ml.

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Ways to increase estrogen

To improve the balance of female sex hormones, several treatment tactics can be applied. the use of any of them should be done after a complete examination of the patient.

Hormonal oral contraceptives

To date, there are quite a lot of such drugs, they produce mainly natural options, they are isolated from the urine of animals and synthetic analogues. There are many divisions into groups, these are conjugated variants or non-conjugated ones.

And also, combined pills or one-component. The tablets can be based on any of the 3 main female sex hormones.

Among the tablet options that have estrogens in their composition, one can distinguish:

• any oral contraceptives (even with the minimum dosage);
• estriol and similar capsules (Ovepol or Ovestin);
• with estradiol (Exstrofem, Proginova or Extrimax);

The choice of a drug is carried out by a specialist, independent selection is unacceptable.

Estrogen Boosting Foods

As practice has shown, not only traditional medicine and hormone therapy contribute to an increase in estradiol. If you follow the rules of the diet, you can achieve a pronounced effect. So, what foods increase the female hormone in the blood and do not give side effects?

Products:

Other products that stabilize the hormonal background and increase estradiol:

vitamin therapy

Sometimes a failure in the production of hormones occurs due to problems with providing the body with vitamins. To correct the situation, it is enough to fill the balance of the missing elements.

To stimulate estrogen perfectly fit:

Lifestyle change

You can’t do without changing your usual way of life, according to doctors, patients should change their established schedule:

With a stable hormonal background, a woman will not only have good health, but also improve her mood. It has been observed that women with good estrogen levels are more attractive and self-confident.

aromatherapy

There are doubts about this method, since the expressed effectiveness has not been noticed.

But, you should not abandon the technique, because it has a high level of safety and the effect on the body is mild.

Regular use of various essential oils helps to improve metabolic processes in the body, improves hormonal levels, and has a positive effect on the psychological state of a woman.

Often, ladies who are waiting for menopause resort to the help of aromatherapy.

Folk remedies

In alternative medicine, you can find a lot of recipes that will improve hormonal balance. In this technique, emphasis is placed on the use of a large number of herbs with a rich vitamin composition.

The most important is vitamin E, which has a stimulating effect on the ovaries. Moreover, foods fortified with vitamins C, P, B and K deserve special attention.

To normalize estrogen levels, experts advise consuming the following decoctions:

Restore the lack of estrogen will allow red clover, hibiscus and red brush plant. The use of therapeutic therapy is carried out in the second part of the menstrual cycle, this will achieve the most pronounced results.

It is worth noting that it is unacceptable to drink decoctions and simultaneously consume contraceptives or other forms to improve hormonal balance. The reason is that the results of such self-treatment can be unpredictable.

Therapy in alternative medicine does not exceed 3 months. Herbal formulations are fairly well tolerated, with the exception of individual body reactions. Before preparing a decoction, you need to consult a specialist.

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Estrogen It is a hormone that is produced both in the body of women and in the body of men. It is necessary for the health of both sexes, but for the normal functioning of the female body, much more estrogen must be produced. In some diseases and conditions (for example, during menopause), the level of estrogen in women decreases significantly.

There are 2 ways to increase estrogen levels.
I. Hormone replacement therapy using estrogen-containing drugs. However, their use is associated with the risk of developing thromboembolic diseases, breast and endometrial cancer, obesity, diabetes, gallbladder disease. Against the background of taking estrogen in the body, the amount of vitamin B-6 and magnesium decreases. However, in some situations, the use of such drugs is justified.
II. natural methods. These methods are designed to increase one's own estrogen levels through changes in diet, lifestyle, and the use of natural remedies - phytoestrogens, which are found in a number of foods, as well as herbs that have an estrogen-like effect.

So, here are 8 natural ways to boost your estrogen levels.

1. First, visit a doctor to determine your estrogen levels and determine if your problems are related to low estrogen levels. While a lack of estrogen can cause many problems, too much (or estrogen dominance) is associated with a risk of breast cancer, endometriosis, and ovarian cysts.
Normal estrogen levels in pre-menopausal women are 50-400 pg/mL. When estrogen levels are below 50 pg/ml, symptoms of estrogen deficiency may appear.

2. Eat a healthy diet by balancing your diet.

- Eat fewer foods high in sugar and simple carbohydrates.
- Choose lean meats (chicken, rabbit, turkey) and high-fiber foods.
- The diet must contain fats of animal origin, because. they contain cholesterol, which is absolutely necessary for the synthesis of hormones.
- Eat more foods that contain a lot of phytoestrogens - substances that can mimic the function of estrogen in the body. These are legumes, rye, barley, fruits (apples, pomegranate, citrus fruits, etc.) and vegetables (various types of cabbage, asparagus, carrots, parsley, petiole celery),
- Consume soy, soy milk and tofu cheese. Soy products help increase estrogen levels, because. contain large amounts of phytoestrogens.
- Include flax seeds in your diet. They are rich in lignans, a type of phytoestrogens. Flax seeds contain 75-80 times more lignans than other plant foods.
- From vegetable oils it is better to use olive, sesame and linseed oil.
- It is better to eat unrefined foods. For example, it is better to choose whole grain flour, and brown rice.
- Eat fresh, organic foods to help your body produce estrogen efficiently and naturally.

3. Drink coffee. Women who drink more than 2 cups of coffee a day have higher levels of estrogen than women who don't drink coffee at all. Use natural ground coffee to reduce your intake of pesticides and herbicides. However, you should not consume more than 200 mg of caffeine per day.

4. Physical activity is necessary, but without fanaticism. Excessive exercise contributes to a drop in estrogen levels, which is often seen in athletes. This is due to the fact that with a low level of adipose tissue in the body, androgens cannot be converted into estrogens.

5. Vitamin C, Beta-carotene, B vitamins are also helpful in increasing estrogen levels in women.
Foods rich in vitamin C: Rosehip, sweet red pepper, sea buckthorn, kiwi, currant, pomegranate, citrus fruits, Brussels sprouts.
Foods rich in carotene: Carrots, pumpkin, dried apricots, mango, sea buckthorn, sweet peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, beets.
Foods rich in B vitamins: Liver, beef, tuna, legumes, oats, turkey, brazil nuts, bananas, whole grain bread, avocado.

6. Take Cimicifuga Supplements(syn. Black cohosh, Black cohosh), Angelica (syn. Angelica, Angelica, Dong Qua), Licorice, Red clover, Raspberry leaf, Alfalfa, Evening primrose oil.

7. Limit or quit smoking altogether. Smoking negatively affects the endocrine system, reducing the body's ability to produce estrogen.

8. Do not resort to debilitating diets to reduce weight. With a sharp decrease in body weight, the level of estrogen decreases rapidly, because. the amount of adipose tissue in which estrogen is converted from androgens decreases.

Translated from Greek, "estrogens" means "liveness, brightness, kind." In general, this is the collective name of a special subclass of steroid female sex hormones. Estrogens are produced mainly in the ovaries. Experts distinguish three types of estrogen, these are estrone, estradiol and estriol. The name of the hormone came from their ability to secrete special odors in the female body, which I also call pheromones.

The norm of estrogen in women

First, a little about the 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 thanks to it a woman looks young and beautiful, full of vitality. The primary function of the female sex hormones estrogens is to ensure the quality of the reproductive function, they also support the woman in 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 estrogen in girls, the formation of secondary sexual characteristics occurs: body hair. There is a deposition of adipose tissue according to the female type, which gives the body graceful curves and features. The shape of the pelvis also acquires special forms, which in the future allow you to endure 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, maintenance, prevention of atherosclerosis. Estrogens affect the nervous system, activate the brain in a woman. Their influence is difficult to overestimate, and it is difficult to list the entire sphere of influence. But already on this it is 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 amount of estrogen is at a relatively low level, but as the dominant follicle grows and develops, so does the amount of estrogen. During this period, estrogen levels in the blood range from 5-50 pg / ml. As soon as the follicle fully matures, ruptures and the eggs are released from it, the level of estrogen becomes maximum, so 90-300 pg / ml is considered the norm for ovulation. At the end of the ovulation period, the hormone declines and its concentration is 11-115 pg / ml.

In menopause, fluctuations in estrogen are not as impressive and do not go beyond 5-45 pg / ml.

Symptoms of high estrogen

Paradoxically, but 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 the level of the estrogen hormone in a woman is normal, she is sexy, attractive, has velvety skin and a pleasant gentle voice, her emotions are bright, and her smile is radiant.

Too much estrogen is a serious problem. Women who are 20% overweight 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. In no case should you delay the problem and timely seek help from specialists. The first alarming signs of an excess of the female hormone can be called:

• pain in the abdomen and head;
• prolonged and painful menstruation;
• constant mood swings;
• bleeding between periods.

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

Psychological signs of excess estrogen:

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

Physical indicators include:

• hair loss;
• overweight;
• problems in the health of the gall;
• low blood sugar;
• high pressure;
• darkening in the eyes;
• disturbed sleep;
• brittle nails;
• the appearance of cysts in the chest and ovaries;
• acne;
• feeling of heaviness in the legs;
• pain in the head;
• swelling of the limbs;
• disturbed menstrual cycle;
• noise in ears.

The advanced stage of an excess of the hormone is fraught with very serious health problems. There are convulsions, thrombosis, thyroid dysfunction, malignant tumors of the uterus and breast. There are no hopeless situations and it is possible to adjust the hormonal background, only for this you should not self-medicate and turn to a specialist for help in a timely manner.

Why is there high 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.

• malnutrition;
• interruptions in sexual relations;
• diseases of the reproductive system;
• problems with the endocrine system;
• permanent overvoltages;
• formation of cysts on the ovaries;
• pathology 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 nevertheless they can also be attributed to provocateurs of excess sex hormones, these are:

• perinatal period;
• abuse of alcohol and tobacco;
• 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 see a doctor. He will prescribe high-quality treatment that normalizes 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 Abraham tree 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 technique is very good, and the effect is noticeable after ten days. However, the duration of the course should be six months.
• Maca shows good results - this plant lives in Peru. It significantly lowers the amount of estrogen and increases fertility in both men and women. The dose of administration is 500-1000 mg three times a day.

There are also foods that help lower estrogen levels:

• Linen. Flax seeds contain not only the function of reducing estrogen, they also contain a sufficient amount of phytoestrogens that replace the natural hormone and contribute to its normalization.
• Figs. A very useful dietary product, in which there is a lot of fiber. It helps to fight excess weight and eliminates fatty deposits, which, by the way, have a very high content of estrogens. Helps prevent breast cancer.
• Cellulose. A diet high in fiber leads to 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.
• Garnet. It is a natural natural anti-aromatase. Aromatase are enzymes that convert fats and steroids into estrogen. The ability of pomegranate to block the action of these enzymes can seriously lower 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, the hormonal background normalizes in the body.

In the process of reducing the level of estrogen in the blood, you should be aware of the products, the consumption of which should either be minimized or completely eliminated from the diet. This number includes anything that contains a lot of caffeine. It is worth limiting in the diet, but it is better to stop consuming sugar and fatty foods altogether 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. from time to time there is a feeling of heat);
• decreased sexual desire;
• sharp jumps in mood;
• persistent 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, the occurrence of osteoarthritis.

Symptoms are symptoms, however, it is impossible to diagnose yourself only on them. 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 that, the specialist will determine how to proceed further and, if necessary, prescribe competent treatment.

Why is there a lack of estrogen in women

There are two main reasons why a lack of estrogen is diagnosed. First of all - this is the period of menopause and 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 (stopping ovulation), hormone levels drop severely.

In second place, the reasons for the lack of estrogen are malnutrition and excessive exercise. Recently, these factors have come to the fore and, unlike menopause and the pituitary gland, they are subject to a woman. Poor nutrition seriously reduces the amount of hormones produced, which immediately manifests itself in the corresponding symptoms. Any physical activity also inhibits the formation of hormones and lowers their level in the body. Estrogen contributes to the reduction of muscle mass in order to give seductive features to body shapes. 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 so many reasons why hormones decline, nevertheless, everyone faces the listed factors, and some live in such a rhythm every day. And is it any wonder that every year "female" diseases are becoming more common.

How to increase estrogen in women

You can increase the level of estrogen with the help of medicines, or using natural gifts. In the first case, only a doctor prescribes treatment and medicines, so we will not consider this point, but we will talk about 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:

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

Most of these products contain what are called phytoestrogens, which are natural analogues of estrogens. There is an erroneous understanding that the correct use of phytoestrogens leads to the normalization of estrogen production in the body. This is not true. They can act only as auxiliary elements, but not as a provocateur of increased output. It is difficult to find an abundant 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.

Satisfactory amounts of phytoestrogens are found in sweet potatoes, cassava and yams, and just 100 g of vegetables, such as garlic, broccoli and green beans, can count 94-600 micrograms. In dried dates, there are 330 mcg per hundred grams, in the same amount of dried apricots, the amount of phytohormones is already 445 mcg. Many of these elements are found in peaches, raspberries and strawberries - 48-65 micrograms per hundred grams.

The leader in the content of phytoestrogens can be called soy, only one hundred grams of the product contains 100-900 micrograms of hormones. And in the "treatment" can be used and tofu and soy yogurt. Unfortunately, now all soy is genetically modified, so consuming it, like products based on it, is very dangerous for health. Nuts can be used as an additional source, on average, about 380 mcg per 100 g of a nut.

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

You can stimulate the production of hormones by taking certain vitamins, which include:

• Vitamins of group B. Directly affect the health of the adrenal glands, do not allow vaginal dryness. These are very important components in the process of producing estrogen hormones, and very often one can observe a lack 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 is produced. The mentioned vitamin greatly affects the health of the organ, therefore, if it is lacking, the functioning of the adrenal glands is disrupted and, accordingly, problems with estrogen are observed.
• Vitamin E can stimulate the production of estrogen, which has been proven by scientific studies.

Health ecology: Estrogen is essential for the proper functioning of the body. When all hormones are balanced, the body works as it should, but with an excess of hormones, various problems arise. Despite the fact that estrogen is known as the "female" hormone, its excess negatively affects men as well.

Why Excess Estrogen Occurs

Estrogen is essential for the proper functioning of the body. When all hormones are balanced, the body works as it should, but with an excess of hormones, various problems arise. Despite the fact that estrogen is known as the "female" hormone, its excess negatively affects men as well.

In women, estrogen is produced in the ovaries, and in pathological conditions, it is often produced by fat cells, the placenta, liver, adrenal glands, brain, and muscles. It is responsible for the menstrual cycle, the development of secondary sexual characteristics, and even bone formation.

Together with calcium and vitamin D, it restores bones, so its level decreases significantly with age.

Estrogen also affects the thickness and strength of the vaginal walls, blood clotting, stimulates the production of vaginal lubrication and many other bodily functions, affecting the pelvic muscles, hair and skin.

Throughout life, a woman's hormonal levels are constantly changing.: From puberty to pregnancy to menopause. A decrease in estrogen production occurs with the onset of menopause, leading to symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and loss of sex drive.

What happens when the body produces too much estrogen?

Possible causes of excess estrogen:

Estrogen levels rise with the onset of puberty and pregnancy. But sometimes excess estrogen appears in the normal period of life.

There are only two reasons for the accumulation of estrogen in the body: either the body itself produces too much of it, or we get it from the environment and food.

If estrogen levels are high compared to other hormones, then the condition is often referred to as estrogen dominance because one hormone dominates the others. A common disorder is estrogen dominance over progesterone, another hormone that also regulates the menstrual cycle.

Surprisingly, the accumulation of excess estrogen is not too difficult to explain, since we are constantly exposed to estrogen-like compounds in foods containing toxic pesticides, herbicides, and growth hormones.

Many of the everyday household products we use, including plastics such as BPA, detergents, cosmetics, furniture and carpeting, contain endocrine disruptors, chemicals that mimic estrogen.

These toxins lead to weight gain, which serves as an incentive to produce more estrogen from our own fat cells.

Pharmaceutical hormones that are used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) also lead to excess estrogen, whether we take them ourselves or drink them from drinking water.

Be aware that there are also foods that are high in certain types of phytoestrogens, such as soy.

There are other causes of excess estrogen, including:

Excessive alcohol consumption;

Stress;

Medications;

Diabetes;

High blood pressure;

Obesity;

Heart diseases.

With all this in mind, it's no surprise that the alarming rates of estrogen dominance in recent statistics show that more than 50% of women aged 35 and over suffer from excess estrogen.

Let's look at some signs of estrogen dominance:

1) You are gaining weight, although you have not changed your lifestyle

You don't overeat, you don't lie on the couch all day. But you still gain weight for no reason, especially in the pelvic area - this is one of the main symptoms of excess estrogen.

You also often suffer from bloating and cannot lose weight even if you significantly cut calories, eat healthy food and exercise regularly. All this is because the body cannot balance the hormonal background, because only then will you lose weight and be able to maintain your ideal weight.

2) You have an irregular menstrual cycle

There are many reasons why menstruation comes early or late, and high estrogen levels are one of them. If your cycle is always on schedule and suddenly becomes erratic (except during pregnancy), it may be due to excess estrogen.

The menstrual period is carefully controlled by hormones and with an increase in the level of one beyond the norm, the whole process goes astray.

3) Your breasts are too sensitive or swollen

Many women experience breast changes during their monthly cycle and also during pregnancy. The breast is very sensitive to hormonal changes. If your breasts are sore, especially around the nipples and front of your breasts, or if you notice that they are more swollen than usual, then you need to check your estrogen levels.

4) Mammary glands hurt

With an excess of estrogen and a low level of progesterone, the breast acquires the so-called fibrocystic condition. It becomes sensitive and even painful, usually on the upper or side of the chest. With these signs, immediately consult a doctor to avoid the appearance of a tumor and other changes in the breast.

5) You are too emotional

Estrogen affects many systems in our body. Mental state and emotions are no exception. You probably experienced imbalance and agitation during PMS. Such drastic mood changes are due to hormones. With an excess of estrogen, women experience depression, panic attacks, anxiety, inexplicable anger, and more.

6) You have frequent headaches

Women are more prone to headaches and migraines due to their reproductive system and fluctuating estrogen levels. With a strong deviation of estrogen from progesterone, headaches often develop.

Many factors influence the development of headaches, including genetics and diet, but in women, excess estrogen is a major contributing factor to chronic headaches and menstrual migraines.

Before puberty, migraines occur approximately equally in both boys and girls, but after puberty they occur with a frequency of 3:1 towards girls.

7) Your hair is falling out

Many people think that men are more prone to hair loss, but this is not true. With an excess of estrogen and a lack of progesterone, women lose hair no less than men. But do not rush to blame hormones for everything. It all depends on how much hair you have lost and for how long.

Noticeable hair loss depends on a number of factors: genetic predisposition, lifestyle, diet, and overall health, whether or not you take steps to address the problem.

8) "Girl's Memory"

Do you know this funny expression? If you notice that your memory is failing much more often than before, such as losing your car keys often, leaving your phone at work, then this may be the fault of estrogen.

Low estrogen levels are often linked to Alzheimer's disease and memory loss, but scientists have found that excess estrogen also leads to memory difficulties, although the exact cause of this phenomenon is not yet known.

9) You suffer from insomnia

Estrogen is a stimulant for the brain, in fact, this hormone can be considered an exotoxin. Therefore, women who take a lot of estrogen experience terrible depression and insomnia after abruptly stopping the intake.

One of the signs of excess estrogen in women is the inability to stop, whether it's work, sports, or just talking.

Even moderate estrogen dominance causes sleep problems, because an excess of this hormone reduces the production of melatonin. So if you have a lot of estrogen and not enough progesterone (a hormone that helps to calm down), then you are guaranteed insomnia.

10) You feel exhausted

Lack of sleep easily leads to feeling completely exhausted. Of course, in such a busy world, with many of us facing a long list of responsibilities each day, many get tired, but that doesn't always mean estrogen dominance.

If you notice that you get tired much more often than usual, you experience some of the other symptoms that we talked about, you may indeed have excess estrogen.

Know that estrogen dominance increases the risk of serious medical problems, including high blood pressure, depression, uterine, breast and endometrial cancer, and endometriosis.

Another important detail: the level of estrogen must be monitored from time to time, because its level fluctuates constantly.

What can we do to bring estrogen back to normal?

Limit your alcohol intake.

Since the liver is responsible for the metabolism of estrogen, it must be carefully taken care of. Alcohol impairs liver function, which can cause estrogen to build up.

Drinking more than one alcoholic drink a day in women increases the risk of breast cancer.

Eat organic foods.

Non-organic foods contain a variety of pesticides and chemicals, including those that act like estrogen in the body or endocrine disruptors. Buy natural products more often so that your body does not absorb hormones, antibiotics and chemicals.

Eat more fiber.

Insoluble fiber binds to excess estrogen in the digestive tract and is then excreted from the body. Fiber also influences the composition of gut bacteria and reduces the accumulation and re-absorption of free-floating estrogen. Good sources of fiber include fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and dried beans.

Eat more probiotics.

An imbalance of healthy bacteria, known as probiotics, and "bad" or unhealthy bacteria can not only compromise digestion, but also prevent excess estrogen from being properly removed from the body in the digestive tract.

Eat more probiotic foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, and kombucha, or take a probiotic supplement.

Weak phytoestrogenic foods.

These foods counteract the effect of excess estrogen: flaxseed, oats, barley, pears, berries, and apples.

Follow a balanced diet.

All essential vitamins and minerals help balance hormone levels. The body needs adequate amounts of vitamin B6, magnesium, zinc, and several other nutrients to support normal hormone levels and enzymes that balance testosterone and estrogen.

Essential oil of rosemary.

It is believed that this oil can control estrogen levels by stimulating blood flow to the brain, encouraging proper thyroid function, and boosting the immune system.

This powerful antioxidant stimulates hair growth, improves memory, and eases muscle pain, which means it can combat some of the symptoms of estrogen dominance as well.

100% pure rosemary oil even affects the inert estrogen hormones. Rutgers University experts evaluated the effects of rosemary extract in laboratory mice and found that a diet with 2% rosemary oil increased liver microsomal oxidation and glucuronidation, a process associated with xenobiotic metabolism.

This was especially reflected in estradiol and estrone in the uterus. Estradiol is considered an aggressive form of estrogen.

Avoid exposure to xenoestrogens.

Xenoestrogens mimic the effects of estrogen and are found in cosmetics, plastics, birth control pills, and other products. Limit your exposure to these harmful substances.

Control stress.

Excessive stress leads to higher production of estrogen in the body. Stress decreases progesterone and increases the stress hormone cortisol, which often leads to an excess of estrogen. published

Hormonal imbalance in women can occur at different ages, and most often, patients complain of symptoms that indicate an increased level of estrogen in the body. But women also turn to them about the deterioration of their condition against the background of low estrogen levels, and most often the patients are already in the menopause period or immediately after the birth of a child.

In principle, doctors cannot name any one specific cause of the condition under consideration, but several provoking factors have been identified in the course of research. These include:

• hormonal disorders during childbearing and in the postpartum period;
• irregular sexual relations;
• diseases, pathologies of internal organs of the chronic form of the course;
• - a condition in which a woman leads a sedentary lifestyle;
• regular violation of the diet;
• long-term use of GnRH antagonists;
• permanent;
• , discouragement;
• independent choice and intake of hormonal drugs - in this case, they are taken according to the wrong scheme and only harm the body;
• natural changes at;
• courses of chemotherapy in the treatment of severe diseases of the reproductive system.

Most often, not one of the listed factors leads to a decrease in the level of estrogen in a woman's body, but a combination of several at once. Therefore, the doctor, when a patient is diagnosed with the condition in question, necessarily conducts a full examination - only by accurately finding out the cause of the decrease in estrogen, it will be possible to undergo effective treatment.

Symptoms of a lack of estrogen in the body

In general, the symptoms of the condition under consideration cannot be called characteristic - they are rather general and may indicate the development of other pathologies. But still, doctors identify a number of signs of a decrease in estrogen levels in women:

1. The vagina is completely lubricated which is necessary for normal sexual intercourse. That is, a woman experiences sexual desire, is excited, but the lubricant does not appear.
2. Often appearing colpitis, vaginitis and other inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system. Moreover, every time a woman undergoes a full course of treatment, adheres to the recommended rules for prevention, but the disease still returns, turning into a chronic form of the course.
3. Menstrual irregularities. This symptom is very conditional, because if we are talking about a decrease in estrogen levels in women over the age of 40, then it can be perceived as a natural condition during menopause.
4. Changes in the condition of the skin. A woman may note that the skin of the face, hands and neck has become drier, often flaky, and red spots appear on it periodically.
5. Violations of the psycho-emotional background. We are talking about a sharp change in mood, unmotivated irritability, and occasional insomnia. This, of course, can be "written off" for the menopause, but an experienced doctor will definitely pay attention to this moment.

Often, a decrease in the level of estrogen in a woman is accompanied by memory impairment, hot flashes and pain in the lower abdomen during menstrual bleeding.

If the condition in question develops in a young teenage girl, the following symptoms will be noted:

• lack of breast growth;
• breast reduction in the event that the growth of the mammary glands has already occurred;
• absence of menstruation.

When examining a young girl, the doctor can determine the decrease in the size of the uterus, and this fact will certainly affect the woman's future ability to become a mother.

Note:only by these symptoms it is impossible to accurately say about the decrease in the level of estrogen in a woman, so the doctor will definitely prescribe a laboratory blood test for hormone levels as part of the diagnosis.

Ways to increase estrogen levels

As a rule, with the condition under consideration, the doctor prescribes a complex treatment for the patient - both medication and corrective. Everything is selected on a strictly individual basis, but there are general recommendations:

1. Normalization of physical activity. A woman with a low level of estrogen must definitely go in for physical education, and it is not at all necessary to set Olympic records for this - swimming in the pool, visiting the gym, morning exercises and running will be quite enough. A doctor in physical therapy or a trainer in a sports complex will help you choose a competent and effective set of exercises.
2. Reception of vitamin complexes. Most often, the condition under consideration implies a lack of vitamins in the body, so the doctor will prescribe a course of taking drugs with vitamins C, groups B and E.
3. Power correction. Be sure a woman will have to follow a diet - the menu is selected by the attending physician, you may need to consult a nutritionist. Legumes, sesame oil, flax seeds, red grapes, coffee, tomatoes, dairy products, carrots, and fish oil should be included in the diet. From these products, a rational, balanced menu is compiled that will help naturally increase the level of estrogen in the body.
4. Stabilization of sexual life. To normalize the level of estrogen, a woman must have constant sexual relations, otherwise depression may develop, and the level of estrogen will not increase.

As for drug therapy, it is selected on a strictly individual basis - in the condition under consideration, a woman is prescribed hormone replacement therapy. Most often, specialists make the following appointments:

• drugs based on synthetic estrogen - Hormoplex, Ovepol, Estrogel, Hormoplex, Ovestin and Proginova;
• products containing progesterone and estriol - Ovidon, Novinet, Tri-Regol, Janet, Mercilon and others.