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Understanding Estrogen Levels.
The estrogen level in the body does affect the body’s ability to function at its best and levels that are too high or too low each bring their own problems.
The question is what should the estrogen level be?
Firstly, it must be explained that the estrogen level is measured in parts pg/ml of estradiol.
For a woman that is at reproductive age the estradiol levels will range from 50-400pg/ml during a normal monthly cycle. Prior to ovulation the estrogen level peaks and then drops sharply. It is this drop that helps to trigger the ovulation process.
After ovulation, in anticipation of fertilization, the progesterone levels will begin to rise. Should pregnancy not occur within 10 to 12 days after ovulation the progesterone and estrogen level will fall and the cycle starts all over again.
Women who are experiencing menopause will generally have an estrogen level range of 10-20pg/ml. Any ranges of level under 100pg/ml can be a signal of perimenopauses and is also associated with night sweats and hot flashes.
There is a thought that having a low level of estrogen can have some benefits including, less of a risk of cancer and the reduction in the need for estrogen replacement following menopause. Women who already have a lower estrogen level have less of a transition when menopause takes over.
However, you need to keep a healthy estrogen level to maintain good strong bone health.
By the same token some types of breast cancer can be fueled if your estrogen level is high.
This is where complications can set in. If you are diagnosed with breast cancer you may be given estrogen suppressant medication to lower your estrogen level but if the estrogen drops too low then you are in danger of affecting your bone health.
You can help to stabilize your estrogen levels by eating a diet low in fat or following a vegetarian diet. Unfortunately in the west women tend to eat diets high in fat, which gives fuel to the body’s mechanism, which produces estrogen. This then results in a high level of estrogen.
Other conditions that can occur as a result in an estrogen level that is unbalanced include delayed puberty, an irregular menstrual cycle and symptomatic menopause. These three conditions are usually caused through having a low estrogen level.
It must be remembered that estrogen levels do change and dramatically during the monthly cycle which will bring about normal changes in the body as well as some mildly unpleasant symptoms such as headaches and sore breasts.
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