Infertility and Estrogen
With regards to infertility, estrogen levels perform a really important role. Each one of the various hormones required in reproduction also plays a crucial role. Estrogen is the main female reproductive hormone, a bit like what testosterone is for men. If you have vaginal dryness, night sweats, hot flashes and headaches you might have a shortage of estrogen. You might also struggle to have a baby for a couple of reasons:
- If the egg did manage to get fertilized it won’t have any place to go if the estrogen doesn’t stimulate the uterus to make the lining to receive the egg.
- The sperm will find it near impossible to reach the ovum if estrogen doesn’t cause the cervical mucus to become less viscous.
- If your estrogen levels are very depleted you could not ovulate (release eggs at all) – never mind experiencing issues with implantation!
A lack of estrogen can be caused by a number of factors:
- LH (Luteinizing Hormone) regulates the making of estrogen – too little LH means not enough estrogen.
- The ovaries (which make estrogen) can get mixed messages from the pituitary gland if your system is under strain due to being underweight or exercising too much.
- If you don’t have eggs then your body won’t manufacture estrogen.
Treatment options:
- Estrogen concentrations in the body can be raised through medication. Apparently, some foods, such as tofu, can help as well.
You could also have a problem if you have too much estrogen compared to progesterone in your body. You are in danger of estrogen dominance if you are stressed, overweight, not eating properly or exposed to alternative sources of estrogen, either through HRT (hormone replacement therapy) or via environmental sources. Excessive estrogen will result in the following symptoms:
- Heart palpitations
- Excessive weight gain
- Feelings of melancholy
- Irregular periods
- Water retention
- Headaches and migraines linked to your cycle
- Tension
- Digestive problems
But these warning signs might also suggest low estrogen levels, so it’s best to get yourself checked if you’re concerned. High estrogen levels can also exacerbate PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and endometriosis. Too much estrogen can also reduce your sex drive.
When it comes to managing infertility, the right estrogen concentrations are very important. There are problems connected with both high and low levels of estrogen. Abnormal amounts of estrogen might be treated with medication so it shouldn’t be a massive hurdle in your quest to have a baby.
Here is more information on What is Infertility. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Infertility.
