Reasons For High And Low Levels Of Estradiol Balance In Your Body
What is Estradiol?
Estradiol is a steroid hormone in the human body that represents estrogen and comes from cholesterol. Estradiol is a critical part of sexual and reproductive function and it also helps regulate other functions in the body such as bone growth. It is also used to treat symptoms of menopause..
What Triggers off High Levels of Estradiol Hormone
• Pregnancy: When a woman is pregnant, her body increases production of hormones to help gestation and growth of the fetus, making it possible to carry to full term.
• Menstruation: The process of ovulation and shedding sends Estradiol levels up and down as menstruation goes on.
• Estrogen Replacement: After menopause women only need a small amount of Estradiol to keep their bones healthy but often women who have hot flashes need a bit more to help reduce the effects of this symptom. While receiving replacement therapy, estradiol levels could rise higher than 200-400 pg/ml, a level which is more than a post-menopausal woman requires. This could put her at a higher risk for blood clotting issues.
Warnings: High estradiol levels put you at risk for infertility, endometrial cancer, stroke and breast cancer. If you feel cramping on either side of your stomach, numbness on one side of your body or sensations of hotness in one or both breasts, see a doctor immediately. Your estradiol levels should be tested and evaluated for the risk of these diseases.
Estradiol Hormone Level Test Kit
• Menopause: Menopause can cause low levels of estradiol hormone due to the low hormones levels made by a menopausal woman’s body. This brings on symptoms that are typical of menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings.
• Premature Ovarian Failure: This is when the ovaries fail before you reach the age of 40. Unlike with menopause, the ovaries stop producing eggs or function in a way that is abnormal and may require removal of the ovary to remedy the problem. Although fertility is the most discussed and cited problem associated with this disorder, it can also cause a higher risk of heart disease, auto-immune disorders, Addison’s disease and osteoporosis.
• Excessive Exercise: Exercising more frequently and at higher intensity than is healthy in combination with not eating properly can also cause low levels of estradiol hormone in the body. The lack of body fats and proper hormonal function that result can affect reproduction and put the sufferer at risk for diseases such osteoporosis.
• Low Body Fat or Anorexia: When the body doesn’t have enough body fat it has trouble developing enough cholesterol to produce hormones such as estrogen. This can result in abnormally low hormones levels.
Both high and low Estradiol level can bring about changes such as low bone density and reproduction issues and put you at a higher risk for developing osteoporosis and early menopause. Hormone therapy can help; talk with your doctor about the associated risks and benefits.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:20 am
[...] determined that many of the symptoms experienced by a woman undergoing menopause are due to the decrease of estrogen hormone levels. This form of treatment cannot be used over a long period of time. Recent studies have discovered [...]