If you have ever tracked your menstrual cycle or taken an interest in your reproductive health, you may have heard of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is one of the main female reproductive hormones that are responsible for reproductive health. It is present in men as well to a lesser degree. However, what many people do not know is that there are three different types of estrogen, each with different functions. Each type also has unique symptoms when it is too high or too low. This article will explore the different types of estrogen, what happens when they are out of balance, and strategies to balance the different estrogens in your body.
What Is Estrogen?
While many people are under the impression that estrogen is one single hormone, it actually refers to a group of hormones. Estrogen is found in both males and females, but it is higher in females. Whilst the adrenal glands and fat cells do produce small amounts of estrogen, in females the ovaries predominately produce estrogen.
There are three main types of estrogen:
- Estradiol
- Estrone
- Estriol
The Three Different Types of Estrogen
The First Type of Estogen: Estradiol
Estradiol is the strongest form of estrogen and the type that is highest in women. It is produced from cholesterol and plays an important role in female reproductive health. Estradiol naturally fluctuates in your body, helping to regulate the menstrual cycle. This hormone is needed for the ovary to release an egg. It also helps to thicken the lining of the uterus, preparing the uterus for the potential implantation of the egg, if it is fertilized by the sperm. Other functions of this hormone are that it helps with the growth of breast tissue and plays an important role in bone health by increasing the density of bones.
Estradiol levels vary throughout the month depending on your cycle. Levels are highest during ovulation and then lowest during menstruation. During pregnancy, the job of estradiol production shifts from the ovaries to the placenta until birth. As you age, this hormone naturally starts to decline in levels.
Estradiol is also found in males, and, whilst it is found in small amounts, it plays an important role in the production of sperm. In males, this hormone is produced in the testes by testosterone. Whilst the testes and ovaries are mainly responsible for the production of estradiol, the brain, blood vessels, and fat cells also produce estradiol in smaller amounts. Estradiol in men is also cardioprotective.
Symptoms of High Estradiol
Unless you are on hormone replacement therapy or a hormonal-based contraceptive, high levels of estradiol in females are not common. If levels of estradiol do become high, it can increase the risk of clotting and certain cancers such as breast cancer. However, more research is necessary to establish this connection.
In males, high estradiol levels can occur in obese men and those with conditions such as liver disease. High estradiol levels in men can lead to:
- Sexual dysfunction
- Loss of muscle, increase in fat
- Reduction in fertility
- Development of breast tissue
Symptoms of Low Estradiol
During menopause, levels of estradiol naturally decline. Estradiol can also be low in females who have a delay in puberty or who do not have a regular menstrual cycle. Low levels of estradiol can cause:
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Hot flushes
- Vaginal dryness
- Osteoporosis- this only occurs if there is a constant low level of estradiol in the body
The Second Type of Estogen: Estrone
This form of estrogen is the major type of estrogen present in women after menopause and is less potent than estradiol. The main source of estrone is the adrenal glands and fat cells. The ovaries also produce some estrone. When menopause begins, the ovaries stop producing estradiol and the production of estrone begins. It is thought that estrone can act as a reservoir for estradiol and be converted to estradiol when levels are low.
Symptoms of Low Estrone
As estrone is the main estrogen in menopause, it is thought that if estrone levels are too low, it can aggravate symptoms of menopause. Symptoms of low estrone are:
- Osteoporosis
- Hot flushes
- Loss of libido
- Depression
Symptoms of High Estrone
Levels of estrone can also become high during menopause. Individuals who are at risk for high levels of estrone are women with breast cancer, men going through therapy for prostate cancer, and obese women. In obese women, estrone levels can become high because fat tissue produces estrone, causing levels to become high in the body. High estrone levels can increase the growth of breast tissue and uterine cancer.
The Third Type of Estogen: Estriol
This hormone occurs at very low levels in females and primarily increases during pregnancy. During pregnancy, at week eight, the placenta starts to produce this hormone, and levels naturally increase throughout pregnancy, with estriol being highest before birth. Estriol helps to prepare the body for birth by assisting in the growth of the uterus and assisting the body in becoming sensitive to other pregnancy hormones.
Estriol can give us a deeper insight into the health of the unborn baby as, whilst the placenta is involved in producing estriol, the chemical that is used to produce estriol is made from another chemical that is produced by the fetus’s adrenal glands. This hormone starts to increase three weeks before birth. If this increase starts early, it could indicate an early birth.
If estriol levels are low during pregnancy it can indicate potential health concerns around the fetus and a reduction in placental health. When this hormone is low during the later stages of pregnancy and has not increased, it may mean that labor will not naturally occur by itself and medical intervention may be necessary.
Some hormone replacement therapies do contain estriol, but the body can remove this hormone faster than the other estrogens.
How to Balance The Different Types of Estrogen
Strategies for naturally balancing the different types of estrogen depend on whether levels are low or high. Out of the three types of estrogen, high levels of estrone are most common, followed by estradiol. Since estriol is primarily related to pregnancy and can be removed more easily than the other types if there is hormone replacement therapy that contains it, it is not common for it to be out of balance.
There are several steps you can take to help balance your estrogen levels.
How to Balance High Estrogen Levels
Maintain A Healthy Weight
Excess weight means excess fat, and since fat cells can produce estrogen, this can cause high levels of estrone and estradiol. If these levels are high, reducing body fat percentage can help to naturally balance these types of estrogen. The acceptable ranges for body fat percentages are 10-20% for males and 18-28% for females. Body fat percentage can be maintained through adequate nutrition and exercise.
Ensure Adequate Nutrition
Nutrition is an important part of your health and managing your weight. It is important to focus on foods that are high in fiber and low in added sugar. When foods, specifically carbohydrates, are broken down in the body, it triggers the release of the hormone insulin. Insulin affects the release of a protein, sex hormone binding globulin (“SHBG”). This protein binds to excess estrogen and testosterone, regulating levels in the blood. When foods are refined and high in sugar, it increases insulin. This increase then reduces the amount of SHBG in the blood, meaning excess estrogen and testosterone cannot be regulated. An increase in insulin also increases the levels of testosterone, which the fat cells then convert to estrogen, further increasing levels.
To reduce this effect, focusing on foods high in fiber and low in added sugar can help to control insulin levels, preventing them from increasing and helping to ensure that SHBG can function optimally.
Manage Stress
Stress can have many effects on your body, and one of the effects is that it can cause an imbalance in hormones. During stress, the adrenal glands release the stress hormone cortisol to help the body cope with stress. Cortisol is produced from the reproductive hormone progesterone. Progesterone plays an important role in balancing estrogen. When stress is chronic, progesterone levels can become low, leading to an imbalance between the progesterone and estrogen ratio. This can cause the body to become dominant in estrogen.
This makes it important to manage your stress. Some strategies to manage stress include:
- Exercise
- Time management
- Talking to a healthcare professional
- Having adequate sleep
Ways to Balance Low Estrogen
Phytoestrogens
Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring compounds that occur in some foods. These phytoestrogens mimic estrogen in the body and can potentially help to increase estrogen levels. Foods that contain phytoestrogens include:
- Flax seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Soybeans
- Dried fruit
- Peaches
- Berries
- Garlic
- Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage
Maintain Body Fat Levels
Whilst it is important to ensure that body fat levels do not become excessive, it’s also important to ensure that they do not become too low. If body fat levels reduce to below the acceptable ranges it can cause low levels of estrogen due to less fat being able to produce estrogen.
Supplementation
There are many vitamins, minerals, and hormones that play a role in estrogen balance including:
Some herbs that can help to balance estrogen naturally, include:
- Black cohosh
- Chasteberry
- Red clover
- Dong Quai
Supplementation can help if these levels are low. However, it is important to check your levels and talk to your doctor before taking a new supplement.
Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) and Types of Estrogen
Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) is a syndrome that occurs due to chronic stress and can result in a cluster of symptoms. Your adrenal glands as well as NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response system are responsible for managing stress in your body. In response to stress, your adrenal glands produce cortisol. However, when stress continues, your adrenal glands can become depleted, which causes a state of low cortisol and imbalances within your NEM system.
Your NEM system consists of six different circuits of related organ systems and symptoms of AFS will depend on which circuit/s are experiencing an imbalance. One of these circuits is the hormone circuit. It consists of the adrenal glands, thyroid glands, and reproductive organs. Symptoms that can occur as a result of an imbalance in this circuit are:
- Fatigue
- Infertility
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Irregular periods
- Low libido
With female reproductive hormones, there is a fine balance between estrogen and progesterone. These levels naturally fluctuate according to your menstrual cycle. When there is chronic stress, the adrenal glands can deplete progesterone to produce cortisol. This depletion of progesterone cause estrogen to become dominant in the body resulting in an imbalance within this circuit. AFS can also lead to an increase in weight. This increase in weight will increase body fat, and this in turn can increase estrogen levels, resulting in an imbalance in the hormone circuit.
If you do have an imbalance within the hormone circuit, it is important to see your healthcare professional for guidance and support on how to achieve balance within this circuit again.
Cautions With Balancing Estrogen and AFS
Before you begin to naturally balance estrogen, it is important to receive professional support. Support from a healthcare professional will help you determine whether or not you do have an imbalance in estrogen and can help you safely balance the different types of estrogen in your body.
It’s also important to remember that with supplementation, supplements are not regulated by the FDA. This means that the quality of ingredients in the supplement is not guaranteed. During AFS, the body can become very sensitive to new products such as supplements. This can cause your body to react and can set you back in your healing journey.
A healthcare professional will be able to guide you on supplements that are of high quality and will be able to advise you on remedies that will support your body in its healing process.
Closing Thoughts on Types of Estrogen
Estrogen is an important hormone in your body and consists of three main types:
- Estradiol
- Estrone
- Estriol
These types of estrogen have many important roles in your body. This makes it essential that estrogen is in balance within your body. There are many ways to naturally balance estrogen which include lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, having adequate nutrition, and managing stress.
If you are currently experiencing changes in your menstrual cycle, fatigue, and/or changes in your mood, the Dr. Lam team can assist. Call +1 (626) 571-1234 or click here for a free initial consultation.
