How Estrogen Levels Affect Fertility

If you are expecting to expect, you would probably know about estrogen levels in the body and their importance. Estrogen is a component of IVF medication, and it is usually prescribed to women who are looking to utilise a donor egg, or donated embryos. However, what is the actual importance of estrogen for fertility, and how can it affect your chances of getting pregnant? Let’s take a deeper look at this.

What Is Estrogen, and How Does It Work?

Estrogen is one of the two main female sex hormones, the other being progesterone. Both play a significant role in the development of the female reproductive system, and estrogen plays a part in regulating the start of puberty in females.

Control of the menstrual cycles, bone health, and moods are determined by estrogen levels in the body. If the estrogen levels are too high or too low, they can affect the fertility of the woman. This is why most surrogates and intended mothers are given this hormone, in the form of estradiol.

Why Do Infertile Patients Need Estrogen?

Can I get pregnant with low estrogen levels? is a question a woman might ask herself. You may be able to, but your chances of sustaining a pregnancy are higher when the estrogen levels in your body are just right. Levels that are too high or too low can have a detrimental effect when you are trying to get pregnant.

Estrogen levels hold tremendous importance, because they are necessary for the proper functioning of the uterus. The uterine lining of a woman must be able to grow and be maintained for a pregnancy to be sustained. For this, estrogen levels in the body must be optimum.

Estradiol supports estrogen needs, and thickens the uterine lining so that the fertilised egg can implant in it with ease. The hormone also prepares the body to breastfeed after the birth of the child.

How Does low Estrogen Impact Fertility?

Estrogen levels in the body can affect both men and women when it comes to fertility issues.

1. Male Fertility

Estrogen is primarily a female sex hormone, but it is present in the male body, too. The testes of the male produce a small amount of estrogen regularly, and it can have a psychological effect on the man. This hormone plays a significant role in male fertility. Studies prove that male animals who were unresponsive to estrogen had lower sperm counts, and were mostly infertile.

Estrogen present in the semen is usually reabsorbed by the body as the sperm travels during ejaculation, thus making the sperm more potent, and increasing the sperm count. Therefore, normal estrogen levels in the male body have been found to be extremely important for fertility.

2. Female Fertility

Low estrogen levels in females can have an impact on their ability to have children. Estrogen levels in the body can be low because of pituitary gland issues, which can lead to the female body not releasing the egg during the time of ovulation. Without ovulation, there is no chance that the person will get pregnant. If the ovaries are not releasing the eggs, the pituitary starts flooding the blood with the Follicle Stimulating Hormone, which is designed to prompt the ovary to make estrogen. Therefore, an excess of FSH in the blood may mean that you will have difficulties when you try to conceive.

What are the Symptoms of Estrogen Deficiency?

Symptoms of estrogen deficiency in women include:

• Hot flashes
• Atherosclerosis
• Rapid heartbeat
• Bloating
• Lower back pain
• Arthritis
• Thinning hair
• Loss of libido
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood swings
• Migraines
• Night sweats
• Anxiety

How Does High Estrogen Impact Fertility?

High estrogen levels impact the fertility of a woman. They are usually caused by a series of extrinsic factors, which interfere with your natural hormone balance. This can affect your entire body, and not just reproductive health.

What Are the Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance?

The symptoms of estrogen dominance include:

• Hair loss
• Breast tenderness
• Decreased libido
• Headaches
• Depression with agitation
• Dry eyes
• Irregular periods
• Insomnia
• Sluggish metabolism
• Fatigue
• Breast cancer risks
• Fat gain around mid-section

How to Naturally Balance Estrogen Levels for Fertility

There is no specific answer to what is a good estrogen level to get pregnant – it differs from person to person. However, both deficiency and dominance of estrogen are bad, since both can affect your fertility levels. There are different methods to keeping your estrogen levels in check, for both deficiency and dominance.

1. For Estrogen Deficiency

How to raise estrogen levels to get pregnant? There are many ways, but there is no specific method as to how to increase estrogen for fertility. The luteinizing hormone levels in the body have to be increased, since that hormone regulates the manufacture of estrogen in females.

Estrogen deficiency can be as a result of the pituitary malfunctioning – the reasons could be excessive exercising or eating disorders. The most important thing to do is to eat healthily, and avoid being underweight. Medication and the use of herbs and supplements with the help of a doctor’s recommendation can help. Estrogen pills for fertility are useful here.

2. For Estrogen Dominance

The dominance of estrogen in the body could be caused by a poor diet, stress, hormone replacement therapy, obesity, and consumption of environmental estrogen-like xenoestrogen. This is found in processed food items, which are normally high in fat or sugar. Deficiency of vitamin B6 and magnesium can also result in estrogen dominance. Pesticides and growth hormones used in food items like vegetables and meat can contain xenoestrogen, so you have to make sure to eat thoroughly cleaned, organic, and fresh foods.

Balanced levels of estrogen in the body are essential if you want to get pregnant, so essential care must be taken to ensure that the hormone levels are in the right range in your body. Visit a doctor if you are unsure of your estrogen levels, or if you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms.

Also Read: Home Remedies to Increase Fertility in Men and Women