How To Track Your Estrogen Levels At Home
Whether you are looking to achieve your fertility goals, or tap into valuable information about your health, tracking hormone levels at home can help you and your doctor uncover valuable information about your cycles and hormone levels.
The science of tracking fertility hormones at home can be difficult to grasp. A personalized lab-quality and data-driven solution such as Mira Fertility can allow you to identify your unique patterns and offer personalized fertility insights. With its clinically proven accuracy, the Mira Analyzer tracks luteinizing hormone and estrogen giving you real-world data you can track and use, not to mention share with your healthcare provider. Mira takes the guesswork out of tracking and can help you make informed decisions about your reproductive cycle.
Medically Reviewed by Banafsheh Kashani, MD, FACOG
Banafsheh Kashani, M.D., FACOG is a board-certified OB/GYN and specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Eden Fertility Centers, and has been treatingcouples and individuals with infertility since 2014.
Dr. Kashani has conducted extensive research in female reproduction, with a specific focus on the endometrium and implantation.
Additionally, Dr. Kashani has authored papers in the areas of fertility preservation, and fertility in women with PCOS and Turners syndrome. She also was part of a large SART-CORS study evaluating the trend in frozen embryo transfers and success rates.
Tempeh May Not Be For Everyone
Tempeh, along with other fermented soy products, is generally considered safe for most people. However, some individuals may want to consider limiting their intake of tempeh.
Those with a soy allergy should avoid tempeh altogether. Eating tempeh may trigger an allergic response for these people.
This could include symptoms like:
- difficulty breathing
Additionally, soybeans are considered a goitrogen, a substance that can interfere with thyroid function.
Though studies show that soy intake has little to no effect on thyroid function, people with impaired thyroid function may want to keep intake in moderation .
Summary
Individuals who have a soy allergy should avoid tempeh, while those with impaired thyroid function may want to limit their intake.
Womens Health: 5 Incredible Food Sources To Boost Estrogen Levels Naturally
Estrogen is a hormone that holds a significant role in sexual and reproductive health. It is present in both men and women of all ages, however, huge volumes are found in women in their reproductive age. Estrogen carries out several functions in the female body including regulating the menstrual cycle, responsible for sex characteristics, reproduction and the development of breasts.
During menopause estrogen level naturally decline in women which can result in symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats and negatively impact your mood, sexual desire and bone health. Phytoestrogens are known as dietary estrogen that are naturally present in plant compound which works in a way very similar to that of estrogen.
Read on, to gain insight into how phytoestrogens work and know about the food sources that can facilitate the enhancement of estrogen levels.
Soybeans
Soybeans are protein-packed legumes that are processed into several plant-based products like tofu, tempeh and edamame, . The plethora of nutrients present in soybeans offer a ton of health benefits. They are bestowed with phytoestrogens isoflavones that exhibit estrogen-like effects in the body that maintains the female reproductive system and also helps to alleviate menopausal symptoms.
Berries
Read Also: How To Measure Estrogen Levels
Hot Flashes During Perimenopause
Most women dont expect to have hot flashes until , so it can be a big surprise when they show up earlier, during perimenopause. Hot flashes sometimes called hot flushes and given the scientific name of vasomotor symptoms are the most commonly reported symptom of perimenopause. Theyre also a regular feature of sudden menopause due to surgery or treatment with certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs.
Hot flashes tend to come on rapidly and can last from one to five minutes. They range in severity from a fleeting sense of warmth to a feeling of being consumed by fire from the inside out. A major hot flash can induce facial and upper-body flushing, sweating, chills, and sometimes confusion. Having one of these at an inconvenient time can be quite disconcerting. Hot flash frequency varies widely. Some women have a few over the course of a week others may experience 10 or more in the daytime, plus some at night.
Most American women have hot flashes around the time of menopause, but studies of other cultures suggest this experience is not universal. Far fewer Japanese, Korean, and Southeast Asian women report having hot flashes. In Mexicos Yucatan peninsula, women appear not to have any at all. These differences may reflect cultural variations in perceptions, semantics, and lifestyle factors, such as diet.
Herbs To Increase Oestrogen
Having food rich in oestrogen will help in maintaining hormone levels. However, this may not be possible every day. So, here is yet another answer to how to increase oestrogen naturally? Herbs! Various herbs mixed in your home-cooked meals can help increase hormone levels. Some of them are as follows:
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Benefits Of A Good Diet
Eating and / or avoiding certain types of foods can make the menopause more bearable.
You may be fortunate and go through the menopause with no problems at all, but a lot of women are affected by some of the symptoms i.e. hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, low libido, insomnia and forgetfulness.
Many of the symptoms that are associated with the menopause are linked with a drop in oestrogen and progesterone levels. For example, oestrogen helps to lift our mood so, when levels drop, we may feel depressed. No-one yet understands exactly what causes hot flushes but it has been observed that women in Japan have far fewer menopausal symptoms and one theory is that this is because their diet includes a lot of soya.
Whether or not you decide to take HRT, following the guidelines below would help in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
What Tests Will Be Done To Diagnose Low Estrogen
There are three types of estrogen that your body makes. An estrogen test can measure all three: estrone , estradiol and estriol . Your provider will do a simple blood draw and send it to a lab for analysis.
- Estrone is the primary hormone your body produces during menopause and postmenopause. Its a weaker form of estrogen than estradiol .
- Estradiol is the primary hormone your body produces in your reproductive years.
- Estriol is the primary hormone your body makes during pregnancy.
Estrogen can be assessed when your provider is unsure about the status of your hormones . That being said, only a couple of conditions are FDA-approved for hormone replacement therapy.
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Get The Full Picture Throughout The Entire Menstrual Cycle
Testing on just one day of the month is not enough for some female patients. Women with infertility, irregular cycles, or no menstrual bleeding due to an ablation or partial hysterectomy can benefit from the DUTCH Cycle Mapping. This profile helps evaluate hormones throughout a complete menstrual cycle. Nine targeted estrogen and progesterone measurements provide essential details on a patients hormone levels in the cycles follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases.
After your test results have been reviewed, you may want to consider asking whether hormone therapy would be a suitable course of action. HRT can help optimize your sex hormone levels while reducing the symptoms you are experiencing. A licensed physician and qualified telemedicine provider can prescribe this effective therapy such as EVOLVE.
Want to learn more about hormone tests and the types of treatments available? Contact EVOLVE patient care to get started!
This article is for educational use, any treatment decisions should be used in consultation with a medical practitioner.
Low Estrogen Because You Dont Ovulate But Are Not In Menopause
Ovulation is how you make estradiol, which is the strongest and best type of estrogen. If youre low in estradiol, the next question is: Can you still ovulate?
You can ovulate if your blood test for FSH is less than 40 IU/L. Thats true even if youve had a partial hysterectomy . If you have ovaries, you can ovulate.
Treatment: Figure out why you dont ovulate. Are you on the pill? Do you have a type of PCOS? Are you eating enough?
Once you identify your obstacle to ovulation, simply correct that obstacle and your estradiol will rise dramatically. Thats all you need to do.
In the case of PCOS or hypothalamic amenorrhea, eating phytoestrogens like soy or flaxseed will not raise estrogen because phytoestrogens are not estrogen.
Hormonal birth control is not the solution. The pill stops ovulation and therefore shuts down estradiol. It replaces it with a synthetic estrogen called ethinylestradiol, which is similar to estradiol but not identical. Thats why being on the pill can cause vaginal dryness.
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Why Do You Need Oestrogen
Oestrogen is the primary hormone for sexual and reproductive growth in women. Oestrogen works with other hormones to help during puberty and maintain fertility till menopause. This hormone is not only necessary for sexual reproductive growth but also performs other vital functions. It promotes bone density, balances mood, controls cholesterol, and encourages a healthy heart.
Why You Need Estrogen
Estrogens main function is to control reproductive changes in women, but it serves other roles in both male and female bodies, including:
Each of these phytoestrogens has antioxidant properties. This means that in addition to the nutrients potential health benefits, they fight cell damage in our bodies linked to a wide range of chronic diseases.
The best dietary sources of phytoestrogens include:
1. Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are the richest dietary source of lignans . Researchers believe they lower breast cancer risk. You can sprinkle flaxseeds on many dishes, bake them into bread and cookies, or blend them into smoothies and spreads.
2. Soy
Soy contains high levels of isoflavones, phytoestrogens that may mimic estrogens effects and reduce the risk of both breast and prostate cancer. Soy is also rich in a range of essential vitamins and minerals. It can support heart health as an alternative to red and processed meats. Its also extremely versatile you can include soy in your diet with foods like tofu, tempeh, edamame, and soymilk.
3. Peaches
Because of their high lignan content, studies show that eating two servings of peaches or nectarines a week reduces a womans breast cancer risk. Researchers find similar effects from consuming blueberries and strawberries.
4. Garlic
5. Red Wine
6. Sesame Seeds
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Everlywell: Test Your Estrogen Levels At Home Today
Now that you know how to increase estrogen naturally, you may be wondering how to test your estrogen levels at home. At Everlywell, we have an easy At-Home Women’s Fertility Test. This test kit can check five hormones that may impact your fertility and other health conditions, including:
- Luteinizing hormone
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone
- Total testosterone
All you do is conduct a simple finger prick at home and send in your blood sample to one of our CLIA board-certified labs. Once your results are in, weâll have one of our board-certified physicians review them.
Take your first step towards enhanced hormonal health and order your Everlywell Womenâs Fertility Test today.
Information Accuracy And Risks Of Hrt
Its a fact that some transsexuals chooseusually because its the only option available to themto self-prescribe hormones and/or androgen-blocking drugs. This article compares recommendations from medical and non-medical sources, and explains conditions that could result from HRT, whether therapy is medically monitored or not. This information is not provided or intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or care.
I am not a medical professional. Please also note that the glossary at the end of this article is just that: a glossary, and not a dictionary. The descriptions of the terms in the glossary are meant to help you interpret their use in this article only, and are not comprehensive definitions.
OTCH
By Lisa Rapaport, Reuters Health
5 Min Read
Transgender women who take sex hormones to feminize their bodies may not experience as much breast development as they expect, a new European study suggests.
Researchers followed 229 people transitioning from male to female for one year after they started taking whats known as cross-sex hormones. For this type of transition, hormone therapy consists of both anti-androgens to block the activity of male sex hormones and curb male characteristics as well as estrogens to encourage breast development and feminization.
Only 21 of the trans women attained a bra size of an A cup or larger after one year of hormone therapy, the study found.
Most of the breast growth happened during the first six months of treatment.
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Tired Of Pms Symptoms Wondering If You Can Afford Fertility Boosting Foods Curious About Which Foods To Incorporate Into Your Diet Here Are 3 Suggestions
1. Root Veggies
Root vegetables balance hormones by balancing blood sugar through fiber. Carrots are especially helpful for preventing estrogen dominance. Sweet potato contains compounds that boost progesterone levels. Radishes, onions, garlic, turnips, parsnips, celeriac, and rutabaga balance hormones by providing food for the healthy bacteria in our gut.
Carrots and radishes are easy to eat raw with dips. Turnips, parsnips, and rutabaga are easy to incorporate into soups and stews. Root vegetables can be roasted with olive oil or lard and eaten with sausage, or boiled, mashed, and whipped with butter to make a delicious mashed potato replacement. For extra micronutrients, buy rainbow varieties of carrots, potatoes, and radishes .
2. Seeds
Seeds are great sources of blood sugar balancing fiber, minerals, micronutrients, and hormone balancing omega 3 fats. Chia seeds for example, are a great source of iron, fiber, and omega 3 fatty acids. Pumpkin seeds contain compounds that balance gut bacteria and prevent the overgrowth of yeast and pathogenic bacteria. Flax seeds are a good source of omega three fatty acids and selenium, which promote hormone balance.
For a seed that is rich in iron and has a calming effect, incorporate poppy seeds. My favorite recipe with poppy seeds is Magdalena Wselakis Polish Poppy Seed cake
If you are looking to conceive
I add pumpkin, ground flax, and sunflower seeds to salads or yogurt and kefir.
3. Dark Leafy Greens
Can Feminizing Herbs Really Increase Estrogen
I think it would be more than fair to say that much of what you read regarding the effects that feminization herbs have on the male body is purely anecdotal. There is not nearly enough clinical research nor scientific facts to back up the many claims.
Still, since there are so damn many reports of significant results among the MtF TG communityincluding myselfits hard to not take seriously.
Personally, I dont believe that feminizing herbs should be looked upon as an across-the-board replacement to traditional FHT. Treat them rather as a milder, gentler and a maybe healthier approach to a doctor-prescribed regimen of feminizing hormone therapy.
Or perhaps use them as a herbal-bridge to traditional FHT.
Because feminization herbs are naturally occurringno prescription necessarydoesnt mean that they should be taken lightly. On the contrary, some of the herbs Ive mentioned here are remarkably potent, and deserve the required amount or respect.
If you do choose to experiment with any of these herbs that increase estrogen, my advice would be to monitor your dosage carefully. It can sometimes take a week or two for your body to adapt to them.
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Keeping Or Restoring Strong Healthy Bones
Osteoporosisthinning of the bone tissueis common, particularly among Caucasian women, after menopause. The cause is not an inadequate calcium intake, ordinarily. The problem is abnormally rapid calcium loss, aggravated by the following five calcium wasters:
How Low Estrogen Can Affect Your Body
Estrogen is a very busy hormone for women throughout their lives. Men have some too, but women have more. Estrogen is primarily active in reproductive development and health for women, but its role is far greater than that.
Estrogen is actually a group of sex hormones, each of them performing different roles in womens health and development. Estrogen helps make women curvier than men by making their pelvis and hips wider, and their breast grow.
Estrogen is part of your menstrual cycle, helps you get pregnant, and plays a role in helping you develop bones and grow hair. It also helps regulate your moods and impacts your brain development and structure.
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