High estrogen levels may affect your ability to ovulate and are often present in a common condition known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
It is possible to get pregnant with high estrogen levels, however, there is an increased likelihood that you will suffer difficulties with conception if you are living with high estrogen.
If you are concerned about your own or someone else's hormone health, a home hormone test could help identify health issues that might affect a woman's ability to conceive.
See also: Signs Of High Estrogen In Women
Contents
- Can You Get Pregnant With High Estrogen Levels?
- Are There Other Side Effects Of High Estrogen Levels?
Can You Get Pregnant With High Estrogen Levels?
It is possible to get pregnant if you are living with high estrogen levels, however, there is an increased likelihood of fertility issues in those who are living with estrogen dominance.
Hormonal imbalances including estrogen dominance are often responsible for fertility issues couples may face when trying to get pregnant.
You can have a seemingly normal menstrual cycle, but you may not have ovulated, this is called an anovulatory cycle and can happen with estrogen dominance.
These anovulatory cycles are most common among women between the ages of 30 and 50 and in women with secondary conditions which affect ovulation, such as polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.
Usually, an egg is released from the ovary and travels to the uterus to await fusion with a sperm. After the egg is released, its empty follicle becomes a factory for progesterone production until the egg is either fertilized and implants in your uterus or your period begins.
If you do not ovulate, there is no empty follicle for progesterone production. No progesterone production can result in estrogen dominance.
Having adequate levels of progesterone is essential to becoming pregnant and maintaining pregnancy. During pregnancy the placenta takes over progesterone production. If progesterone levels are high enough to become pregnant then become unbalanced within the first weeks, there is an increased risk of miscarriage.
Overall, an optimal balance between estrogen and progesterone levels are required to become pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy. Estrogen dominance and inadequate levels of progesterone can cause fertility issues and problems during pregnancy.
If you are concerend about your hormone health, taking a test or consulting a medical expert are sure ways of identifying issues.
Are There Other Side Effects Of High Estrogen Levels?
Hormone imbalance doesn’t just affect how you feel, it can affect how your body operates. While the initial symptoms listed above of too much estrogen can be annoying, allowing estrogen levels to build up to unhealthy levels can cause some real health problems.
These conditions are serious, however, the good news is that their development is slow so if you are vigilant and take action when you notice the early signs of estrogen dominance then you can reduce the chances of these conditions developing.
Some of the most common serious side effects include:
- A complete lack of ovulation (and periods)
- Infertility
- Endometriosis
- Heavy bleeding
- Fibroids
- Uterine cancer
- Low-grade memory impairment
- Breast cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
While the above list may be a source of concern, if you suspect you are living with estrogen dominance, the most important thing is to get screened before letting worry take over.
The signs and symptoms of estrogen dominance may be hard to identify due to the fact that they often vary from person to person in type and severity, however, female hormone tests will be able to offer you a better baseline idea of where your hormones are.
On top of that, the treatment for estrogen dominance is generally quite straight forward.
Click the link below to learn more about the signs and symptoms of estrogen dominance. If you would like to talk to a member of our team about testing options, you can reach us via live chat.
Alternatively our testing kits are a great way of discovering hormone health related issues at home.
Read: Do You Know The Signs And Symptoms Of Estrogen Dominance?
Written by Hannah Kingston | Medically Reviewed by Dr. Susan O' Sullivan
