Anonymous
What approximate level of estrogen in a woman is needed to sustain the "protective benefits" from high blood pressure and heart/cardiovascular disease?
November 17, 2008 - 9:26am
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I keep seeing article from the medical community about estrogen's protective effect and the threats that menopause has on heart disease and high blood pressure. What are the safe or "protective" estrogen levels needed? I know every woman is different, but even an average to guage?
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Hey, Anon,
You're right, every one of us is different, and our estrogen levels also change based on where we are in our cycle and our phase of life (puberty, child-bearing years, perimenopause, menopause, etc). That said, a "normal" estrogen level can be anywhere between 30 and 400 (400 is, for instance, puberty). Post menopausal women can be anywhere between 9 and 20.
Here's a chart on normal estrogen levels during the month for a woman who is still ovulating:
http://www.larkfieldpublishing.com/media/estrogen_levels.pdf
Have you been tested for your levels of estradiol (estrogen)?
I wasn't able to find specific post-menopausal levels of estrogen that are the baseline for protecting women against heart disease and menopause; I'm sure this is because individuals very so greatly. But here are some good resources that discuss estrogen's effects on the heart and blood pressure in menopause:
estrogen and high blood pressure:
http://highbloodpressure.about.com/od/informationforwomen/a/menop_art.htm
estrogen and heart disease:
http://www.texasheart.org/HIC/Topics/HSmart/women.cfm
One of the reasons estrogen helps protect women against heart disease is its effect on both your good and bad cholesterol. Estrogen helps raise the good cholesterol; a lack of it contributes to an increase in bad cholesterol. Here's a good explainer on this:
http://heart-disease-treatment.suite101.com/article.cfm/menopause_estrog...
I am not a supporter of giving the body artficially more than it needs to function optimally. The end of menstruation is a very old occurance and as the aging process takes its natural course we need to prepare the bodies to transition to the next stage of life by preparing it with more than hormones. Women have been going through this since the cave times! The exceptions on my book are when Hormone Replacement Therapy is medically indicated for women who undergo premature surgical procedures, breat cancer, or other hormonal irregularities. HRT has a potential to put unncessary stress on the liver so people should consider bio-identical HRT instead if they are to get HRT. Doctors can order very accurate tests to confirm estrogen levels and my suggestion is to discuss bio-identical vice synthetic types.
Each body is different and each of us ages differently. The protective benefits of estrogen serve its purpose at a particular time and age. Once the wisdom of the body turns off the switch, then we must consider natural approaches to maintaining our bodies healthy. Heart disease and osteoporosis are two areas of concern when estrogen levels begin to decrease (of course there are others!). However, most conditions can be avoided if we maintain a healthy life style that includes good nutrition, exercise, stress reduction techniques and supplements such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, Black cohosh, soy protein powder among others. In addition to this, I take a product called MACA. It is awesome and helps me keep healthy hormonal balances naturally.
hi please could you tell me if my estrogen boold test level is normal it is 7.78 thanks
Hi Sue!
Thanks for your question and welcome!
Estrogen levels vary from woman to woman, as we discussed. How old are you? If you are post-menopausal, as Diane mentioned, the average levels are around 9 to 20 so you are slightly below that.
Are you experiencing ill-health or discomfort? Why did you have your levels checked?
hi, i am 50 ,plus had a hysterectomy last september , womb only took away my fsh is 24.7 does slightly below mean i am not premenopauselmany thanks again,