- swelling or enlargement of breast tissue, also known as gynecomastia.
- erectile dysfunction.
- infertility.
- depression.
- delayed puberty.
- short stature.
Sexual dysfunction
- Weight gain
- Erectile dysfunction
- Low sex drive
- Infertility
- Enlargement of breast tissue
- Depression
- Loss of energy
- Decrease in muscle mass
Increased abdominal fat
What Causes High Estrogen in Men? 1. Aging. Advancing age is associated with an increase in aromatase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen. 2. Increased fat relative to muscle. A loss of lean muscle tissue and an increase in fat tissue also typically occurs... 3. Testosterone therapy. ...
Fertility Problems
Treatment for high estrogen
- Medication. If you develop high estrogen while undergoing hormone therapy, your doctor might change your hormone therapy plan.
- Surgery. If you have a type of cancer that’s sensitive to estrogen, your doctor might also recommend an oophorectomy.
- Diet. To help lower your estrogen levels, your doctor might recommend changes to your eating habits. ...
Erectile Dysfunction
While these symptoms vary greatly, the most common include (2, 13):
- Bloating
- Swollen or tender breasts
- Decreased libido
- Irregular periods, spotting, heavy bleeding
- Mood swings
- General fatigue or sleepiness
- Trouble sleeping
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Weight gain
Cardiovascular Problems
What causes high estradiol levels in males?
What causes elevated estrogen levels in men?
What is the treatment for high estrogen?
What are the symptoms of elevated estrogen?
What happens if a man has too much estrogen?
Estrogen may stimulate breast tissue growth. Men with too much estrogen may develop gynecomastia, a condition which leads to larger breasts. Erectile dysfunction (ED). Men with high levels of estrogen may have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection.
What causes high levels of estrogen in males?
Excessive fat: As mentioned earlier, fat can produce estrogen. Men with increased fat in the waist area are at high risk of estrogen dominance in their body. Xenoestroegens: The toxic chemicals from plastics, heavy metals, cosmetic and body care products contain endocrine disruptors or xenoestrogens.
How do men treat high estrogen?
Add cruciferous vegetables to your diet: Adding cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, and turnip greens should be included in the diet. These vegetables have high amounts of glucosinolates that promote estrogen detoxification through the liver.
Does masturbation increase estrogen?
Androgen receptors help the body use testosterone. Meanwhile, another 2007 study on rats showed that frequent masturbation increased estrogen receptor density.
How does estrogen affect behavior in males?
Not testosterone, but rather estrogen, the “female” hormone, is most directly responsible for the development of brain circuits in males that guide aggressive and territorial behaviors – at least in mice.
How can I flush excess estrogen?
Exercise regularly. Research suggests that exercise can help to reduce high estrogen levels. Premenopausal women who engage in aerobic exercise for five hours a week or more saw their estrogen levels drop by nearly 19%. Cardio exercise helps the body break estrogen down and flush away any excess.
How can I lower my estrogen levels quickly?
Tips for reducing estrogen levelsFollow a fiber-rich diet. Studies have shown high fiber diets promote healthy estrogen levels. ... Limit certain animal products. ... Follow a Mediterranean-style diet. ... Lose excess body fat. ... Limit refined carbs and processed foods. ... Exercise. ... Limit alcohol intake.
Why is infertility not a symptom of high estrogen?
Infertility is not the most common symptom of high estrogen in males, but that’s because infertility in men could relate to a host of other issues like stress, genetic conditions, or health problems like diabetes.
How does diet affect estrogen?
Diet — A diet high in refined carbohydrates disrupts the body’s ability to use fat for energy. Instead, your body stores fat, which then increases estrogen levels. The process of fat storage and estrogen production becomes like a cycle. The greater the number of fat deposits, the more estrogen levels rise.
What enzyme converts androgens into testosterone and estrogen?
A rise in aromatase enzyme — Aromatase is the enzyme that converts androgens, a group of hormones, into testosterone and estrogen. However, certain lifestyle choices, like alcohol consumption and smoking, or physical issues like obesity, can increase the activity of this enzyme. When the aromatase enzyme increases due to these factors, it spikes estrogen levels in men.
Why do men get osteoporosis?
Many men are at risk of osteoporosis as they age because of declining testosterone levels. However, men with high estrogen levels are equally likely to develop low bone density early on in their lives.
Why do men sweat at night?
When men have low testosterone levels, the resulting high levels of estrogen cause excessive sweating in the same way that menopausal women experience night sweats and hot flashes during the night.
What hormones do men need to be in balance?
However, men’s bodies, like women’s, need an optimal hormone balance between testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen to function well. When these hormone levels are thrown off balance, chaos ensues.
What hormones help with puberty?
Estrogen is a hormone that helps the female body develop during puberty, and, together with progesterone, supports the menstrual cycle during a woman’s child-bearing years.
What causes high estrogen levels in men?
A number of factors can throw the estrogen/testosterone balance out of whack in men, leading to high estrogen symptoms. Some of these factors include:
What happens if you have high estrogen?
High estrogen symptoms in men can lead to sexual problems, breast enlargement, and more. Find out if you have high estrogen and what to do about it.
How to reduce estrogen levels in men?
Increasing fiber, exercising, and reducing weight are also important natural treatments for reducing high estrogen symptoms in men.
What are the best foods to detox from estrogen?
Good dietary sources include meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, spinach, beets, and quinoa.
Does fat tissue increase estrogen?
Fat tissue contains aromatase and thus converts testosterone to estrogen. Fat also serves as a reservoir for storing estradiol. Both these factors lead to increased estrogen levels in men. Testosterone therapy. Men who are treated with injectable forms of synthetic testosterone almost always make too much estrogen.
Can high estrogen cause low testosterone?
When estrogen levels in men increase, testosterone levels tend to decrease, so that symptoms of high estrogen tend to occur along with symptoms of low testosterone. High estrogen symptoms in men can therefore be difficult to differentiate from low testosterone symptoms. The most common high estrogen symptoms in men include:
Is estrogen bad for men?
As you can see from the list above, men with too much estrogen aren’t just at risk for non-serious symptoms like decreased sexual function and enlarged breasts. They are also at high risk for more serious problems such as type 2 diabetes. The latest research shows that the increased diabetes risk is independent of testosterone levels—that is, ...
Why is estrogen increased in males?
Aromatase excess syndrome and alcohol use disorder may be causes of increased estrogen in males.
Why is estrogen low in males?
Hypogonadism, a condition that can cause a decrease in sex hormones, can be a cause of low estrogen in males. Further research is needed to confirm the symptoms that low estrogen can have on the male body. Learn more about low estrogen here.
How to lower estrogen levels in males?
A male who wants to lower their estrogen levels should speak to their doctor. Certain medications are available that can help lower estrogen. They include selective estrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors.
How much estrogen should a male have?
According to the Endocrine Society, an adult male should have an estradiol level of 10–40 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL) and an estrone level of 10–50 pg/ml.
What is the hormone that naturally occurs in a person's body?
Estrogen is a hormone that naturally occurs in a person’s body. Levels of estrogen that are too high or too low can cause a person to have health problems.
What is the role of estrogen in the reproductive system?
It is important for female puberty and controlling the menstrual cycle. Estrogen is also important for the male reproductive system. There are three types of estrogen: estradiol, the main form of estrogen. estriol, a form of estrogen mainly produced during pregnancy.
What hormones are found in both males and females?
Image credit: Morsa Images/Getty Images. Estrogen is a sex hormone found in both males and females, although females have higher estrogen levels than males do. The ovaries, testes, fat cells, and adrenal glands produce estrogen. It is important for female puberty and controlling the menstrual cycle. Estrogen is also important for the male ...
What are the symptoms of high estrogen in men?
Symptoms associated with high estrogen in men: Soft musculature and loss of muscle tone. Female body fat distribution (Body fat on the breasts, hips, thighs, arms, etc.) #2. Symptoms associated with low testosterone in men : Weight gain, especially abdominal fat. Inability to sustain erections or erectile dysfunction.
Why is estrogen so high in men?
I've included a list of the most common causes of high estrogen in men below: #1. Obesity or Weight Gain. The first, and probably most common, cause of high estrogen in men is due to obesity (10). Even a small amount of adipose tissue can cause this issue in men.
What supplements help you metabolize estradiol?
Supplements such as DIM (15), Indole-3-Carbinol (16), and Calcium D Glucarate (17) help your body metabolize estradiol in the liver into more manageable estrogen byproducts.
How to reduce estrogen secondary to TRT?
You can go reducing estrogen secondary to TRT by taking an estrogen blocker, increasing metabolism of estrogen through the use of supplements or by reducing your testosterone dose. #3. Exposure to Endocrine Disruptors.
How to test for estrogen?
The best way to test for estrogen is to order a high sensitivity estradiol serum level .
What hormones bind to and reduce the activity of sex hormones?
Sex hormone binding globulin , or SHBG for short, binds to and reduces the activity of sex hormones (which includes testosterone). So high estrogen may stimulate SHBG release from the liver which may then bind to and inactive testosterone.
Why do men have low testosterone?
Stress, even low levels of stress, from work life, family life or other places, may be causing both low testosterone and high estrogen in certain men. Your ability to tolerate stress is known as your "stress resilience" and this resilience may fade over time and with hormone dysregulation.
Understanding Estrogen
Estrogen is found in both males and females, with women often having higher levels than typically found in men. It can be a tool to control a woman’s early puberty and menstrual cycles. It’s also considered a sex hormone. A male’s reproductive system often requires estrogen too.
Normal Male Estrogen Levels
Estrogen levels depend on a man’s health history and age. If you have been unwell recently or suffer from a chronic illness, it may impact your estrogen, as well as your testosterone levels. Typically, adult males should have an average of 10-50 PG/ML of estrogen. These will, of course, vary from the individual and their health.
Should You Be Concerned About Higher Levels of Estrogen?
Men need estrogen for their bodies to function normally. However, too much male estrogen can create several issues. You might have problems with depression, infertility, and even erectile dysfunction. If you’re worried about your estrogen or testosterone levels, you should consult a doctor.
Commons Signs of Lower Male Estrogen Levels
Despite what you might think, low levels of estrogen too can impact the male body. Common signs of low estrogen include osteoporosis, a decreased or lower sex drive, and bone loss. In some instances, you might notice additional belly fat or any weight increase focused on your midsection. This may often be the result of low estrogen.
Common Signs of High Estrogen Levels in Males
Women and men can both have issues with higher estrogen levels; however, it can cause several minor health concerns and a few severe ones. For men, common signs of high estrogen levels include depression, erectile dysfunction, delayed puberty, infertility, and swelling of the breast tissue.
When Should You Visit a doctor?
If you’re worried about low or high estrogen levels, you should speak to a doctor or qualified telemedicine provider such as EVOLVE. Your doctor may require urine or blood tests to determine your estrogen levels. The doctor will then explore which treatment solutions are best for your body and health.
Take Action to Correct the Problem
Estrogen is crucial for men. If your estrogen levels are too low or too high, it can be problematic. Also, it may be an indicator that you have an underlying medical issue. It is crucial to speak to your doctor when you notice the first signs of low or high estrogen levels. Or you suspect you have problems with estrogen.
7 Symptoms of High Estrogen Levels in Men
If you’re thinking to yourself that estrogen is usually associated with women rather than men, you’re not wrong — women naturally have higher levels of estrogen in their bodies. But just like women have a small amount of testosterone in their bodies, men have a small amount of estrogen.
Erectile dysfunction
Although most men don’t feel comfortable discussing erectile dysfunction, it’s a common problem. There are various possible explanations, including stress, low testosterone, and aging — but one of the most likely causes is elevated estrogen.
Infertility
Erectile dysfunction and infertility are closed linked issues, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that high estrogen levels can cause both of them.
Enlarged breast tissue
Tender or enlarged breast tissue — also known as gynecomastia — is another sign of high estrogen levels.
Lower urinary tract symptoms
If you’re experiencing problems around the urinary tract area or the enlargement of the prostate gland, it could be due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Although this is usually due to low testosterone levels which decline naturally with age), it can sometimes signal high estrogen levels.
Decreased muscle mass
When men’s bodies have too much estrogen, it usually results in lower testosterone levels, which in turn results in less protein synthesis and reduced muscle mass.
Weight gain
There are countless possible explanations for weight gain — from thyroid issues to simple lifestyle factors — so it’s best not to jump to conclusions with this one. However, high estrogen levels are a possible culprit.
How to diagnose high estrogen levels?
A doctor can diagnose high estrogen levels by taking a medical history and, in some cases, performing blood tests. Once they know the cause, the doctor can recommend the best treatment options. The cause of the high estrogen levels will determine the treatment options.
What is the primary estrogen in males?
Estrone: This is the primary type of estrogen in males. It is also the primary form of estrogen in females after menopause. The ovaries, placenta, testicles, and fat tissue produce estrone from androstenedione or androgens.
What causes an increase in estrogen?
There are several reasons why estrogen levels can become high. They may rise as a result of:
What are the causes of estrogen dominance?
Health conditions: Some health conditions have an association with or lead to estrogen dominance. These include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and certain cancers. Insulin resistance also increases estrogen levels.
Why does excess body weight cause estrogen?
Obesity: Having excess body weight can result in higher amounts of estrogen due to the fact that fat tissue produces estrone.
What is the difference between male and female estrogen?
Females tend to have higher levels of estrogen, while males have more testosterone, which is the main male sex hormone. In females, estrogen plays a role in the menstrual cycle and reproductive system. In males, it is important for sexual function. Males and females can develop high levels of estrogen, which can affect overall health ...
Why is estrogen important for men?
In males, it is important for sexual function. Males and females can develop high levels of estrogen, which can affect overall health and sexual development and function.
Research
Symptoms
- Normally in men, testosterone and estrogen are maintained in the correct balance. When estrogen levels in men increase, testosterone levels tend to decrease, so that symptoms of high estrogen tend to occur along with symptoms of low testosterone. Signs of high estrogen symptoms in men can therefore be difficult to differentiate from low testosterone symptoms. So what does estrog…
Risks
- As you can see from the list above, men with too much estrogen arent just at risk for non-serious symptoms like decreased sexual function and enlarged breasts. They are also at high risk for more serious problems such as type 2 diabetes.
Side effects
- A number of factors can throw the estrogen/testosterone balance out of whack in men, leading to high estrogen symptoms. Some of these factors include:
Epidemiology
- Aging. Advancing age is associated with an increase in aromatase, the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen.[1] Older men actually have higher estrogen levels than postmenopausal women.
Pathophysiology
- Increased fat relative to muscle. A loss of lean muscle tissue and an increase in fat tissue also typically occurs with advancing age, as well as with metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Fat tissue contains aromatase and thus converts testosterone to estrogen. Fat also serves as a reservoir for storing estradiol. Both these factors lead to increased estrogen levels i…
Results
- Additionally, the men with decreased estrogen showed higher levels of the type of inner abdominal fat known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Men with estrogen deficiency also have decreased bone strength and are at increased risk for fractures.[6]
Treatment
- The important lesson may be that hormonal balance of estrogen with testosterone is key, rather than absolute levels of estrogen itself. Fortunately, a number of diet, lifestyle, and natural therapies have been found to keep estrogen levels balanced. The best-researched treatments for how to reduce estrogen levels in males and improving estrogen balance are: If youre experiencin…