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.
Of the two types of estrogen (estrone and estradiol), the average male can expect an estrone level between 10 and 60pg/ml and an estradiol level between 10 and 40pg/ml — though it might not be possible to detect these levels in younger males.
Unfortunately, in recent years, evidence suggests that the estrogen levels of men have risen a little too high, which leads to potential problems. It’s important to pick up on this as quickly as possible to avoid further complications — so we’ve identified the seven most common symptoms.
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.
When the body’s estrogen and testosterone levels are imbalanced, it can disrupt its reproductive processes. That means fewer and less mobile sperm — and therefore a lower likelihood of conceiving.
You might not be overly concerned about infertility if you have no intentions to have children any time soon — maybe you even think of it as a good thing — but the truth is that fertility is a marker of health everyone should take seriously.
Enlarged breast tissue
Tender or enlarged breast tissue — also known as gynecomastia — is another sign of high estrogen levels.
It can also lead to some other nasty side effects. Although breast cancer is far more common among women, men can also experience abnormal growth in the area and contract the disease.
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.
Signs of BPH include finding it hard to urinate, greater need to urinate at night, urinary tract infections, blood in the urine, and a weak stream when urinating (or stopping and starting or failing to empty the bladder).
In addition to being a symptom of low estrogen levels, lower urinary tract symptoms can also increase the risk of prostate cancer, so it’s not something to overlook.
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.
Gaining weight alone probably isn’t a sign of excessive estrogen, but if there’s no clear explanation, it might be worth checking for other symptoms.
Fatigue
Again, fatigue is a common issue and isn’t necessarily a high of high estrogen levels. It might simply be a marker of depression, nutritional deficiency, or stress.
However, if you’re experiencing fatigue alongside other symptoms on this list, you might be suffering from high estrogen levels.
Time to consider treatment
As we’ve outlined, experiencing one or two of the symptoms outlined above isn’t necessarily a guarantee that you’re suffering from high estrogen levels — especially if you’re experiencing one of the more generic symptoms.
However, if you’ve noticed various symptoms, it’s best to seek out medical attention to be sure. Early treatment is important to avoid further complications. Speak with one of our experts today, and improve your life quality within a few weeks of treatment.
