Estrogen (a.k.a. Estradiol)
You've heard the word “estrogen” tossed around – this tiny little hormone tends to get blamed for every female issue under the sun. At the same time, it's generally praised for all good things female!
(NOTE: Want the Top Easy Steps to Boosting Your Fertility? Use these 5 simple, evidence-based steps to get pregnant and carry your healthy baby to term. Get them here.)
But the primary function of estradiol, the major form of estrogen in your body, is not to influence your mood or female greatness (and I know you're one amazing woman!) It's to influence your reproductive system. It's produced during your cycle as the follicles grow within your ovaries (these are triggered by follicle stimulating hormone, or FSH).
The hormone sends feedback to your pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is located at the base of your brain and is a master control for many of your reproductive functions. When it receives the message sent by estradiol your luteinizing hormone surge occurs, which in turn triggers ovulation.
After ovulation estradiol keeps on working by helping progesterone build up the endometrium, which is the lining of your uterus. The endometrium will help sustain a new pregnancy.
Levels increase during pregnancy and it's thought that the hormone may help to sustain pregnancy.
How Can Estradiol Help Track Fertility?
Estradiol can be tested for via urine test much like a pregnancy test and ovulation predictor kit. In fact, fertility monitors that test for estradiol also test for LH (ovulation predictor kits test for just LH.)
The leading fertility monitor is the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor. It works by detecting both LH and estradiol. You use test sticks throughout your cycle just as you would ovulation kit strips. When the monitor detects estradiol in your urine it gives you a “high fertility” reading. When it detects LH joining the fun it gives you a “peak fertility” reading. This is the point at which you want to get your man into the bed for a very good chance at making a baby 😉
The primary disadvantage of complex monitors that detect estradiol over using simple ovulation predictor kits is they cost more up front and can cost much more per cycle.
The advantage of using a monitor is you get more “advance notice” of approaching ovulation. Estrogens appear in your urine before the sharp LH shift that ovulation strips test for. So you're given more days to try to conceive. You may also like the overall picture of your cycle a monitor can give you – it can help you know what hormonal changes are occurring through the rest of your cycle, as well.
(NOTE: Want the Top Easy Steps to Boosting Your Fertility? Use these 5 simple, evidence-based steps to get pregnant and carry your healthy baby to term. Get them here.)