Hormones

What Should My Estrogen Levels Be During My Cycle?

Kylie Han

It’s normal for estrogen levels to fluctuate during the menstrual cycle. However, too high or too low levels of estrogen can throw your menstrual cycle off balance.

Published:

Apr 21, 2025

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Estrogen is an essential hormone for maintaining reproductive and overall health. Working alongside other hormones, estrogen fluctuates to maintain balance in the reproductive system. It’s normal for estrogen levels to rise and fall throughout the menstrual cycle. However, it is only when you reach menopause that estrogen levels significantly decrease.

Types of Estrogen

There are multiple types of estrogen that are produced by different parts of the body. Estradiol is the main and most abundant type of estrogen, responsible for puberty, the development of female characteristics, sexual functioning, and supporting other body functions (1).

The three other types of estrogen are:

Estrone: Produced by adrenal glands, fat cells, and ovaries. It’s the weakest type of estrogen and the main one present post-menopause (2)
Estriol: Made by placenta and is produced during pregnancy to prepare the body for childbirth
Estetrol: Produced by the human fetal liver during pregnancy

Estradiol

Estradiol is produced by your ovaries and follicles and is responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle and fertility. It ensures that the egg is matured and released from the follicles during ovulation. Estradiol works with progesterone to thicken the uterine lining and prepare the body for pregnancy. It’s also critical to maintaining our bone and cardiovascular health.

What are normal estradiol levels during the menstrual cycle?

There are two main phases in the menstrual cycle in which estradiol levels fluctuate.

The follicular phase: This is the first phase of the menstrual cycle, starting when your period begins and ending at ovulation. During this phase, estradiol levels increase, prompting follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to stimulate the follicles in your ovaries to grow and form a fully mature egg. Once estradiol reaches a certain level, it activates the luteinizing hormone (LH) to surge and trigger ovulation.

The luteal phase: This is the second half of your cycle, following ovulation. Estradiol levels fall after ovulation and then rise again in the mid-luteal phase. Progesterone levels increase to thicken the uterine lining and prepare for possible pregnancy. Estrogen levels continue to rise during pregnancy. However, if the egg isn’t fertilized during ovulation, hormone levels drop, the thick uterine lining sheds, estradiol levels drop again, and you get your period.

Normal estradiol levels range from:

30 to 400 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL) before menopause
0 to 30 pg/mL postmenopause (3)

You can take blood tests, urine tests, and at-home hormone tests like Oova to measure your estrogen levels, and it’s important to check if you think your estrogen levels are outside the normal range. Some reasons to check your estradiol levels include experiencing irregular periods, fertility issues, early or delayed puberty, and if you’re going through IVF or hormone replacement therapy. If estradiol levels are too low or high, it can lead to hormone imbalances that can affect your fertility and reproductive health.

Low estrogen symptoms

Estradiol levels will decline significantly when you reach menopause (when you are no longer ovulating). As a result, you may experience symptoms such as vaginal dryness, mood changes, hot flashes, headaches, fatigue, night sweats, weak bones, and more. If you experience these symptoms before perimenopause and menopause, you should consult your doctor.

Those going through menopause or experiencing low estradiol levels may be recommended to take estradiol hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve menopausal symptoms and conditions like osteoporosis. However, there are medical risks with this treatment such as blood clot and cardiovascular disorders and certain types of cancer.

High Estrogen symptoms

When estrogen levels are too high, it can lead to hormonal imbalances that can cause serious health conditions. Estrogen levels can become too high due to health conditions like PCOS and certain medications or treatments, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or the result of alcohol consumption, obesity, and poor liver health. Symptoms of high estrogen include irregular periods, breast changes, fertility issues, severe PMS symptoms, and uterine fibroids and polyps.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms (whether low or high estrogen symptoms), it may be a sign of estrogen imbalance and it’s important to talk to your doctor.

Estrogen levels during your menstrual cycle: the bottom line

It’s natural for estrogen levels to fluctuate during your menstrual cycle. Estrogen increases leading up to ovulation and falls in the luteal phase if pregnancy does not occur. However, estrogen levels that are too high or low can cause a hormonal imbalance. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult your healthcare professional. Additionally, at-home hormone tests, like the Oova kit and app, can help measure and track your estrogen fluctuations easily. Knowing what symptoms to look out for and tools like at-home hormone tests can help you stay on track with your reproductive health.

About the author

Kylie Han is a writer from Oakland, California. She's the SEO Manager at The Infatuation, where she loves to support the work of writers and highlight local restaurants. She is also a contributing writer at The Infatuation and is excited to get involved in reproductive health, a passion of hers.

Sources

About the Oova Blog:
‍Our content is developed with a commitment to high editorial standards and reliability. We prioritize referencing reputable sources and sharing where our insights come from. The Oova Blog is intended for informational purposes only and is never a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider before making any health decisions.

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