Although it’s called the female hormone, a man’s body also makes estrogen. A healthy balance of estrogen and testosterone is important for sexual growth and development. When these hormones become imbalanced, your sexual development and function may be affected.
Symptoms of high estrogen in men include:
- Infertility. Estrogen is partly responsible for creating healthy sperm. When estrogen levels are high, sperm levels may fall and lead to fertility issues.
- Gynecomastia. 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.
Diagnosing high estrogen
If your doctor suspects that you might have high estrogen, they’ll likely order a blood test to check your hormone levels. A trained professional will collect a sample of your blood to be tested in a laboratory. The results will indicate if your estrogen levels are too low or too high. Blood estrogen levels are measured in pictograms per milliliter (pg/mL).
There are three types of estrogen: estradiol, estriol, and estrone. Estradiol is the primary female sex hormone. Estriol and estrone are minor female sex hormones. Estriol is nearly undetectable in women who aren’t pregnant.
Normal estrogen levels in women
According to Mayo Medical Laboratories, the following estrone and estradiol levels are considered normal for women:
| Estrone | Estradiol | |
| Prepubescent female | Undetectable–29 pg/mL | Undetectable–20 pg/ml |
| Pubescent female | 10–200 pg/mL | Undetectable–350 pg/ml |
| Premenopausal adult female | 17–200 pg/mL | 15–350 pg/ml |
| Postmenopausal adult female | 7–40 pg/mL | <10 pg/ml |
In premenopausal girls and women, estradiol levels vary widely throughout the menstrual cycle.
Normal estrogen levels in men
According to Mayo Medical Laboratories, the following estrone and estradiol levels are considered normal for men:
| Estrone | Estradiol | |
| Prepubescent male | Undetectable–16 pg/ml | Undetectable–13 pg/ml |
| Pubescent male | Undetectable–60 pg/ml | Undetectable–40 pg/ml |
| Adult male | 10–60 pg/ml | 10–40 pg/ml |
