Breastfeeding & Vaginal Health: The Oestrogen Link

Estrogen is incredibly high during pregnancy, contributing to the baby’s development and the creation of the milk ducting system.

As soon as the baby is out, estrogen levels plummet to near menopausal levels, which leaves room for the milk-producing hormone, prolactin.

Prolactin levels stay high during nursing, however estrogen levels stay low, which can cause some unexpected and unpleasant vaginal and pelvic floor symptoms.

Low estrogen can result in a dry vagina, low libido, pelvic floor laxity/weakness and may prevent the return of normal periods. It can also result in vaginal microbiome problems, as estrogen stimulates glycogen in vaginal cells, which is food for protective lactobacilli species.

Lactobacilli species are desirable vaginal microbes which keep pathogens away via several important mechanisms. If lactobacilli don’t have enough food (energy sources), their numbers will dwindle, leaving room for other microbes to take their place.

The result can be vaginal dysbiosis, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) or aerobic vaginitis (AV). Symptoms can include odour, discharge, itching, burning and discomfort.

The pelvic floor muscles and tissue may become a little weaker, as the impact of estrogen is strong on this area of the body. Be gentle and don’t try to jump right back into your normal exercise routine or strenuous activities – allow your body time to heal and only do what you feel you can.

Increasing systemic estrogen levels during lactation with foods

Some foods contain phytoestrogens, which are 200-300 times weaker than human estrogen, thus in a low estrogen state, can provide a weak source of estrogens – which might be better than nothing.

Searchable phytoestrogen-containing foods list^1,2

Plant species (Common name)	μg/100 g dry weight	Levels
Plum	5	Very Low
Wheat (white meal)	8	Very Low
Banana	10	Very Low
Apple	12	Very Low
Oatmeal	13	Very Low
Potato (peeled)	16	Very Low
Lentil	23	Very Low
Pea	27	Very Low
Cabbage	33	Very Low
Tritacle (meal)	35	Very Low
Wheat (wholegrain)	36	Very Low
Cabbage, Turnip-rooted	43	Very Low
Poppy seed	51	Very Low
Tritacle (wholegrain, wheat variant)	52	Very Low
Barley (wholegrain)	80	Low
Barley bran	85	Low
Onion	91	Low
Pistachio nut	96	Low
Beetroot	100	Low
Almond	111	Low
Cauliflower	111	Low
Rye meal (wholegrain)	112	Low
Wheat bran	121	Low
Hazelnut	123	Low
Paprika	124	Low
Rasberry	139	Low
Sharon	145	Low
Cabbage, Red	160	Low
Red currant	165	Low
Walnut	173	Low
Oat bran	179	Low
Witloof/Endive	190	Low
Cloudberry	203	Moderate
Caraway seed	235	Moderate
Chickpea/Garbanzo bean	250	Moderate
Black-eyed pea/Cow pea	255	Moderate
Cashew nut	261	Moderate
Rye bran	299	Moderate
Black gram bean	361	Moderate
Carrot (skin on)	370	Moderate
Garlic	380	Moderate
Kidney bean	396	Moderate
Black currant	398	Moderate
Peanut	420	Moderate
Broccoli	451	Moderate
American groundnut (potato bean)	511	Moderate
Pigeon pea	517	High
Clover seed	518	High
Zuccini (skin on)	817	High
Blueberry	835	High
Sesame seed	852	High
Cranberry	1054	High
Strawberry	1210	High
Lingonberry	1510	High
Tea, Yellow label tea-bag	2591	Very High
Sunflower seed	2600	Very High
Tea, Earl Grey tea (Oriental tea mixture)	3212	Very High
Kudzu leaf	3371	Very High
Tea, Pure Lapsang Souchong tea (China)	3520	Very High
Tea, China Gunpowder	3672	Very High
Pumpkin (peeled)	3874	Very High
Tea, Japan Sencha Green tea	4075	Very High
Tea, Nippon Sencha Green tea	5565	Very High
Tea, Prince of Wales, tea-bag	5768	Very High
Tea, China Green tea	5965	Very High
Tea, Green	8000	Very High
Black tea	8500	Very High
Soy bean	88843	Extremely High
Kudzu root	197631	Extremely High
Flaxseed	370987	Extremely High
Flaxseed (crushed)	547300	Extremely High

Hormone-free vaginal treatments for low estrogen symptoms

My Vagina makes and stocks two excellent all-natural, drug free, hormone free, soothing pessaries that have a gentle estrogenic effect on the vaginal tissue.

Studies^3,4 show that fennel has activity when used vaginally to increase the function and thickness of vaginal epithelial cells.

The fennel and pomegranate promote glycogen production and strong, healthy vaginal cells. The moisturising effect comes from the sea buckthorn oil, a well-regarded vaginal moisturiser when used both internally and topically.

Recommended treatment is two weeks every night during sleep, then as needed.

Aunt Vadge’s Fennelope – fennel and seabuckthorn oil pessary
Aunt Vadge’s EstroBoost – fennel, seabuckthorn oil and pomegranate oil vaginal pessary

Vaginal hormone therapy

Your doctor may prescribe a vaginal estrogen cream. Talk to your practitioner about your symptoms and their recommended treatment.

References

1.
Bacciottini L, Falchetti A, Pampaloni B, Bartolini E, Carossino A, Brandi M. Phytoestrogens: food or drug? Clin Cases Miner Bone Metab. 2007;4(2):123-130. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22461212
2.
Mazur W, Adlercreutz H. Naturally occurring oestrogens in food. Pure and Applied Chemistry. Published online September 1, 1998:1759-1776. doi:10.1351/pac199870091759
3.
Ghazanfarpour M, Shokrollahi P, Khadivzadeh T, et al. Effect of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Post Reprod Health. Published online October 8, 2017:171-176. doi:10.1177/2053369117733629
4.
Yaralizadeh M, Abedi P, Najar S, Namjoyan F, Saki A. Effect of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) vaginal cream on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Maturitas. Published online February 2016:75-80. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.11.005