Oestrogen 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, oestrogen levels plummet to near menopausal levels, which leaves room for the milk-producing hormone, prolactin.
Prolactin levels stay high during nursing, however oestrogen levels stay low, which can cause some unexpected and unpleasant vaginal and pelvic floor symptoms.
Low oestrogen 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 oestrogen 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 oestrogen 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 oestrogen levels during lactation with foods
Some foods contain phyto-oestrogens, which are 200-300 times weaker than human oestrogen, thus in a low oestrogen state, can provide a weak source of oestrogens – which might be better than nothing.
Searchable phyto-oestrogen containing foods list1,2
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 oestrogen symptoms
My Vagina makes and stocks two excellent all-natural, drug free, hormone free, soothing pessaries that have a gentle oestrogenic effect on the vaginal tissue.
Studies3,4 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 oestrogen 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