Estrogen and Miscarriage

Elevated estrogen, FSH, LH, prolactin, DHEAS linked to recurrent miscarriage

Eighty women with recurrent pregnancy loss underwent routine work-up to exclude known associations with the condition. Day-3 serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol , luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, total testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were compared. FSH, estradiol (the potent form of estrogen), LH, prolactin and DHEAS concentrations were significantly higher in the unexplained recurrent miscarriage group than in the explained recurrent miscarriage group, although serum concentrations of all hormones were within the normal range.

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/gye.17.4.317.321

Also see:

FSH and Miscarriage

LH and Miscarriage

Prolactin and Miscarriage


Elevated day 3 estrogen found in 58% of unexplained recurrent miscarriage

Both day 3 FSH and estrogen levels were elevated in the unexplained recurrent miscarriage group compared with the control group. When combined, FSH or estrogen levels, or both, were elevated in 58% of the unexplained recurrent miscarriage group and 19% of the control group. Age, parity, and presence of infertility did not differ between groups.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10927054


Levels of estrogen on day 3 of the menstrual cycle are higher in unexplained recurrent miscarriage

Women with recurrent miscarriage underwent routine work-up to exclude known associations of recurrent miscarriage. Serum FSH, LH and estrogen levels were assessed on the 3rd day of the menstrual cycle. Following investigation, 58 women failed to reveal an identifiable cause and are therefore classified as unexplained recurrent miscarriage. Control group consisted of women in whom the cause of abortions was known such as uterine septum and parental chromosomal abnormalities. Mean age, gravidity, parity, presence of infertility, previous number of miscarriages, duration of marriage were similar in both groups. Day 3 serum levels of FSH, estrogen and FSH: LH ratios were compared in the two groups. RESULTS: Elevated FSH concentrations were equally distributed in the unexplained recurrent miscarriage and control groups. Both day 3 estrogen and FSH:LH ratio were elevated in the unexplained recurrent miscarriage group compared with the control group. The percentage of women with elevated FSH and/or estrogen levels on day 3 were significantly higher in the unexplained repeat miscarriage group than in controls.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12756582


79% of women with recurrent miscarriage have an allergic immune response to estrogen

In a longitudinal prospective study, the wheal and flare reaction (allergic reaction) after intradermal injection of estradiol and progesterone was compared in 29 women with recurrent miscarriage to the response in 10 healthy women. Estrogen hypersensitivity was found in 23 patients, and progesterone hypersensitivity in 20 patients. No patient in the control group demonstrated sex hormone hypersensitivity. CONCLUSION: Recurrent miscarriage may be associated with inappropriate local immune responses to sex hormones. Further research is necessary into the mechanisms of hypersensitivity to estrogen and progesterone and their interactions with other systems.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17217371

Also see:

Immune System and Miscarriage


Lower estrogen linked with less miscarriage in sheep

Gilts fed with the high fiber diet had lower circulating estradiol concentrations on days 17, 18 and 19 of the cycle and increased LH pulse frequency on day 18. More oocytes recovered on day 19 from gilts receiving the high fiber diet were at metaphase II after 46-h culture in medium containing 10% of their own follicular fluid, despite fewer large (>7 mm) follicles in these gilts when compared with control animals. There was no effect of diet on ovulation rate, corpora lutea size or progesterone concentrations on days 10-12 after insemination, but embryo survival on days 27-29 after insemination was higher in gilts that received the high fiber diet.

http://www.reproduction-online.org/cgi/content/full/133/2/433


Stress causes miscarriage by increasing estrogen and decreasing progesterone

Stress induces in loading situations a changing action of elevated stress hormones adrenaline, noradrenalin++ and cortisol on the metabolism of other hormones, e.g. a decrease of serum progesterone and an increase of estrogen and thyroxine-level. Therefore the physiological balance of the organism is disturbed. Because informations of the nervous system are transmitted to the utero-placental unit in this way there are disturbances e.g. reduction of fetal oxygenation, advancement of uterine contractility and possible stimulation of labor. Troubles of the immunologic protection of pregnancy by stress have been considered.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3291490

Also see:

Stress and Miscarriage


Lower rate of miscarriage associated with higher estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy

Pregnancy retention was associated positively with concentrations of progesterone and estradiol during week 5.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15302385


Estrogen may prevent miscarriage by inhibiting the maternal immune response to the fetus

Such factors as hormones (cortisol, progesterone, and estrogen), pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (alpha 2-macroglobulin and beta 1-glycoprotein) and AFP, which have immunosuppressive properties, may all serve nonspecifically to inhibit and decrease the general tone of maternal immunologic responses, particularly at the placental interface, where many of these factors are present in high concentrations.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3312681


Adding 4mg estrogen during luteal phase of IVF treatment reduces miscarriage rate to 2.6%

OBJECTIVE: To find the optimal dosage of estrogen for luteal phase support through the addition of different doses of estradiol to progesterone luteal phase support in patients undergoing long GnRH agonist in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. CONCLUSION: The miscarriage rate was significantly lower in group 2 - 4mg (2.6%) than in group 1 - 2mg (20%) but was not significantly lower than in group 3- 6mg (9.6%). For luteal phase support, adding 2, 4 or 6mg of oral estrogen to progesterone creates no statistical difference in terms of pregnancy rates. However, a significantly higher miscarriage rate was found when 2mg estrogen was used. Therefore, in the luteal phase support, 4mg of oral estrogen in addition to progesterone can be considered to reduce the miscarriage rate.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21067858


Estrogen is vital to maintaining pregnancy

The aim of this study was to determine the role of estrogen in pregnancy maintenance in baboons by suppressing estrogen synthesis through administration of a highly specific nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor, CGS 20267. Estradiol alone prevented the high rate of miscarriage induced by the antiestrogenic agent CGS 20267. Estrogen, acting directly, indirectly, or both through a factor or factors other than the level of progesterone, plays a critically important physiologic role in the maintenance of primate pregnancy.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10694348


Estrogen, but not progesterone, is associated with embryo development

In 152 patients with an early pregnancy which was subsequently normal, we measured the maternal serum levels of estradiol, progesterone and prolactin as well as the diameter of gestational sac and the crown-rump length of the embryo by transvaginal ultrasonography. The maternal serum level of estradiol had the closest statistically significant correlation with both the gestational sac diameter and the crown-rump length. Progesterone and prolactin concentrations showed less correlation with embryo development.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7726657


Estrogen, but not age, progesterone, or previous miscarriage, associated with embryo growth

Serum estradiol levels were related to chorionic sac diameter and crown-rump length. No relationship was found to progesterone, maternal age, parity, or previous miscarriage. We conclude that differences in uterine blood flow and serum estradiol explain some of the variability in the rate of embryo growth during the first 12 gestational weeks.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8567791


Other topics covered under Estrogen:

How to Lower Estrogen

Estrogen and Fibrocystic Breast

Estrogen and Insulin Resistance

Estrogen and the Thyroid

More Effects of Estrogen