Warning Signs and Symptoms of Low Estrogen Levels
What is Estrogen?
Estrogen is a sex hormone naturally produced by the adrenal gland and ovaries. Also, estrogen comes in three primary forms, produced in different parts of the body (estrone, estradiol, and estriol). Even though the hormone is produced in small amounts, it still plays an important role in women’s health. However, men produce estrogen too, just in smaller quantities.
Since estrogen is a chemical substance, it travels throughout the nervous system delivering messages. If those messages become imbalanced or weakened, health complications occur.
Estrogen is Responsible For:
- Helping to regulate the women’s menstrual cycle.
- Developing girls as they reach puberty
- Breast tenderness and changes during pregnancy
- Helping to maintain pregnancy
- Regulating weight gain and food intake
- Increasing bone density
What are Some Warning Signs of Low Estrogen Levels?
Estrogen deficiency refers to lower than normal levels of the sex hormone. Warning signs vary from person to person, but people with eating disorders and experiencing menopause are more prone to hormonal imbalances. Low levels of estrogen affect men’s health as well.
Signs of Low Estrogen Levels:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Headaches
- Irregular periods
- Decreased sex drive
- Vaginal dryness
- Trouble sleeping
- Mood swings
- Sudden weight loss
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Problems getting pregnant
- High blood pressure
What Causes Low Estrogen?
The cause of low estrogen levels varies for many reasons. The main reason is due to age. As women approach menopause lower levels of progesterone and estrogen occur.
Since estrogen is primarily produced in the ovaries, fertility levels decline as the amount of the female sex hormone reduces. Most of the time this is a natural part of growing older and having reached menopause.
In younger women, low levels of estrogen could indicate premature ovarian failure. Other reasons for a decline in estrogen include a malfunctioning pituitary gland, Turner Syndrome (a genetic disorder), and heart disease. Applying a high-quality estrogen cream helps relieve symptoms.
What are some risk factors?
Risk factors vary as well but common ones are excessive exercise, being severely overweight, and anorexia nervosa. People with a family history of estrogen deficiency have increased risk as well.
How Can You Treat It?
Treatment options for low estrogen symptoms can be effective. One of the best estrogen therapies is (HRT). More specifically an Estrogen cream.
Hormone replacement therapy can use a bioidentical hormone in the form of estrogen cream or supplement. The cream mimics the estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone produced in your body. One way to determine the exact amount needed is through blood tests; otherwise, follow the guidelines on the health product.
Hormone therapy will relieve symptoms by replenishing the levels of estrogen naturally. Your body won’t know the difference between hormones naturally generated or ones supplemented.
Traditional hormone therapy applies a one sized all approach to medicine, while personalized medicine with bioidentical cream tailors to your specific needs. Other options are to take birth control pills and maintain healthy eating. When menopause occurs, women have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer with hormone therapy.
Low levels of estrogen have a significant effect on health. Maintaining optimal levels is key to a long life.
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Low Estrogen Symptoms: Identification, Treatment, and More. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2019, from https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/low-estrogen-symptoms
Female Sex Hormones: Types, Effect on Arousal, and 8 Other Functions. (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2019, from https://www.healthline.com/health/female-sex-hormones
Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Cancer. (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2019, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/mht-fact-sheet
Premature ovarian failure. (2018, April 03). Retrieved January 16, 2019, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/premature-ovarian-failure/symptoms-causes/syc-20354683
