What To Know About Low Estrogen Levels
Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Low estrogen levels can be normal with aging. However, in some cases it can be caused by chronic illnesses, excessive exercise and more.
Estrogen is a hormone produced in the ovaries that controls sexual development in females. It plays a major role in the female reproductive system. It is also present in small amounts in males. A woman’s estrogen levels peak in her mid- to late-20s then decline by 50% by the time she is 50. Estrogen declines more rapidly after menopause.
This article covers the causes and symptoms of low estrogen, along with how low estrogen is diagnosed and treated.
The Gut Is The Gateway Health
The gut is the gateway to health.
Think about it: Every single cell in a womans body is nourished, fed and supported by what goes into the gut.
In addition, one of the major centers of hormone production occurs in your gut itself. In fact, the gut is now being termed an endocrine organ.
Thus, when we have a weak foundation in our gut , then the rest of our body takes a hit cortisol and hormone levels included.
Since essential nutrients are unable to reach these hormones or other cells that govern our metabolic processes, stress is much more likely.
Even if you do eat healthy, if you have an underlying gut imbalance or you are not supporting the health of your gut and digestion as a whole, then your body is simply not going to absorb and digest the foods you do feed it.
In short: A common reason why women experience all the usual symptoms of menopause goes back to the gut.
Heal the gut, reduce hormone imbalance
So what to do?
To get to the bottom of your own health or gut imbalances, its always advised you consult with a doctor or other healthcare practitioner trained in a functional approach for addressing the roots of these imbalances .
Much of our contemporary medical way of thinking is the replacement model.
This is simply replacing hormones or treating hormone imbalances with hormone replacement drugs and therapies before looking into the reasons why hormones are significantly out of balance in the first place.
What Are The Parts Of The Pituitary Gland
Your pituitary gland has two main parts, or lobes: the anterior lobe and the posterior lobe. Each lobe has different functionality and different types of tissue.
The anterior pituitary, the larger of the two lobes, consists of hormone-secreting epithelial cells and is connected to your hypothalamus through blood vessels.
The posterior pituitary consists of unmyelinated secretory neurons and is connected to your hypothalamus through a nerve tract.
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Estrogen And The Cardiovascular System
Scientists are still learning about the actions of estrogen in the body. Studies have shown that estrogen affects almost every tissue or organ system, including the heart and blood vessels. Estrogens known effects on the cardiovascular system include a mix of positive and negative:
- Increases HDL cholesterol
- Promotes blood clot formation, and also causes some changes that have the opposite effect
- Relaxes, smooths and dilates blood vessels so blood flow increases
- Soaks up free radicals, naturally occurring particles in the blood that can damage the arteries and other tissues.
Estrogen probably affects the cardiovascular system in other ways that are as yet undiscovered. New research continues to give scientists and physicians more information and raise more questions about this important and controversial hormone.
Over the years, evidence was accumulating that suggested estrogen also helped protect women against heart disease. With heart disease is the number one killer among women over age 65, this is an important issue. Women develop heart disease 10 years later than men, but by age 65, their risk is equal to that of men.
What Is The Difference Between Anorexia And Bulimia
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are both eating disorders. They can have similar symptoms, such as distorted body image and an intense fear of gaining weight. The difference is that they have different food-related behaviors.
People who have anorexia severely reduce their calorie intake and/or purge to lose weight. People who have bulimia eat an excessive amount of food in a short period of time followed by certain behaviors to prevent weight gain. Such behaviors include:
- Intentional vomiting.
- Misuse of medications such as laxatives or thyroid hormones.
- Fasting or exercising excessively.
People with bulimia usually maintain their weight at optimal or slightly above optimal levels whereas people with anorexia typically have a body mass index that is below 18.45 kg/m2 .
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What Are Some Of These Challenges And Are They Normal
Challenges such as vaginal atrophy, chronic urinary tract infections, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and postmenopausal bleeding most often occur after menopause, in part due to an estrogen deficiency. They can have a major impact on a womans wellbeing.
Women often associate these issues with getting older, thinking it is normal to experience them once you reach a certain age. But just because these issues are common does not mean they are normal, or that you are doomed to suffer because you are aging. Your womens health provider can help you find management methods to achieve and maintain a better quality of life. Lets talk through some of the most common post-menopausal challenges women face but often hesitate to bring up with their provider.
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Less Intercourse Is Natural
Despite what the media and prescription drug commercials would have you believe, intercourse in later years often isnt as pleasurable for couples as it used to be. Thats because of bodily changes such as vaginal dryness and erectile dysfunction, says Kraft. Half of women in their 50s continue having intercourse, but by their 70s only 27 percent of women are doing it.
That doesnt mean that you cant be intimate with your partner whether youre having intercourse with the help of lubricants, vaginal moisturizers or prescription drugs, or choosing other ways of staying connected.
About a third of long-term couples dont have sex or have sex only occasionally. But they dont necessarily consider that a problem. Its just where their relationships have evolved, explains Kraft. They do other things that are intimate that they enjoy like cuddling, sharing a bed and laughing together. And theyre happy.
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Mistake #: Doing Isolated Exercises
If you’re hitting the weights, I love it. You’re on the right track.
Muscle is key and not just for toning and firming. Muscle is what boosts your metabolism, so you can burn more fat and calories around the clock. If you want results, you’ve got to get after that muscle.
However, doing isolated exercises like bicep curls and tricep kickbacks is not very effective. These one-muscle-at-a-time move simply don’t stimulate enough muscle fibers to build lean muscle or extend enough energy to maximize your calorie burn.
To boost your metabolism and tone and tighten things up, you’ve got to do exercises that stimulate multiple muscle groups, simultaneously.
That is how you build lean muscle and burn more calories at the same time.
Using these types of exercises, which I’ll explain on the next page will dramatically accelerate your results.
And all you need is a pair of dumbbells. This is a total game-changer and you are gonna love the results!
Menopausal Belly Fat Is More Than An Aesthetic Issue
Extra weight, especially around the abdomen, is dangerous, Randolph says, because it can boost your risk of type 2 diabetes. Plus, another SWAN study, published in June 2021 in the journal Menopause, found that women who quickly developed abdominal fat during menopause were at greater risk of heart disease, even if their weight stayed steady.
Even menopause itself is linked to an increased risk for metabolic syndrome a group of health conditions, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess abdominal fat, and abnormal cholesterol levels, that increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes according to a study published in September 2020 in the journal Menopause.
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The timer that goes along with the cardio workouts is awesome. I’m excited to see my results at the end of my first three weeks. Thank you for creating this program, its the next best thing to having an actual personal trainer teach me how to eat and workout.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Anorexia
You cannot tell if a person has anorexia just by their appearance because anorexia also involves mental and behavioral components not just physical. A person does not need to be underweight to have anorexia. Larger-bodied individuals can also have anorexia. However, they may be less likely to be diagnosed due to cultural stigma against fat and obesity. In addition, someone can be underweight without having anorexia. Remember, anorexia also includes psychological and behavioral components as well as physical.
There are several emotional, behavioral and physical signs and symptoms of anorexia. If you or someone you know experiences the signs and symptoms of anorexia below, its important to seek help.
Emotional and mental signs of anorexia
Emotional and mental signs of anorexia include:
- Having an intense fear of gaining weight.
- Being unable to realistically assess your body weight and shape .
- Having an obsessive interest in food, calories and dieting.
- Feeling overweight or fat, even if youre underweight.
- Fear of certain foods or food groups.
- Being very self-critical.
- Experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Behavioral signs of anorexia
Behavioral signs of anorexia include:
Physical signs and symptoms of anorexia
Physical signs of anorexia include:
Physical symptoms of anorexia that are side effects of starvation and malnutrition include:
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Myth #: The First Sign Of Menopause Is Hot Flashes
Despite the fact that menopause and hot flashes are almost synonymous in our society, your first sign of menopause could be any of the following:
- Feeling overwhelmed
- PMS-like symptoms, including stronger cramps, bloating, breast tenderness or headaches
Its also important to remember that theres no set pattern for symptoms. You may experience one or many, and each symptom can range dramatically in severity and frequency. Plus, with such a wide variety of symptoms, its no wonder that women may not immediately connect them to menopausal hormonal imbalance. This is especially true when symptoms overlap with adrenal or thyroid imbalances. If youre not sure whether hormonal, thyroid or adrenal imbalance is causing your symptoms, take our quick 15-question Symptom Checker right now.
Womens Health Initiative Studies Of Hormone Therapy And Cancer Risk
Several large studies have looked at possible links between systemic hormone therapy in menopausal women and different types of cancer.
The main randomized studies of MHT were part of the Womens Health Initiative . The WHI included 2 randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials of MHT in healthy women:
- One study looked at estrogen therapy in post-menopausal women who didnt have a uterus. Over 5,000 women in the ET group took a daily dose of estrogen in the form of conjugated equine estrogen for an average of about 6 years. The researchers then continued to follow them for several years to look for any further effects of the hormone. The women were compared to more than 5,000 in the placebo group.
- The other study looked at estrogen-progestin therapy in post-menopausal women who still had their uterus. Over 8,500 women in the EPT group took a daily dose of CEE plus a progestin called medroxyprogesterone acetate for an average of about 5 years. This group was compared to a group of more than 8,000 women in the placebo group.
The WHI also conducted some observational studies. However, when we mention a WHI study below, were referring to one of the randomized studies.
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If You’re A Woman Over 40 Getting Lean & Fit Can Be More Challenging
If you’re a woman over 40, you already know that getting lean and fit can be more challenging.
Hormones get wacky. I was born in ’78. So, yes, I know!
If you feel like you’ve tried it all: lots of cardio, spin classes, weights, yoga, and haven’t gotten the results you’re after, you’re probably making one or more of these five mistakes…
New Health Risks Emerge As Estrogen Level Declines
Women who have had no health issues before menopause can face increased odds of problems after going through the change.
In addition to the loss of estrogen, other shifts happen in the body that can harm your health after menopause. For example, blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides tend to go up after menopause, according to the American Heart Association , although scientists are unsure why.
While every woman faces unique risks based on genetics and other factors, its a good idea to be mindful of how to protect yourself against these common health conditions that can increase in risk after menopause.
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Will I Gain Weight After Menopause
Maybe. Many women gain an average of 5 pounds after menopause. Lower estrogen levels may play a role in weight gain after menopause. But weight gain may be caused by your metabolism slowing down as you age. You may also not eat as healthy or be as active as when you were younger. You also lose muscle mass as you age .
Weight gain can raise your risk for high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. The risk is greater if you are already overweight or are not active or eating healthy. Learn about the effects of overweight and obesity on heart health.
The best way to lose weight, if you are overweight or obese, is to eat fewer calories each day. Exercise or physical activity is also important for good health, but works better to keep weight off than it does to help you lose weight. Researchers think this might be because people who are physically active are usually hungrier. Eating healthy and getting at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days is the best way to keep a healthy weight.
What Is The Function Of The Pituitary Gland
The main function of your pituitary gland is to produce and release several hormones that help carry out important bodily functions, including:
- Water and sodium balance.
- Labor and childbirth.
Think of your pituitary gland like a thermostat. The thermostat performs constant temperature checks in your home to keep you comfortable. It sends signals to your heating and cooling systems to turn up or down a certain number of degrees to keep air temperatures constant.
Your pituitary gland monitors your body functions in much the same way. Your pituitary sends signals to your organs and glands via its hormones to tell them what functions are needed and when. The right settings for your body depend on several factors, including your age and sex.
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What Is A Hormonal Imbalance
Hormones are chemicals produced by different glands and tissues, forming a part of the endocrine system.
Hormones travel to all of the bodys tissues and organs through the bloodstream. They give messages to these organs, letting them know what function to perform and when to do it.
Hormones help regulate a lot of processes in the body. Hormones manage appetite and metabolism, sleep cycles, heart rate, sexual function, general mood and stress levels, and body temperature. Because they affect so many functions, imbalances in certain hormones can lead to uncomfortable symptoms.
A hormonal imbalance occurs when a person has too much or too little of a certain hormone, such as insulin, cortisol, thyroxine, androgens, estrogen, or progesterone. Even slight changes can have a significant effect on your body.
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The 21-Day Metabolic Reset is delivered in a digital video format. You can use it on as many devices as youd like! It can be streamed online from your phone, tablet, laptop, desktop computer, or smart T.V.). As soon as you make your purchase, you get instant access to everything online so you can get started ASAP. No waiting and no shipping charge, woo hoo!
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Can A Woman Still Produce Estrogen After Hysterectomy
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. Also to know is, does a woman still produce estrogen after menopause?
All women produce the female hormone oestrogen however, itâs made differently by the body before and after menopause. After menopause , monthly menstrual periods stop. The body still makes small amounts of oestrogen by changing hormones called androgens into oestrogen.
Beside above, can a woman still come after a hysterectomy? A hysterectomy is a surgery to remove a womanâs uterus . During the surgery the whole uterus is usually removed. Your doctor may also remove your fallopian tubes and ovaries. After a hysterectomy, you no longer have menstrual periods and cannot become pregnant.
In this way, can you produce estrogen without ovaries?
Without the ovaries in play, the brain took over, creating new estrogen that washed over the brain in large, rapid pulses. In the second experiment, Kenealy stimulated the hypothalamus directly using a mild electric current, causing it to release estrogen.
What are the side effects of not taking hormones after hysterectomy?
ET also helps decrease other menopause symptoms, such as vaginal dryness, sleep problems, and moodiness related to hormone changes.
- ET slightly increases your risk of stroke, and blood clots.
- Side effects of ET may include breast tenderness, bloating, and upset stomach.
- ET may increase your risk of gallstones.