What Does Low Estrogen Do To The Body

What Are Low Estrogen Symptoms

First, letâs talk about causes. Women may have lower levels of estrogen when theyâre postmenopausal, after an oophorectomy , or when they have a lower body-fat percentage.

If you have lower levels of estrogen, you might experience:

• Infrequent or disrupted periods
• Hot flashes and/or night sweats
• Sleeping issues

• Anxiety or depression

How do normal estrogen levels change with age?

During the reproductive years, estrogen levels naturally fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle â theyâre highest toward the middle and lowest during your period.

At the onset of menopause, when periods come to a complete stop, estrogen levels drop.

Can you test your estrogen levels?

Yep â and Modern Fertility makes it easy to check in with your hormone levels at home. Depending on your birth control, you can test up to eight hormones, including E2 , and get customized, physician-reviewed reports based on your results.

Hereâs what else youâll get:

• A free 1:1 consult with our fertility nurse
• Online tools to track hormone changes over time and help you plan your timeline for kids
• Access to our weekly live Q& As
• An invite to the Modern Community to connect with others and get your questions answered

What You Can Do Today About Low Estrogen Issues

When your estrogen levels start to drop, the development of unpleasant symptoms often comes on fast and furious. In other cases, women describe a slow and steady decline that they assumed was just a part of middle age. Whatever your personal experience is with imbalanced hormone levels, know this: you can start taking steps to feel better today.

There are several different hormone therapy options, and the right match for you will depend on many factors. Thats why your first step should always be to schedule a consultation with an experienced and knowledgeable expert, like the ones at Focal Point Vitality.

Not only does our consultation process include pinpointing your hormone levels and the possible causes of imbalance, but it also dives into your family, medical, and personal history. Together, well talk about your goals , then explore the treatment options that are best suited to you. Simple, straightforward, and hugely informative, a consultation at our Phoenix hormone replacement therapy clinic is a must and something you can tackle today.

From there, the treatment process will be completely tailored to your needs. Whether its estrogen, progesterone, or another replacement therapy thats right for you, youll have a Focal Point Vitality professional with you every step of the way. And because we customize every treatment plan, youre free to choose the options that fit your lifestyle and goals.

Reasons For Low Estrogen

There are times when your estrogen levels fluctuate, such as during your period or when youre pregnant. But as you get older and approach menopause, your estrogen levels decline. For some, it happens earlier. Any condition that impairs the ovaries can reduce estrogen production.

Low estrogen levels can have a serious impact on your life. Fortunately, there are ways to replenish your estrogen supply so you dont have to suffer from the many life-altering symptoms.

Recommended Reading: Does Nugenix Have An Estrogen Blocker

What You Can Do About It

If you think you might have low estrogen, the first thing to do is talk to your doctor. They can test your hormone levels to make sure this is the case. Then they can work with you to figure out why this might be happening so you can get the correct treatment.

“If you have symptoms of low estrogen, you shouldn’t tough it out. There’s help for you!” Dr. Eyvazzadeh says. “And if you don’t have a doctor that is listening and paying attention to your symptoms then find another one. A gynecologist should be able to help with symptoms of low estrogen.”

It’s important, though, to rule out menopause as a factor. “If you suspect premature menopause, you do want to see your gynecologist, because women with premature menopause need to be on hormonal therapy,” says Dr. Minkin. “The rate of premature menopause is high enough that everyone should know how to check for it and the symptoms,” says Dr. Eyvazzadeh.

Having low estrogen isnât immediately dangerous per se but it definitely affects your bodyâs performance on a number of levels. If youâve read the symptoms and think your estrogen might be low, talk to your doctor about getting your levels tested. Your doctor can help you get your levels, and your life, back on track.

Studies Cited

Experts

Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, MD, clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale University School of Medicine

How Is Low Estrogen Treated

Women who have low levels of estrogen may benefit from hormonal treatment. Hormonal treatment is the standard for low estrogen. There are non-hormonal options to help relieve symptoms. Non-hormonal options are preferred for women at high risk for breast cancer, blood clots, stroke, or liver disease.

You May Like: Estradiol Patch Generic Price

A Change In Recommendations

These studies were the first large-scale trials that looked for cause and effect with heart disease and HRT. HRT does offer some benefits, such as preventing osteoporosis and reducing the risk of colon cancer. But the data on heart-related risks from these studies were very compelling. As a result, the American Heart Association and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration developed new guidelines for the use of HRT:

The bottom line, say physicians at the Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic: weigh the benefits of HRT against the risks and discuss the whole subject of HRT with your physician to be able to make an informed decision.

Low Estrogen In Men Could Be More Dangerous Than You Think

Most men assume that their testosterone levels have a large impact on their healthand theyre right. Testosterone is critical for male health, and you may experience a wide range of symptoms if testosterone levels are depleted. But what most men may not know is that their estrogen levels can also be an important contributor to their overall health.

Men make estrogen in their testes, brain, skin, and bones. To produce estrogen, these organs chemically convert testosterone into estrogens using an enzyme called aromatase. Because a supply of testosterone is necessary for this conversion, low levels of testosterone can lead to even lower levels of estradiol and other estrogens. While low testosterone may happen at any age, testosterone levels steadily drop as you age, making it more likely that you will have correspondingly low estrogen levels.

While its unclear whether low estrogen in men is always harmful, there are a number of symptoms that may be associated with lower estrogen than normal in certain narrow populations of men. Because men rely heavily on testosterone, estrogen appears to have only a niche role in male health, which means that there isnt a single symptomatic profile of low estrogen levels in men. Nonetheless, estrogen deficiency may still be harmful to men in a number of ways, potentially compromising bone health, behavioral health, and sexual desire.

Also Check: Does Taking Estrogen Make You Gain Weight

What Are The Health Concerns Of Excess Estrogen

Excess estrogen in men is linked to a number of serious health concerns that can impact short-term and long-term health.

Estrogen dominance is a toxic condition. Estrogen is the hormone that promotes growth and development. Too much estrogen is linked to the growth and spread of cancerous tumors. Researchers have especially studied the connection betweenexcess estrogen and breast cancer in both men and women. Excess estrogen may also increasethe risk for testicular and prostatic cancers.

Read:Does My Husband Have Prostate Cancer?

High levels of estrogen are also linked to weight gain. Estrogen likes to hold on to fat cells, which can make weight loss a challenge. Excess estrogen also upsets insulin levels. Insulin metabolizes sugar when insulin is out of whack, it doesnt fully process these sugars. If insulin cant remove sugar from the bloodstream, the body starts storing that sugar as fat. This creates weight gain and eventually can lead to insulin resistance andtype 2 diabetes.

Reducing estrogen levels andincreasing testosterone levels can increase muscle mass and decrease fat mass.

Excess estrogen can also causethyroid concerns anddepress the immune system. Other health concerns from thishormone imbalance include:

• Sexual dysfunction

• Depression

During The Follicular Phase Of The Cyclefrom The Start Of Your Period Until Ovulationestrogen Levels Are High You May Notice Some Changes Throughout Your Body

• Just before ovulation, some people may notice that their skin and hair are less oily, though we donât know for sure that the increase in estrogen causes these changes .

• Your cervical fluid changes throughout the follicular phase:

• Early-to mid follicular: dry/sticky

• Late follicular to ovulation: wet and slippery, like an egg white

• Some people notice an increase in their sex drive around ovulation

Also Check: Nugenix Estro-regulator Reviews

What Is A Normal Estrogen Level

Here are the normal ranges for estrogen according to the lab and also the range for where I would ideally like it to be:

Lab Range for day 3 in women: 60 824 pmol/L

Estimated Ideal Range for day 3 in women: 150-200 pmol/L

Estimated Ideal Range for midcycle: 1000-1500 pmol/L

Lab Range for estrogen in men: < 200 pmol/L

Estimated Ideal Range in men: 129-142 pmol/L

What Are The Benefits Of Hrt

Benefits of hormone replacement therapy for post-menopausal women, include:

• Increased elasticity of the blood vessels, allowing them to dilate and let the blood flow more freely throughout the body
• Improved short-term symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and mood swings, as well as vaginal dryness, dry skin, sleeplessness and irritable bladder symptoms
• Possible decreased incidence of Alzheimers disease
• Possible improvement of glucose levels

Also Check: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Therapy

Treatment For Low Estrogen

One way to prevent symptoms of low estrogen is to replenish your estrogen supply. You can increase the levels of estrogen in your body through estrogen replacement therapies. At the Center for Womens Health, our team, led by Sharon Breit, MD, diagnoses and assesses your estrogen levels and symptoms in order to prescribe the best options for your issues.

Hormone replacement therapy comes in many forms, including pills, creams, patches, and injections, and with the hormone progestin or estrogen-only. Another option is BioTe® Hormone Pellet Therapy, which contains bioidentical hormones derived from plant extracts.

For more information on how estrogen affects your body and what you can do about it, call us at the Center for Womens Health in Wichita, Kansas, or make an appointment online.

You Might Also Enjoy…

Youre Having Trouble Getting Pregnant

If youâre trying to get pregnant and you have low estrogen, it could be a challenge to conceive. This is connected to symptom #1 â if you donât have enough estrogen in your body for it to grow a thick uterine lining, you wonât have enough nourishment to grow a baby. Similarly, if you’re not ovulating, your body isn’t releasing an egg, meaning there’s nothing for sperm to fertilize.

You May Like: Can Having Your Tubes Tied Cause Hormonal Imbalance

Treatment + Hormone Replacement Therapy

There are two main approaches to treating low estrogen in women:

• #1. Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy – This should be the preferred route . HRT refers to the use of exact copies of the hormones that you are deficient in. HRT can be given so that it is safe and effective and, if done correctly, will not increase your risk of breast cancer or other issues .
• #2. Supplements – Supplements can help reduce the symptoms associated with low estrogen. These supplements are not as effective as HRT but they can be used in conjunction with HRT or by themselves if necessary.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is the definitive and most effective way to treat low estrogen.

This causes an increase in those hormones and tends to quickly reverse the symptoms associated with their decline.

But be careful when using HRT.

You should look for a Doctor that specializes in hormone balance to ensure that you are getting enough hormone but not too much.

Doctors can alter the amount of estrogen that you receive , the way that you take it , the type of hormones you take and the frequency with which you take it.

All of these variables can be controlled to help provide you with the exact amount that your body needs.

Supplements can be added to HRT to further boost their effectiveness and they can even be used in isolation if you have a contra-indication to HRT.

HRT can be stopped around the “normal” menopause time-frame, or it can be continued beyond that point.

Am I An Ideal Candidate

If you are an adult woman over the age of 40 who is experiencing or has already experienced menopause, you could be a good candidate for estrogen pellet therapy. In general, candidates should be healthy and have realistic expectations about the results they may see from treatment. You should also be free from any medical conditions or concerns that could interact negatively with hormone therapy treatment. If you are unsure of your eligibility for treatment, one of our doctors will help you determine your candidacy during your initial consultation.

Read Also: How Long Does Olly Sleep Take To Work

Why Choose Focal Point Vitality For Hormone Therapy For Women

Focal Point Vitality is a top provider of hormone therapy in Phoenix and the surrounding valley, and we offer a diverse range of options to choose from. Our estrogen treatments use bioidentical hormones for the best possible results, supporting your bodys natural function and aiming for an ideal balance. Whether you opt for treatment in the form of pills, patches, or creams, you can be confident that youre receiving the best HRT Phoenix has to offer.

But beyond the quality of our treatment options, Focal Point Vitality is also committed to caring for every guest as an individual not just any other client on our list. Customized care is the foundation of our Phoenix age management clinic, and our goal is to support you in achieving the best version of your happiest, healthiest self.

Symptoms Of Low Estrogen

As weve learned, estrogen affects a multitude of functions and systems in our bodies. So it would only make sense that when our estrogen is low, the effects would be wide-reaching.

Here are five surprising symptoms of low estrogen that I think every woman should be aware of!

Getting your hormones tested is a great next step if you resonate with any of these symptoms.

I would recommend partnering up with a trained practitioner who has experience balancing womens hormones.

Hormonal balance is extremely delicate. And as youre about to learn, even the slightest change in that balance can cause a host of symptoms. Thats why working with someone who has experience in this area is your best bet to getting back on the road to full hormonal health!

Don’t Miss: Nugenix Estro Regulator Reviews

How Can Menopause Cause Estrogen Deficiency

To understand how menopause can lead to estrogen deficiency, its important to know that menopause is divided into three distinct stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. Perimenopause, which occurs as the body begins to end the natural menstrual cycles, comes with many of the symptoms people associate with menopause. This includes hot flashes, sweating, mood swings, breast tenderness, decreased libido, and other side effects. During this stage, hormone levels are fluctuating constantly.

During menopause, which is the second stage, the menstrual cycle ends and hormone levels begin to drop. This is due to the fact that the ovaries are ceasing the production of hormones, including estrogen. During postmenopause, the hormone levels reach an all-time low, and symptoms of hormone deficiency can begin to develop. The body stops producing estrogen and, if left untreated, your hormone deficiency can lead to long-term issues like brittle bones, anxiety and depression, dry skin, thinning hair, decreased sex drive, and other common concerns.

What Causes Low Levels Of Estrogen

Low estrogen levels can result from many factors, including:

• Being underweight
• Approaching menopause for women in their late 40s/40s
• Family history of hormonal problems
• Hormonal imbalance

A post shared by Uzzi Reiss, MD, FAARFM, ABAARM on Mar 25, 2020 at 7:06am PDT

Estrogen guides who we are, how we feel, and how we act. It regulates our bodys development, our mental well-being, our emotional fortitude, our cognitive discipline, our sexual drive essential components of our livelihood. As we age, women naturally lose estrogen and men lose testosterone.

You May Like: Can Having Your Tubes Tied Cause Hormonal Imbalance

Sex Is Suddenly Painful

Low estrogen can also make sex itself feel more painful . Dr. Eyvazzadeh points to vaginal dryness as a symptom of low estrogen from menopause: if you don’t have enough estrogen, your vagina can dry out, and having sex without enough lubrication can be seriously painful. Dr. Minkin also notes that for some people, being on a low-estrogen form of birth control can increase vaginal dryness: “The amount of moisture in your vagina is sort of dependent on the amount of estrogen in the pills, and … one of the side effects could be vaginal dryness.”

A lack of estrogen also can thin your vaginal walls, another thing that contributes to pain during penetration. Dr. Minkin suggests a vaginal moisturizer like Replens if vaginal dryness is an issue for you.