What is estrogen deficiency?
Estrogen deficiency occurs when a woman's body produces too little of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is essential for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and has effects throughout the body. A drop in estrogen levels can lead to signs and symptoms such as:
- Hot flashes - sudden feelings of intense body heat, flushing, and sweating, especially at night and during menopause - Vaginal dryness and irritation - causing discomfort during sexual intercourse - Mood changes - including irritability, anxiety, or depression - Sleep disturbances - trouble falling asleep or staying asleep - Urinary symptoms - increased urgency or frequency of urination - Bone loss - weakening bones, increasing risk of fracture (osteoporosis)
Some key causes of low estrogen levels are:
- Menopause - estrogen levels begin declining as women approach menopause, typically in their late 40s or early 50s - Premature ovarian failure - ovaries stop functioning normally before age 40 - Oophorectomy - surgical removal of the ovaries - Chemotherapy or radiation - cancer treatments that damage the ovaries - Extreme dieting or eating disorders - resulting in very low body fat levels - Cigarette smoking - chemicals in smoke interfere with estrogen synthesis
There are several ways to treat estrogen deficiency. The most common options include:
- Estrogen therapy - estrogen administered directly, via skin patch, vaginal ring, tablet, cream, gel or spray - Oral contraceptives - birth control pills containing estrogen and progestin - Vaginal estrogen - creams, rings, or tablets for vaginal dryness and discomfort - SERMs - selective estrogen receptor modulators that act like estrogen on some tissues - Lifestyle changes - improving diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management
If you're experiencing symptoms of low estrogen, schedule an appointment with your doctor for an evaluation. Blood tests can check hormone levels, and treatment can relieve discomfort and prevent complications like osteoporosis. Their personalized care plans get to the root cause of hormone imbalance and help women feel their best again.
Estrogen deficiency can negatively impact a woman's quality of life. Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes, and other issues are signals to see your doctor. With treatment such as hormone therapy, lifestyle changes, and support from Endocrinologists, symptoms can be reduced or resolved. Questions? The experts at Hormone Harmony are here to help!