Before we look at how low estrogen levels impact the body, it’s crucial to understand the role it plays. Estrogen is one of the female sex hormones, and it is vital for sexual and reproductive health and development. Both male and female bodies contain estrogen, but it is particularly important for women.
What Does Estrogen Do?
The ovaries are the primary producers of estrogen. Estrogen triggers female sex characteristics like breasts and broader hips during puberty. This collection of hormones is also responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle throughout the childbearing years and initiating lactation after pregnancy.
Estrogen also plays a role in bone health by working with vital nutrients to rebuild bone structures. Skin, hair, mucous membranes, pelvic muscles, and the brain are also impacted by estrogen.
Estrogen Changes in Menopause
During perimenopause and postmenopause, estrogen levels decline in a woman’s body. In the postmenopause period, the body makes very little estrogen. Low estrogen levels can create symptoms and may increase the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.
Low Estrogen Symptoms
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Hot flashes, flushes, and night sweats are the most common symptoms caused by low estrogen levels in the body. Sometimes the blood may come to the surface of the skin. As the blood sits near the skin, it can create a flushed-looking face.
Mood Swings
Mood swings are another common sign of low estrogen. Feeling anxious, sad, or irritable are all very common mood changes associated with low estrogen levels. Mood swings may intensify when sleep loss occurs because of sweating or hot flashes at night.
Thinning Skin and Tissues
Low estrogen levels can thin tissues in the skin, urinary tract, and vagina. Wrinkles on the skin may appear more prominent. Thinning of the urinary tract may lead to more frequent infection or the urgent need to urinate. Vaginal dryness can lead to discomfort or pain during sex.
Low Estrogen Health Risks
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is when the bones become weak and brittle due to a lack of calcium. Estrogen preserves bone health by preventing calcium loss. When estrogen levels decline because of hormonal changes, it may increase the risk for fractures in the spine, hips, legs, and arms.
Women who drink a lot of alcohol, smoke, and do not exercise are at an increased risk of osteoporosis. Thin and petite women and those with a family history of osteoporosis also have a higher risk of developing this condition.
Heart Disease
Estrogen seems to play a role in protecting the body from heart disease because it may elevate good (HDL) cholesterol levels in the blood. A sharp increase in heart disease risk occurs with menopause.
How To Get Help
ReVital offers free consultations where you can speak to one of our clinicians about ReVital’s Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. At ReVital, we can conduct simple blood tests to evaluate the levels of these hormones in your system and prescribe supplements or therapies to treat and control the majority of hormonal imbalances. We also encourage that you connect with your regular doctor about any changes in your health and moods.