Why does your estrogen level matter?
Estrogen is a hormone. Hormones are present in small amounts in the body, but they play an important role in maintaining health.
Estrogen is usually associated with the female body. Men also produce estrogen, while women produce higher levels.
Estrogen hormone:
responsible for sexual development during puberty in girls
controls the growth of the uterine lining during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy
causes breast changes in teenagers and pregnant women
involved in bone and cholesterol metabolism
regulates food intake, body weight, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity
What are the symptoms of low estrogen levels?
Premenopausal girls and women approaching menopause have low estrogen levels. However, women of all ages can have low estrogen.
Common symptoms of low estrogen include:
painful intercourse due to lack of vaginal lubrication
increased urinary tract infection (UTI) due to urethral stricture
irregular or absent periods
mood changes
hot flashes
breast tenderness
emphasizing headaches or previous migraines
depression
difficulty concentrating
tired
You may also find that your bones break or break more easily. This may be due to decreased bone density. Estrogen works with calcium, vitamin D and other minerals to strengthen bones. If your estrogen levels are low, bone density may decrease.
If left untreated, low estrogen levels can lead to infertility in women.
What causes low estrogen?
Estrogen is mainly produced in the ovaries. Anything that affects the ovaries will have a negative effect on estrogen production.
Young women may have low estrogen levels for the following reasons:
excessive exercise
eating disorders such as anorexia
an underactive pituitary gland
premature ovarian failure caused by genetic disorders, toxins, or autoimmune disorders
Turner syndrome
chronic kidney disease
Low estrogen in women over 40 can be a sign of approaching menopause. This transition period is called perimenopause.
During perimenopause, your ovaries will produce estrogen. Production slows down until menopause.
Read More: What Causes Bleeding After Sex?
Risk factors for low estrogen
The most common risk factors for low estrogen levels include:
age, because your ovaries produce less estrogen over time
family history, hormonal problems such as ovarian cysts
eating disorder
extreme dieting
excessive exercise
problems with your pituitary gland
chemotherapy and radiation therapy
substance use disorder