Do you have low estrogen? Let's talk about this in detail!

How much do you know about some of the hormones in your body? Today we are going to talk about a hormone called 'Estrogen', which is important for many women and to some extent for men. Let's talk in a simple, understandable way about what happens when this decreases, why it happens, and what we can do. Don't worry, this is a problem that many people have, so you are not alone.

What does it mean to have low estrogen?

Simply put, estrogen is a very important hormone that helps you grow into a girl, as well as your reproductive system, which is the system that helps you make children, and keeps it healthy. Not only that, but it also helps many other systems in the body. Think about it, estrogen helps keep your skin beautiful and your bones strong.

Estrogen levels fluctuate throughout your life, just like other hormones that control your monthly menstrual cycle. It's perfectly normal for estrogen levels to fluctuate in this way, and it's not a big deal.

However, persistently low estrogen levels are a different story. If they are consistently low, you may be going through a natural change, like menopause. Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation as you age. Sometimes, low estrogen can be a sign of a condition that is slowing your sexual development and possibly making it difficult to get pregnant.

Who is most affected by estrogen deficiency?

Do you know who is most affected by estrogen deficiency? Women are actually the ones who feel the effects the most. But everyone's body produces estrogen, and men also have some, and it's important to remember that.

The times when you are most likely to feel the effects of estrogen deficiency are:

• If you are going through menopause or postmenopause . During your reproductive years, when you are able to have children, your ovaries make most of the estrogen. During menopause and postmenopause, your monthly periods stop, and your ovaries stop making estrogen. Instead, your body's fat cells start making estrogen. Menopause is when you have not had your periods for twelve months in a row. The period after that is called postmenopause.
• If your ovaries have been removed or damaged during treatment. For example, if your ovaries are removed as part of a treatment for certain conditions (such as surgery for cancer), your body will only produce very small amounts of estrogen. Also, things like radiation therapy can damage the ovaries and reduce the amount of estrogen they produce.

How does low estrogen affect a woman's body?

How does a decrease in estrogen affect a woman's body? In fact, the effects can vary depending on where you are in your sexual development, whether you're young, middle-aged, or approaching menopause.

Due to estrogen deficiency:

• Puberty can be delayed, sexual development can be slow, or even stop altogether. This is what can happen if you encounter this condition at a young age, that is, as a young child.
• Perimenopause and menopause occur during this time. During this time, painful intercourse (dyspareunia), decreased sexual desire, and sudden hot flashes with sweating can occur. These are things that many women experience.

How estrogen deficiency affects a man's body

Okay, now let's look at how low estrogen affects a man's body. Yes, men have estrogen too! High estrogen in men can lead to things like sexual dysfunction. However, they also need some estrogen for their reproductive health and overall health. Research has shown that when estrogen levels drop, men can experience the following:

• Increased belly fat.
• Decreased sexual desire.
• Weakened bones and osteoporosis. This condition causes bones to break easily.

Sometimes, if your body isn't looking the way you want it to because of low estrogen levels, you may want to consider feminizing hormone therapy. However, it's important to seek medical advice before doing this.

What are the symptoms of low estrogen levels?

What are the symptoms of low estrogen levels? Symptoms of low estrogen during your reproductive years are very similar to the common symptoms of menopause and postmenopause. Your symptoms will depend on the cause of your low estrogen levels.

Some of the most common symptoms of estrogen deficiency are:

• Dry skin: Your skin may feel drier and itchier than usual.
• Breast tenderness and pain: Your breasts may feel sore when touched.
• Weakened or easily brittle bones: Even a minor fall can cause a bone to break.
• Difficulty concentrating: It can feel like it's hard to keep your mind focused when you're working.
• Anxiety and irritability: You may get angry over small things and feel overwhelmed.
• Vaginal dryness or thinning of the tissue (Vaginal atrophy): This can make sexual intercourse difficult and painful.
• Hot flashes and night sweats: This is very common during menopause.
• Irregular or complete cessation of monthly menstruation (Amenorrhea).
• Weight gain, especially in the abdominal area.
• Headache before or during menstruation.
• Decreased sexual desire and painful intercourse (Dyspareunia).
• Feeling tired and unable to sleep (Insomnia): Feeling tired no matter how much sleep you get, and not being able to sleep at night.

Having one or two of these symptoms doesn't necessarily mean you have low estrogen. But if they persist, it's a good idea to see a doctor.

Why do estrogen levels drop? Let's look at the main reasons.

The main reason for estrogen decline is aging . It's natural for estrogen levels to decline as you age. If estrogen declines that aren't related to menopause, it could be a sign of a medical condition.

Other reasons:

• Eating disorders: Conditions like anorexia and bulimia can cause your body to not get the nutrients it needs and can throw off your hormonal balance. Losing weight can also cause estrogen levels to drop.
• Genetic conditions: Turner syndrome and Fragile X syndrome both cause low estrogen levels. These are conditions that are inherited.
• Autoimmune diseases: Autoimmune diseases that attack your ovaries may prevent them from making enough estrogen.
• Primary ovarian insufficiency, also known as premature menopause: In this condition, your ovaries stop producing eggs before the age of 40. As a result, you go through early menopause. Your periods stop, and your estrogen levels drop.
• Treatments that affect the ovaries: Radiation therapy and chemotherapy for cancer can damage your ovaries. This damage can prevent the ovaries from producing estrogen normally. Oophorectomy, which involves removing one or both ovaries as part of the treatment, can also cause low estrogen levels.
• Conditions affecting the pituitary gland: Your pituitary gland releases hormones that tell your ovaries to make estrogen. If your pituitary gland doesn't release enough of these hormones, your body's estrogen levels can drop.
• Hypothalamic amenorrhea: This condition can occur when your body is under a lot of stress (e.g., excessive exercise) and you don't get enough nutrition. This happens when your brain doesn't release enough of the hormone that triggers the ovaries to produce estrogen. As a result, your periods stop completely. This is especially common in athletes and those who exercise a lot.

How do you know exactly if your estrogen is low?

If you have the symptoms mentioned earlier, when you see a doctor, he or she will ask you questions and possibly order a blood test to check your estrogen levels.

There are three types of estrogen that your body makes. An estrogen test can measure all three: Estrone (E1) , Estradiol (E2) , and Estriol (E3) . Your doctor will take a simple blood sample and send it to a lab to be tested.

• Estrone (E1): This is the main hormone your body produces during menopause and postmenopause. It is a slightly weaker form of estrogen than estradiol (E2).
• Estradiol (E2): This is the main hormone produced by your body during your reproductive years. It is the main and most potent type of estrogen.
• Estriol (E3): This is the main hormone your body produces during pregnancy.

If a doctor is unsure about your hormone status (for example, testing the hormones of someone going through menopause or who has had a hysterectomy), they may check your estrogen levels. However, it should be noted that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has only approved hormone replacement therapy for a few conditions.

Can food and lifestyle affect estrogen?

Yes, low estrogen levels associated with certain behaviors can be addressed through lifestyle changes. These are things that can be done without medication.

• Maintain a healthy weight: Being underweight is a risk factor for low hormone levels. Also, being overweight is not good for hormones. Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about what dietary changes you need to make to get the right amount of calories per day.
• Exercise in moderation: Too much exercise can lead to low estrogen levels. Moderate exercise, such as walking, running, or dancing for about 30 minutes a day, is fine. But too much can deplete your body of vital resources needed to function.
• Reduce stress: If stress hormones are high, the hormones that control your reproductive system can become unbalanced. Incorporating stress-reducing techniques into your daily life – yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, engaging in a favorite hobby – is good for your overall well-being and your hormones.
• Get enough sleep: Sleep is what allows your body to recharge and your hormones to function properly. On average, an adult needs seven to nine hours of sleep a day. Minimizing your phone and TV time before bed can help you sleep better.

What are the medical treatments for estrogen deficiency?

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HT) is a common treatment for estrogen deficiency, especially during menopause and postmenopause. In HT, you are given synthetic estrogen and/or progesterone to increase your hormone levels. There are two types of HT: estrogen therapy and estrogen progesterone/progestin hormone therapy (EPT). Doctors will prescribe the lowest dose that controls your symptoms while avoiding side effects.

Important: The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has only approved hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the treatment of low bone mineral density and hot flashes. These are usually given as pills or patches.

Vaginal estrogen – in the form of a ring, cream, and vaginal inserts – is designed to treat vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. Sometimes “whole body” estrogen can affect vaginal tissue. Sometimes it doesn’t. Also, vaginal estrogen is not approved for treating hot flashes.

If you have both hot flashes and painful intercourse, it's not uncommon to need vaginal estrogen in addition to whole-body estrogen.

Estrogen Therapy

This is where you are given estrogen supplements only, without progesterone. Your doctor will only prescribe this treatment if your uterus has been removed (for example, if you have had a hysterectomy).

Estrogen progesterone/progestin hormone therapy (EPT)

If you still have a uterus, you will be given a combination of estrogen and progesterone. It is important to give both because progesterone balances the action of estrogen inside the uterus. Estrogen causes the lining of your uterus (endometrium) to thicken. If this becomes too thick, the tissue can build up, which can lead to uterine cancer. Progesterone stops this tissue from growing too much.

However, HT treatment is not without risks. Research has shown that taking EPT (Combination Therapy) for 5 years or more in a row may increase the risk of breast cancer, blood clots, heart attack, and stroke.

You should talk to your doctor about whether you are a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy. They can explain the risks and side effects of any treatment you may receive. The main reasons why you may not be a good candidate for hormone therapy are:

• If it has been more than 10 years since menopause.
• If you have breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or a type of skin cancer called melanoma.
• If you have a history of blood clots in the legs, lungs, and brain.

Can you prevent low estrogen levels?

In fact, you can't stop the decline in estrogen that comes with aging. It's a natural process. But you can create healthy habits that will help with the overall balance of your life, which is hormone balance. These changes don't always require hormone therapy.

For example, moderate exercise and meditation can help with sleep problems and fatigue caused by low estrogen. Getting enough calories and nutrients can improve all aspects of your health. Using a lubricant during sex can make it more comfortable.

Depending on the cause of your low estrogen levels and the severity of your symptoms, you may need medication to help. Talk to your doctor about your options.

How to increase estrogen naturally?

Some people say that foods and supplements that contain estrogen-like compounds can help increase your estrogen levels. But remember, it's important to talk to your doctor before starting any estrogen-boosting regimen.

Foods containing phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens are a type of estrogen found in plants. Some studies suggest that eating foods that contain phytoestrogens can help with symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes. Some phytoestrogens are also said to be good for heart health, bone health, and skin elasticity. But more research is needed to know for sure.

Some foods that contain phytoestrogens:

• Legumes: soybeans (and tofu, soy milk, which are made from soy), lentils, chickpeas, peanuts.
• Nuts: Flaxseed, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds.
• Berries: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries.
• Fruit: Plums, pears, apples, grapes, and berries.
• Vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots.

Supplements containing phytoestrogens

The safety and effectiveness of supplements are not regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Therefore, it is important to talk to your doctor before taking any supplements. Some supplements contain phytoestrogens, which are similar to those found in foods. These are said to help control symptoms of estrogen deficiency, but scientific evidence is still limited:

• Black cohosh
• Red clover

What questions should you ask your doctor?

If you're concerned about estrogen deficiency, it's a good idea to ask questions like these when you visit your doctor:

• How do I know if I need an estrogen test?
• Is my low estrogen level a sign of some medical condition?
• What lifestyle changes can I make to manage the symptoms of estrogen deficiency?
• Do I need to increase my estrogen levels to control my symptoms?
• Would you recommend hormone replacement therapy for me? What are the risks?
• What foods, vitamins, or supplements do you recommend to prevent or treat hormonal imbalances?

Finally, remember this !

Many people dismiss the symptoms of estrogen deficiency as just another unpleasant part of aging. However, you should definitely pay attention to symptoms that are interfering with your quality of life. Don't just dismiss them as "a disease of aging." If you're experiencing troubling signs of estrogen deficiency, see your doctor and discuss hormonal and non-hormonal options for managing your symptoms. Don't worry, there are solutions! Your doctor can help you find the best option for you.

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