Estrogen deficiency

What is estrogen deficiency?

Estrogen deficiency occurs when the body does not produce enough of the hormone estrogen. This commonly affects women around menopause as their ovaries produce less estrogen, but it can occur at other ages too.

Some key signs and symptoms of low estrogen levels include:

• Hot flashes and night sweats


• Vaginal dryness and pain during sex


• Difficulty sleeping


• Mood changes like irritability or depression


• Bone loss, increasing risk of osteoporosis

Causes

The main causes of estrogen deficiency include:

• Menopause - estrogen levels naturally decline as women approach menopause, usually in their late 40s or early 50s


• Removal of ovaries - surgical removal of the ovaries eliminates the main source of estrogen production


• Other conditions affecting ovaries - diseases or treatments that damage the ovaries can impair estrogen secretion

Some less common causes are issues with the pituitary gland or other hormone production problems.

Effects

Having chronically low estrogen levels can negatively impact women's health in various ways:

• Bone health - estrogen plays a key role regulating bone density. Deficiency accelerates bone loss leading to osteoporosis and higher fracture risk.


• Heart disease - estrogen is believed to have protective cardiovascular effects in women. Lack of estrogen may promote heart disease.


• Menopause symptoms - hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, sleep disruption, mood changes severely impact quality of life.


• Potential links to dementia risk - some research indicates estrogen may help preserve brain health in aging women.

Treatment

If you're experiencing moderate to severe menopause symptoms due to low estrogen, hormone therapy can help provide relief. Options include:

• Low-dose oral estrogen pills


• Transdermal estrogen skin patches


• Localized estrogen creams or rings for urogenital tissues

The experts at Hormone Health Center can evaluate your hormone levels with blood tests and help determine if estrogen therapy is appropriate for your situation. They can craft a customized treatment plan to get your levels optimized and help you feel your best.

While estrogen treatment has some health risks that must be considered, for many women the benefits outweigh potential side effects. Working with a specialist is important to find the right dose and delivery method tailored to your needs.