Low Estrogen Symptoms

Low estrogen means your body is not producing enough of the hormone.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a5db7f19-6869-421b-b33b-db284cd37040 Among its many functions, estrogen helps control a woman’s menstrual cycle, keeps bones strong, and affects energy and mood. When estrogen levels drop, often during perimenopause and menopause , you may experience unwanted symptoms, with the most common being hot flashes.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762918ed892d-7733-49dd-816e-b3f4e06c85b6
Signs and Symptoms of Low Estrogen Symptoms Low estrogen can cause many different symptoms in women, including:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297a43d7ce-1b63-4d55-9dc5-33e2b78969a0 Hot flashes or night sweats: A decline in estrogen confuses the part of your brain that controls body temperature.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762920052947-f3ce-43c0-b392-7140a22bf8eb You might feel sudden warmth, redness, and sweating, especially on your face and neck. About 75 percent of perimenopausal women experience hot flashes. Dry skin: Your skin may appear dull and more wrinkled. Weak bones: With less estrogen, you may lose bone density, which can increase your risk of fractures.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291f40e430-7125-43d8-81a9-fcdbf6a0e0b3 Change in mood: You may feel irritable, sad, anxious, or frustrated. Vaginal atrophy: The tissues of your vagina and urethra become dry and thin. This can lead to urinary tract infections (UTIs) . Irregular periods or no periods: Your periods might come at different times or not at all. Trouble concentrating: You may feel like you have brain fog and frequently lose your train of thought. Weight gain: The added weight usually accumulates in your belly. Headaches: They often happen before or during your period. Painful sex: When estrogen levels are low, your vagina is less lubricated, which can result in discomfort during intercourse.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e4b35ee8-2497-4e92-8b0f-6610fb1152a0 Fatigue: You may feel extremely tired and lack energy when estrogen levels are low. Insomnia: It’s common to have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep if you have low estrogen. Changes in hair growth: Some women notice more facial hair or thinning hair on their head.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294e4ddee8-168f-4687-9235-e18f49214e78 Symptoms of Low Estrogen in Males Men need a small amount of estrogen, in the form of estradiol, for their overall health.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291109735e-76fd-4056-a7fe-99864645b450 Estradiol is converted from testosterone by the enzyme aromatase.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762907e630d9-8281-4547-a0bf-39b9b07ffb16 When men have low estrogen, they may experience bone loss, as estrogen helps maintain bone health in men.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299c2d15b6-de4d-41fc-8b28-dffa868c8b8c This may increase the risk of fractures.
Types of Estrogen Types Your body makes three types of estrogens.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762922db1966-949d-4e49-9e52-1dc528eec1eb Estrone (E1) This is the main hormone that you produce during menopause and after. Estradiol (E2) Your body makes mostly estradiol during your reproductive years. This is the most potent form of estrogen. Estriol (E3) This is the hormone that your body produces during pregnancy. Menopause is typically confirmed with a blood test showing elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and low estradiol in a woman who has stopped menstruating for at least several months.
Potential Complications of Low Estrogen Complications Low levels of estrogen can lead to complications, which are secondary health problems.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762910a506c8-7622-4bd9-af6e-63cf76ba829d Some possible complications include: Heart disease or stroke: Estrogen protects your heart by keeping blood vessels relaxed and open.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762982ae9306-b920-4def-945a-e9b7eb7893e9 With less estrogen, cholesterol can start to build up on your artery walls. This increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Osteoporosis: A loss of estrogen can lead to osteoporosis (a condition that weakens bones).e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629179859e5-3e11-400b-9fdc-ba17f8a1b868 People with osteoporosis are more likely to develop bone fractures. Mental health conditions: Mood disorders, like depression , are linked to lower levels of estrogen.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762957748456-c817-49ca-8d04-5350b149c820 UTIs: Low estrogen may affect your urinary health, making you more vulnerable to infections.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629aa4270f0-420e-41d4-9e1c-f750fe43ae00
When to See a Doctor Doctor’s Visits Talk with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms of low estrogen that bother you. It’s especially important to seek medical care if you:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b0663cdb-22b3-4c7e-8d63-faec3b2817b3 Have not had your period for a year and start bleeding again if you are menopausal. Are 16 or older and have not started your period. Have regularly missed one or more periods. Your healthcare provider might order blood work to measure your hormone levels.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762961d5ca3b-38d3-49c3-8a06-a69e28797eb9 If you do have low estrogen, they may recommend a treatment, like hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or lifestyle changes.
The Takeaway Low estrogen is a common problem for women during perimenopause and menopause. Symptoms of low estrogen include hot flashes, painful intercourse, weight gain, mood changes, and more. Your doctor can help you figure out if your estrogen levels are within the normal range.
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: Low EstrogenMayo Clinic: MenopauseOffice on Women’s Health: Menopause Symptoms and ReliefNational Institute on Aging: What Is Menopause?Johns Hopkins Medicine: Introduction to Menopause



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