Estrogen deficiency - Balance Hormone Center

What is estrogen deficiency?

Estrogen deficiency occurs when a person's body produces too little of the hormone estrogen or when they cannot properly utilize the estrogen their body produces. This condition most commonly affects women during perimenopause and menopause stages of life, but it can happen at other ages as well.

Symptoms

Some key symptoms of low estrogen levels include:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness or irritation
• Mood changes like irritability or depression
• Difficulty sleeping
• Bone loss or osteoporosis

Causes

There are a few potential causes behind having an estrogen deficiency:

• Natural menopause - Estrogen levels decline naturally as women age and approach menopause, usually in their late 40s or early 50s. The ovaries produce less estrogen due to loss of ovarian follicles.
• Surgical menopause - Removal of both ovaries results in a sudden drop in estrogen levels before natural menopause typically occurs. This is called surgical menopause.
• Primary ovarian insufficiency - In some cases, the ovaries can stop functioning properly at an early age, resulting in reduced estrogen production. This is known as primary ovarian insufficiency or premature ovarian failure.
• Hypothalamic amenorrhea - This disorder is related to the hypothalamus gland in the brain. It results in missing menstrual cycles and declining estrogen levels.
• Hyperthyroidism - Having an overactive thyroid can cause estrogen levels to be low.
• Use of certain medications - Some medications like aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer treatment can reduce estrogen production.

Diagnosis and Treatment

If a woman experiences potential low estrogen symptoms, blood tests can help diagnose an estrogen deficiency. Treatment options may include:

• Hormone therapy - Estrogen replacement medications can help relieve symptoms. These may be short-term or longer-term if needed.
• Vaginal estrogen - Localized, low-dose estrogen in creams, tablets or rings can treat vaginal dryness and irritation without systemic effects.
• Bone drugs - Medications like bisphosphonates help strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis for those with an estrogen deficiency.
• Lifestyle changes - Diet, exercise, stress reduction and proper sleep also help manage deficiency symptoms.

The key is obtaining an accurate diagnosis from your doctor and finding the right treatment approach to restore hormone balance. Relief of symptoms is often possible with appropriate estrogen therapy or other interventions. Speak to your physician if you suspect you have this common but treatable hormone disorder.