What is estrogen deficiency?
Estrogen deficiency occurs when estrogen levels in the body are too low. As women age, estrogen production slows down and can lead to an estrogen deficiency. This often coincides with menopause, but can happen earlier.
Signs and symptoms of an estrogen deficiency include:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Mood changes like depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Bone loss leading to osteoporosis
- Changes in cholesterol levels
- Heart palpitations
There are a few root causes behind low estrogen levels:
- Menopause - As women go through menopause, the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen. This natural decline in hormones causes menopausal symptoms like hot flashes.
- Medical treatments - Medical interventions like surgery, chemotherapy, or medications that halt estrogen production can lead to low estrogen.
- Primary ovarian failure - Sometimes the ovaries fail earlier than normal, leading to an early menopause and low estrogen levels.
There are treatment options available for estrogen deficiency:
- Estrogen therapy - Taking external estrogen in the form of pills, patches, gels and rings can help boost estrogen levels. This often helps relieve troublesome symptoms like hot flashes as well.
- Lifestyle changes - Eating soy foods, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol intake, and managing stress can all help minimise symptoms.
- Vaginal estrogen - Localized, low-dose estrogen in the form of creams and suppositories can treat symptoms like vaginal dryness without systemic effects.
If you're experiencing potential low estrogen symptoms, have a chat with your healthcare provider. The experts at Vitality Wellness Clinic can provide cutting-edge testing and personalised treatment plans to help address estrogen deficiency. They specialize in hormone balance techniques for women going through menopause or hormone changes. With an integrative approach, most women find they can enhance their quality of life significantly.