Estrogen deficiency - Endocrine Wellness Center

What is estrogen deficiency?

Estrogen deficiency occurs when estrogen levels in the body are too low. This happens most often during perimenopause and menopause in women, but can also occur due to other health conditions.

Some key points about estrogen deficiency:

• Main symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood changes, difficulty sleeping, and sexual dysfunction.
• It is primarily caused by natural drops in estrogen levels due to ovarian aging. But other factors like surgery, medical conditions, or medications can also trigger it.
• Diagnosis is typically based on symptoms plus blood tests to measure hormone levels. Common tests check levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol.
• Treatment options aim to replace missing estrogen. They include estrogen therapy medications like pills, patches, gels and vaginal rings. Lifestyle changes also help ease symptoms.

Estrogen therapy can effectively relieve symptoms of estrogen deficiency. But it does have some health risks to consider. The experts at Endocrine Wellness Center can help analyze your hormone blood tests, diagnose any imbalances, and guide you through all your treatment options. Their integrative approaches combine bioidentical hormones, nutrition, fitness and stress reduction for customized and safe plans.

Now let's go over some key details about estrogen deficiency:

What Does Estrogen Do in the Body?

• Responsible for female sexual development and reproductive health
• Regulates cholesterol levels and protects heart health
• Important for bone strength and density
• Plays a role in skin collagen production and moisture
• Influences neurotransmitters that impact mood, cognition and memory

Signs and Symptoms of Low Estrogen Levels

Common symptoms include:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats that disrupt sleep
• Vaginal dryness and pain during sex
• Increased urinary tract infections
• Emotional changes like mood swings, anxiety, irritability
• Trouble focusing and memory lapses
• Hair thinning/loss
• Weight gain and slower metabolism

Causes and Risk Factors for Estrogen Deficiency

The main trigger is menopause, when the ovaries stop producing estrogen. But other possible reasons for low estrogen include:

• Premature ovarian failure or early menopause
• Oophorectomy surgery to remove the ovaries
• Chemotherapy or radiation treatments
• Other medical conditions impacting hormone levels

Genetics, ethnicity, diet, lifestyle habits, and body weight also influence when estrogen levels decline.

Diagnosing Low Estrogen

Doctors diagnose this condition through:

• Physical exam, including a pelvic exam
• Discussion of family history and menstrual cycles
• Blood and saliva tests to directly measure hormone levels
• Reviewing labs for follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol imbalances

They may also check vitamin D, thyroid function, and testosterone levels. Bone density scans help assess related risks like osteoporosis too.

Based on test results and symptom evaluation, they can determine if inadequate estrogen is causing health issues. They’ll rule out any other potential causes as well.

Treatment Options for Estrogen Deficiency

The most common treatment is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to supplement estrogen directly.

Options include:

• Estrogen pills, patches, gels, sprays and creams
• Vaginal rings or tablets containing concentrated estrogen
• Bioidentical hormones
• Combination therapy with progestogen
• Compounded hormone preparations

Lifestyle adjustments like diet, exercise, stress reduction and vaginal moisturizers and lubricants also help manage symptoms. Talk to your doctor to develop an integrated treatment plan tailored to your needs.

The bottom line is that estrogen deficiency can seriously impact women's health during menopause and beyond. Thankfully there are many safe and effective solutions available today to prevent, diagnose and treat hormone imbalance issues. Consult with a specialist like those at Endocrine Wellness Center to ensure you get the proper testing, care and guidance during this transitional life stage.