Estrogen deficiency - Equilibrium Hormone Center

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What is estrogen deficiency?

Estrogen deficiency occurs when estrogen levels in the body become too low. This can happen for several reasons:

Causes

• Natural menopause - Estrogen levels begin to decline naturally as women approach menopause, usually in their late 40s or early 50s. This is a normal part of aging.
• Surgical menopause - Removal of the ovaries for medical reasons causes a sudden drop in estrogen levels before natural menopause. This is called surgical menopause.
• Primary ovarian insufficiency - Also known as premature ovarian failure, this condition causes the ovaries to stop functioning properly before age 40. It leads to low estrogen levels.
• Other medical conditions - Certain disorders like Turner's syndrome or immune system diseases can impair ovarian function and cause low estrogen.

Symptoms

Women with estrogen deficiency may experience symptoms like:

• Hot flashes
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood changes like depression
• Difficulty sleeping
• Bone loss
• Heart palpitations

The severity of symptoms varies between women. Talk to your doctor if you experience these, as they may indicate low estrogen levels.

Risks

Estrogen deficiency can increase the risk for health problems like:

• Osteoporosis - Low estrogen accelerates bone loss leading to fracture risk
• Heart disease - Estrogen has a protective effect on the heart in women
• Dementia - There is some evidence linking estrogen deficiency to dementia

Treatment

If bothersome symptoms occur, the following treatments may help:

• Hormone therapy - Estrogen alone or with progestin can treat hot flashes and prevent bone loss
• Vaginal estrogen - Low-dose topical estrogen ease vaginal symptoms
• Lifestyle changes - Diet, exercise, and stress reduction techniques
• Medications - Antidepressants, sleep aids or osteoporosis drugs if needed

Talk to your healthcare provider at Equilibrium Hormone Center to discuss the pros and cons of each option. Be sure to report any troubling symptoms right away to determine if hormone therapy or other interventions would be appropriate. Catching and managing estrogen deficiency early on can help prevent long term complications.