Low estrogen is common after menopause, although symptoms can vary from one to another, but can include dry skin, hot flashes, vaginal dryness and trouble sleeping.
According to HealthGrades, the hormone estrogen, which affects many tissues in the body, has two main functions: to help regulate the menstrual cycle and vaginal lubrication, and to help maintain bone density and regulate body weight.
Estrogen levels can decrease with age and significantly during perimenopause and perimenopause. This decrease can cause irregular periods, vaginal dryness, and changes in sex drive.
It is a symptom of low estrogen levels
–heart disease:Estrogen is responsible for raising healthy cholesterol and keeping unhealthy cholesterol low, but low estrogen levels can cause cholesterol to build up in your arteries, increasing your risk of heart attack.
Low bone density: If you have low estrogen levels, your bones are more likely to become weak or break easily. This also happens if you are going through menopause.
Signs of skin aging: the decrease in estrogen can accelerate skin aging, especially after menopause. A person may notice that they have dry skin and fine lines and wrinkles. Wounds may also take longer to heal.
Several factors can lead to low estrogen:
Age: After menopause, the ovaries no longer produce estrogen.
Eating disorders: Eating disorders such as anorexia can also lead to lower estrogen levels. Eating disorders can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which helps regulate estrogen levels.
Autoimmune disorders: These conditions develop when the immune system fights off healthy tissue. For example, one study indicates that some women may develop Sjogren’s syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis during menopause, and decreased estrogen levels may increase the risk to develop autoimmune disorders and symptoms.
Primary ovarian insufficiency: This condition occurs when ovarian follicles stop functioning before a person reaches the age of forty. This reduces estrogen levels and can increase the risk of conditions such as osteoporosis.
Cancer treatment: According to the American Cancer Society, chemotherapy can damage the ovaries, preventing them from producing estrogen. The effect may be permanent or may resolve within months or years.
What are the effects of low estrogen?
These are some of the effects that can occur in people with low estrogen levels:
Irregular menstrual cycle: Estrogen helps regulate the menstrual cycle and the growth of the uterine lining. Levels rise during the first half of the menstrual cycle, which is important for ovulation. Low estrogen levels can cause difficulty ovulating and irregular menstrual cycles.
Infertility or difficulty getting pregnant. In general, women have higher levels of estrogen, even though the hormone is present in all people. Pregnancy can be difficult if estrogen levels are also low. Low estrogen can affect sperm count and animal health. seminal.
Bone loss: A 2015 study indicates that estrogen helps regulate bone metabolism. Menopause is one factor responsible for the decrease in bone mineral density. Estrogen protects bones from breaking, but low levels can accelerate bone loss.
