10 Signs of Low Estrogen in Women

10 Signs of Low Estrogen in Women. Hormonal imbalances can be the culprit for many women’s health concerns and tend to intensify around the age of menopause. One of the main hormones that can trigger some of the most intense experiences is estrogen. Estrogen, also referred to as a sex hormone, is the hormone responsible for the uterine lining growth during menstruation and pregnancy, helps with bone and cholesterol metabolism, and regulates key functions like food intake, body weight, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. The body produces estrogen in various forms, including estradiol and estrone. Once a woman begins to hit her midlife transition and eases into perimenopause, estrogen production begins to lower. This triggers a hormonal imbalance, which in turn produces a variety of concerns.

When your hormones are out of balance, you will notice changes in your body that might leave you feeling less like yourself. Here are the most common signs to watch for.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of perimenopause and are at least 35 years of age, be sure to see your healthcare provider. They can conduct a blood test to determine if you are indeed in the midst of your menopausal evolution. Keep in mind that hormonal imbalances aren’t always a signal of menopause. It can also be a sign of an issue with the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland. If you’re curious about what you can expect as your hormone levels shift, be sure to learn more about your family history as that can be an indicator of what is to come for you. Read on to learn more about the ten biggest symptoms of low estrogen levels

1. Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

You may feel sudden waves of heat, especially in your upper body, followed by sweating. This is a classic sign of hormone changes, often disrupting your sleep at night.

Night sweats are hot flashes that occur while you’re sleeping. Your body’s temperature fluctuates quite a bit when you’re sleeping. Your body will then attempt to release excess heat through a hot flash. Since the initial onset of the hot flash can occur while you’re sleeping, you may find that you wake up soaked in sweat. Try keeping a cool compress bedside and sleeping in light, breathable fabrics for optimal comfort. 

2. Irregular Menstrual Cycles

Your cycle might become irregular, with periods that are shorter, longer, or missed entirely. This change can be confusing, especially if you are not yet approaching menopause.

3. Mood Swings and Anxiety

Hormonal shifts can take a toll on your emotional well-being and mental health. You might experience unpredictable mood swings, heightened anxiety, or even depression.

4. Fatigue and Low Energy

If you are feeling tired all the time or struggling to stay focused, your hormones could be to blame. Brain fog, fatigue and low energy are common when things are out of sync.

5. Decreased Sex Drive and Pain During Sex

You might notice a drop in your sex drive, and intimacy may become uncomfortable due to dryness or irritation in the vaginal area. This can impact both your desire and enjoyment of sexual activity.

6. Weight Gain, Especially Around the Abdomen

Have you noticed that your clothes are tighter around your waist? Hormonal shifts can lead to weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, even if your diet and exercise habits have not changed.

7. Breast Tenderness

You may feel your breasts becoming more tender or sore, even when you are not expecting your period. Hormonal fluctuations can cause this sensitivity.

The rising and falling of hormone levels can affect breast tissue, leading to breast tenderness. If you’re in the menopausal era and are on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), you may also be subject to these breast changes. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor if sore breasts are a part of your HRT experience – a link between breast cancer and breast soreness during hormone therapy has been found and seeking support from a doctor can help you avoid further health issues. 

8. Bone Loss and Risk of Fractures

As your hormones change, your bones may weaken, increasing your risk of fractures. Over time, this can lead to conditions like osteoporosis.

Lowered levels of estrogen can lead to lowered bone density and commonly occurs during perimenopause. Many women do not realize they’re suffering from bone loss until they break a bone. It is essential to adopt a healthy regimen as you move towards your menopausal transition. Tennis, running, and dancing are all excellent exercises for strengthening your bones and empowering your cardiovascular system. A healthy diet filled with calcium and vitamin D helps prevent bone loss and decreases risk of osteoporosis.

9. Vaginal Dryness and Irritation

Vaginal health can decline when estrogen levels drop, leading to dryness, itching, and discomfort. These changes can also affect your overall comfort and confidence.

10. Trouble Sleeping

Hormonal imbalances can disrupt your sleep, leaving you tossing and turning at night. You may also experience night sweats, making restful sleep even harder to come by.

Irregular Periods

Irregular periods are yet another signal of a hormonal imbalance. An irregular period may be particularly heavy and painful or it could be extremely short. The average menstrual cycle lasts between 21 and 35 days and an irregular period is considered to fall outside of this range. Ovarian cysts and fibroids can be a cause of irregular periods and are also linked to hormonal imbalance. An irregular period can be a sign of entering perimenopause, as well. While women typically enter perimenopause around age 47, those who experience early menopause may begin experiencing period irregularity between age 40 and 45. Those who are experiencing premature menopause will begin experiencing period irregularity before age 40. Since there are a few different causes behind irregular periods, be sure to see your women’s health expert for support.

Mood Swings

Estrogen impacts neurotransmitters in the brain and influences the production of serotonin. Fluctuations in your hormonal balance can trigger mood swings or even depression. These mood swings take place during premenstrual syndrome and during the menopausal era, specifically during perimenopause. Our Core Dietary Supplement addresses the major symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, brain fog, and mood swings. If mood changes are significantly impacting your day-to-day, psychotherapy may be of support. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has shown clinical success in treating menopause-induced mood swings.

Symptoms of high estrogen levels

“Too much or too little of something is never a good thing,” explained Thais Aliabadi, M.D., a board-certified OB-GYN at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and the founder of Trimly, a supervised weight-loss treatment. “When estrogen levels are too high, hormonal imbalances in your body can occur. An elevated estrogen level can cause you to have a variety of different symptoms.”

Aliabadi listed the following symptoms associated with high estrogen levels:

• Irregular menses
• Breast swelling and tenderness
• Mood problems
• Decreased sex drive
• Weight gain
• Hair loss
• Fatigue or insomnia

Too much estrogen in the body can also cause many reproductive health conditions, such as painful periods, polyps, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), dense breast tissue, fibroids and increased endometriosis pain.

Sometimes excess estrogen does not cause a disease like endometriosis or breast cancer but may worsen the condition.

A number of factors can influence excess estrogen levels. Medications such as steroids and oral contraceptives can create estrogen dominance. Lifestyle factors such as weight gain can also increase estrogen in the body.

For people who have PCOS, estrogen dominance is a pattern.

“In my practice, PCOS remains a big issue for women of childbearing age,” Aliabadi said. “With PCOS, women produce a higher level of androgens, a male hormone, which disrupts estrogen levels, leading to irregular periods, weight gain issues, hair thinning, acne and infertility down the road.”

Symptoms of low estrogen

As with excess estrogen, too little of it can produce adverse symptoms. Aliabadi listed the following as symptoms associated with low estrogen:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Irregular menses
• Vaginal dryness
• Dry skin
• Fatigue or insomnia

There’s a reason some of the symptoms of low estrogen sound just like the symptoms of menopause.

“Menopause is the leading cause of decreased estrogen levels in women,” Aliabadi explained.

During menopause, the ovaries stop producing as much estrogen. People with low estrogen can experience increased rates of depression.

What causes low estrogen? 

10 Signs of Low Estrogen in Women. It’s natural that as you age, so do your estrogen levels. However, low estrogen levels that are unrelated to age may signal problems with your hormones. Certain women may encounter an estrogen imbalance caused by factors affecting the production of hormones in their bodies. Prior to entering menopause, indications of low estrogen could arise from:

• Premature menopause
• Genetic conditions
• Autoimmune disease
• Eating disorders
• Cancer treatments
• Hypothalamic amenorrhea
• Conditions with pituitary glands
• Oophorectomy (removal of both ovaries)

Common signs of low estrogen in women

Being attuned to signs of low estrogen is important for maintaining overall well-being. Let’s delve deeper into key indicators that may signal a decrease in estrogen levels:

1. Irregular menstrual cycles

Low estrogen levels can result in irregular or missed menstrual periods. If you notice significant changes in the timing or flow of your menstrual cycle, it might be an indication of fluctuating estrogen levels. Keeping track of these variations can provide valuable insights into your hormonal health.

2. Hot flashes and night sweats

Variations in estrogen levels frequently give rise to episodes of hot flashes and night sweats. These abrupt surges of heat, coupled with sweating, can significantly disrupt daily activities and compromise the quality of sleep. If you find yourself frequently grappling with these symptoms, it’s recommended to investigate a potential link with estrogen-related issues.

3. Mood swings and irritability

Estrogen influences neurotransmitters in the brain, and low levels may contribute to mood swings and heightened irritability. Feeling more emotionally sensitive than usual could be an indicator of hormonal imbalance. 

4. Trouble sleeping

Changes in hormone levels, including low estrogen, can disturb your usual sleep patterns. If you’re having trouble falling asleep or often wake up during the night, it’s worth thinking about how estrogen affects sleep. Taking steps to manage these disruptions can have a positive impact on both your physical and mental health.

5. Vaginal dryness

A decrease in estrogen levels can result in the contraction of your vaginal tissues, known as vaginal atrophy, eventually causing ongoing vaginal dryness and itching. Additionally, experiencing pain during intercourse is a frequent consequence of low estrogen, as the hormone contributes to the natural lubrication of your vagina.

6. Fatigue

When the ovaries encounter difficulties in producing sufficient estrogen, the entire body is impacted, resulting in feelings of fatigue and difficulties in achieving restful sleep. Moreover, the body’s estrogen production is interconnected with its melatonin production, a hormone crucial for initiating and maintaining sleep. The interplay of these factors suggests that fatigue could be among the most impactful indicators of reduced estrogen production, affecting various aspects of daily life.