What Happens When You Have Low Estrogen?

What is Estrogen?

Estrogens are a group of hormones, although we often refer to them under the single umbrella of estrogen.

Estrogen plays a role in female reproductive health and sexual development, and estrogens are a sex hormone. The ovaries make most of the estrogen in women, but the adrenal glands and fat cells produce some.

Along with the regulation of the menstrual cycle, estrogen affects:

• The reproductive tract
• Urinary tract
• Bones
• Breasts
• Skin
• Hair
• Heart and blood vessels
• Mucous membranes
• Pelvic muscles
• The brain

Types of estrogen include:

• Estrone occurs in the body after menopause and is a weaker form of estrogen.
• Estradiol, produced by men and women, is the most common form in women during the reproductive years. Too much estradiol can lead to depression, loss of sex drive, acne, and osteoporosis. Extremely high levels are associated with a greater breast and uterine cancer risk.
• Estriol levels rise during pregnancy and peak just before birth.

Estrogen levels can vary among people and fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle and, if you’re a woman, throughout your life. Some of the many factors that can impact estrogen levels include:

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Puberty
• Menopause
• Being overweight or obese
• Anorexia or extreme dieting
• Extreme exercise
• Older age
• The use of medicines
• High blood pressure
• PCOS
• Primary ovarian insufficiency
• Diabetes

When you have an estrogen imbalance, it can cause symptoms including:

• Irregular periods or no period
• Heavy or light menstrual bleeding
• Severe PMS or menopausal symptoms
• Non-cancerous lumps in the uterus and breasts
• Mood changes
• Problems sleeping
• Weight gain, especially in the thighs, hips, and waist
• Low libido
• Vaginal dryness
• Vaginal atrophy
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Dry skin

Symptoms of Low Estrogen

So, back to the original question—what happens when you have low estrogen? Low estrogen levels aren’t a major cause of concern in men.

In women, symptoms of low estrogen can include:

• Painful sex because of a lack of lubrication
• Increased urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Missed or irregular periods
• Mood changes
• Breast tenderness
• Worsening migraines or new headaches
• Problems concentrating
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Hot flashes
• Tender breasts
• Bones that break or fracture more easily

If you have low estrogen as a woman and it goes untreated, it can cause infertility.

Also, sex hormones influence the amount of body fat we have. Estrogen regulates your glucose and also your lipid metabolism, so if your levels are low, it can lead to weight gain.

This is why women who are approaching menopause are susceptible to weight gain and becoming overweight. Being overweight can increase heart disease risk and the risk for obesity, and diabetes.

If you suspect you have estrogen levels that are abnormally low, you should talk to your doctor to devise a plan.

What Are the Causes of Low Estrogen?

Since estrogen is primarily made in the ovaries, anything affecting your ovaries will affect your production.

Some of the reasons that a young woman might experience the effects of low estrogen include:

• Eating disorders like anorexia
• Excessive exercise
• Problems with the function of the pituitary gland
• Turner syndrome
• Chronic kidney disease
• Premature ovarian failure can come from toxins, genetic irregularities, or an autoimmune disorder

In women who are older than 40, low estrogen can be a sign of menopause. This transitional time is known as perimenopause. Your ovaries still produce estrogen in perimenopause, but it will keep slowing until you reach menopause.

Risk factors for low estrogen levels are:

• A family history of hormone-related issues like ovarian cysts
• Age because your ovaries naturally produce less estrogen over time
• Eating disorders or extreme dieting
• A substance use disorder
• Extreme exercise
• Problems with the pituitary gland
• Radiation or chemotherapy

Treatments for Low Estrogen

If you have low estrogen levels, your doctor may decide you could benefit from hormone therapies. Non-hormonal options are also available for women at risk for stroke, blood clots, breast cancer, or liver disease.

Supplements for Low Estrogen

While you shouldn’t use supplements instead of medications, you might talk to your doctor about a plan to try natural remedies for low estrogen first because hormonal therapies can have risks.