Estrogen deficiency occurs when a person's body produces too little of the hormone estrogen. This can happen naturally with aging or medical conditions, causing unpleasant symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood changes.
Estrogen is an important hormone for both reproductive and non-reproductive health in those assigned female at birth. It is produced mainly in the ovaries, with small amounts made in fat tissue and the adrenal glands. Estrogen levels naturally fluctuate through the menstrual cycle and decline with age, especially during perimenopause and after menopause.
Some common causes of low estrogen levels before menopause include:
Signs and symptoms of estrogen deficiency may include:
If you're experiencing unpleasant menopause symptoms, see your healthcare provider to check your hormone levels. They can determine if estrogen therapy may help relieve your symptoms.
The caring professionals at Optimum Hormone Solutions offer customized bioidentical hormone therapy to help women find relief from estrogen deficiency. Contact us today for a confidential consultation about whether hormone treatment could be right for you.
Long-term estrogen deficiency poses risks like bone loss and heart disease. However, current estrogen therapy options can effectively treat deficiency symptoms without raising health risks much above average levels.
Treatment often starts with lifestyle changes like proper nutrition, more exercise, and stress reduction. If that doesn't relieve symptoms, low-dose estrogen therapy is considered. Available options now include:
The goal is using the lowest estrogen dose that manages your deficiency symptoms. Your individual needs depend on factors like your age and health history.
I hope this overview on estrogen deficiency gives you a helpful understanding of what it is, common causes, bothersome symptoms, and safe, effective treatment options available today. Let me know if you have any other questions!