Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone and it plays a major role in both reproduction, and in the development and maintenance of female sex characteristics. Below is a list of the symptoms and risks associated with an estrogen deficiency and the 6 most common triggers.
Estrogen Deficiency Symptoms:
Brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, loss of libido, and menstrual irregularity.
Estrogen Deficiency Increases the Risk For:
Osteoporosis, depression, infertility, cardiovascular disease, and heart disease.
Top 6 Estrogen Deficiency Triggers
#1: Menopause
Menopause causes the ovaries to release less hormones and it’s the leading cause of estrogen deficiency. Fortunately, most of the side-effects associated with menopause can be negated with estrogen replacement therapy.
#2: Premenopausal Hormone Changes
During pre-menopause the ovaries start to age and for some women a deficiency of estrogen and/or progesterone can develop. For these women, transdermal estradiol is recommended for the first 2 weeks of their cycle, followed by natural progesterone for the second half of their cycle.
#3: The Birth Control Pill
The pill stops ovulation and completely shuts down estradiol, which can lead to an estrogen deficiency. If a blood test shows low estradiol levels, transdermal estradiol and progesterone can be given in the same schedule recommended for premenopausal women.
#4: Childbirth
In most cases, post-partum side-effects are caused because estrogen levels are too high in relation to progesterone. However, estrogen levels should be measured prior to progesterone replacement therapy because there are certain cases where an estrogen deficiency is to blame.
#5: Extreme Exercise or Disordered Eating
Over-exercising, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia can all cause a deficiency of estrogen and/or progesterone, and when this occurs, a woman’s sex drive, fertility and feminine characteristics may disappear. Replacing deficient female hormones can reverse these effects and help to restore a woman’s sense of ‘being a woman.’
# 6: PCOS or Turner Syndrome
A deficiency of estrogen is particularly common in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) sufferers who have low body fat. Turner syndrome is a genetic disorder and most sufferer’s also experience ovarian failure, and require long-term estrogen therapy.
~Written by Nick Delgado, PhD, CHT
