Low estrogen is common following menopause, although symptoms can vary from one to another, but they can include dry skin, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and trouble sleeping.
According to healthgrades, the estrogen hormone, which affects many body tissues, has two main functions: helping to regulate the menstrual cycle and vaginal lubrication, and helping to maintain bone density and regulate body weight.
Estrogen levels may decrease with age and significantly during perimenopause and perimenopause. This decrease may cause irregular menstruation, vaginal dryness, and changes in sex drive.
It is a symptom of low estrogen
–heart disease:Estrogen is responsible for increasing healthy cholesterol and keeping unhealthy cholesterol low. However, low estrogen levels may cause cholesterol to build up in your arteries, increasing your risk of heart attack.
Low bone density: If you have low levels of estrogen, your bones may be more likely to weaken or break easily. This also happens if you are going through menopause.
Signs of skin aging: Decreased estrogen may accelerate skin aging, especially following menopause. A person may notice that they have dry skin and fine lines and wrinkles. Wounds may also take longer to heal.
Several factors may lead to low estrogen:
Age: After menopause, the ovaries do not produce as much estrogen.
Eating disorders: Eating disorders such as anorexia may 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 healthy tissue. For example, one study indicates that some females may develop Sjogren’s syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis during menopause, and a decrease in estrogen levels can increase the risk of developing disorders. and autoimmune symptoms.
Primary ovarian insufficiency: This condition occurs when the ovarian follicles stop working before a person reaches the age of forty. This reduces estrogen levels and may increase the risk of conditions such as osteoporosis.
Cancer treatment: According to the American Cancer Society, chemotherapy may damage the ovaries, preventing them from producing estrogen. The effect may be permanent, or it may resolve within months or years.
What are the effects of low estrogen?
These are some of the effects that may occur in people with low estrogen levels:
Irregular menstrual cycle: Estrogen helps regulate the menstrual cycle and the growth of the uterine lining. Levels increase during the first half of the menstrual cycle, which is important for ovulation. Low estrogen can cause difficulty ovulating and irregular menstrual cycles.
Infertility or difficulty getting pregnant. In general, females 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 a factor responsible for a decrease in bone mineral density. Estrogen protects bones from fractures, but low levels may accelerate bone loss.