The 10 Symptoms of Low Estrogen and How to Treat It!

Estrogen , a hormone commonly associated with the female body, plays a crucial role in female health. It is responsible for female sexual development during puberty.

It controls the growth of the uterine lining during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy and is also involved in cholesterol and bone metabolism. That’s why low estrogen is a serious problem. And that’s what we’ll cover in this post. Just keep reading.

What is Low Estrogen?

The hormone estrogen is produced in the ovaries, and anything that affects the ovaries causes a deficiency in estrogen levels. Several factors cause low estrogen symptoms . They include:

• Excessive exercise.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Turner syndrome (a disorder in which a female is born with only one X chromosome).
• A poorly functioning pituitary gland.
• Anorexia or other eating disorders.
• Premature ovarian failure or any other autoimmune disorder.

What are the symptoms of low estrogen?

Girls who have not yet reached puberty or women approaching menopause are at a higher risk of experiencing low estrogen symptoms . However, women of all ages can experience this condition.

Some of the common low estrogen symptoms include:

• Heat waves.
• Mood swings.
• depression .
• Headaches (or even migraines).
• Fatigue.
• Questions with concentration and focus.
• Irregular or even absent periods.
• Urinary tract infections .
• Painful sex (due to lack of vaginal lubrication).
• Weak bones or frequent fractures (as estrogen works in conjunction with Calcium and Vitamin D , and its deficiency can mean a decrease in bone density).

Discussing the problem is important. But that doesn’t offer us the solution, does it? What can you do to treat  low estrogen symptoms ? Is there a way to increase your estrogen levels ? The good news is that there are several ways to prevent/treat this condition.

How to increase estrogen levels:

1. Always have your levels checked:

Visit your doctor. That’s the first thing you need to do. Even before starting an estrogen program (or any other way to increase levels in your body), follow your doctor’s advice.

There are a variety of tests that can determine your hormone levels. Your blood may be tested for FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). You may want to try estrogen therapy after consulting your doctor. Therapies may include pills, topical gels, or skin patches.

2. Quit smoking (if you are a smoker):

Smoking can have harmful effects on the endocrine system, and this can limit your body’s ability to produce estrogen.

3. Change your diet:

Your endocrine system needs a healthy body to produce adequate levels of estrogen. Eat healthy. And consume foods that contain phytoestrogens soy products like tofu , soy nuts, edamame, which mimic the effects of estrogen.

Other foods that contain phytoestrogens include peas , beans, cranberries , apricots and plums , broccoli , cauliflower , flax seeds and whole grains. Also, reduce your sugar intake as it can lead to hormonal imbalances in the body.

4. Try to gain weight:

In case you are underweight, that is. Being underweight can impair your body’s ability to produce estrogen. Returning to a healthy weight can improve your estrogen levels.

5. Take for vitex supplements:

Vitex is an herb that has been shown to influence estrogen levels . But consult your doctor before consuming it as research in this aspect is limited as of now. Also, avoid vitex  if you are taking birth control pills or using medication to treat Parkinson’s Disease .

6. Consume herbal teas:

Several herbal teas have been effective in increasing estrogen levels . You can simply soak the herbs in hot water for about 5 minutes and then drink the tea. Black and green teas contain phytoestrogens and can improve estrogen levels in your body.

7. Try coffee:

But no more than 400 mg of caffeine a day. Studies have shown that women who take more than 200 mg of caffeine a day have higher levels of estrogen than women who don’t.

But make sure you use organic coffee . Most coffee is heavily sprayed, which is why drinking organic coffee can keep you away from pesticides and other harmful fertilizers.

8. Practice exercises:

While there is research that exercise can lead to a drop in  estrogen levels , moderate exercise can reduce your risk of breast cancer and increase longevity.

Here are some ways you can increase the level of estrogen in your body. But make sure the levels aren’t too high, as this can lead to another set of problems.

What happens to excess estrogen levels?

Also called estrogen dominance, this condition is marked by the following symptoms:

• Swelling.
• Decreased sexual desire.
• Mood swings.
• Headaches.
• Irregular menstrual periods.
• Cold hands or feet.
• Weight gain.
• Hair loss.
• Anxiety /panic attacks.
• fatigue _
• Memory issues.
• Tender breasts/breasts containing fibrocystic nodules.

Conclusion:

The disability is serious, but nothing to worry about. With proper care and treatment, you can revive your health and happiness.