What is estrogen deficiency?
Estrogen deficiency occurs when estrogen levels in the body become too low, leading to an imbalance of hormones. This commonly affects perimenopausal and postmenopausal women as ovarian function declines with age. However, younger women can also experience estrogen deficiency due to conditions like premature ovarian failure.
Some key signs and symptoms of estrogen deficiency include:
- Hot flashes - sudden feelings of warmth spreading through the body, often with sweating and red skin. Hot flashes can range from mild to severe and frequent.
- Vaginal dryness and atrophy - thinning and shrinking of vaginal tissues leading to irritation, painful sex, and increased infection risk.
- Mood changes - symptoms like depression, anxiety, irritability and trouble sleeping.
- Osteoporosis - weakened bones that become fragile and prone to fracture. This occurs as declining estrogen accelerates bone loss.
- Heart disease risk - lower estrogen is linked to unfavorable cholesterol changes and higher heart disease risk.
If you're experiencing such symptoms, it's advisable to have your hormone levels tested. Your health provider can check levels of estrogen along with other relevant hormones like FSH and inhibins to determine if a true deficiency exists. They may also rule out other potential causes for your symptoms.
Treatment approaches for estrogen deficiency include:
- Estrogen therapy - estrogen alone or combined with progestogen. Oral tablets or skin patches can relieve deficiency symptoms. But patients should be assessed for stroke/heart disease risks.
- Vaginal estrogen - localized low-dose estrogen to relieve urogenital symptoms without increasing systemic hormones.
- Lifestyle changes - diet, exercise, stress reduction. These can help manage some symptoms.
- Alternative therapies - herbal remedies, bioidentical hormones, compounded creams. Evidence for safety/efficacy varies. Consult a professional before using.
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