13 Signs of Low Estrogen
Estrogen is a growth hormone responsible for the development and maintenance of the female reproductive system. It is actually a family of hormones that includes: estradiol (E2 - our main estrogen), estriol (E3 - the predominant estrogen during pregnancy), and estrone (E1 - the predominant estrogen in menopause)
Estrogen is released in high amounts during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle which is the first two weeks leading up to ovulation. Estrogen is released from the ovaries, fat tissue, and adrenal glands.
The main functions of estrogen include:
building up the uterine wall for the menstrual cycle
stimulating the growth of the egg follicle
developing breast tissue
stabilizing bone density
controlling the metabolism of glucose and lipids.
Low levels of estrogen can result in symptoms like:
night sweats
light or short periods (less than 3 days)
achy joints
anxiety
depression
vaginal dryness
mood swings
low libido
painful sex
trouble sleeping
infertility
We will discuss why you can experience these symptoms with low estrogen levels.
Low levels of estrogen naturally occur after menopause, but low levels can also emerge during perimenopause (the stages leading up to menopause).
If you’re experiencing low estrogen levels before perimenopause it’s important to dig into the root cause (or reason why it is low).
LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT THE 4 PHASES OF YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE THROUGH FOOD, MOVEMENT, AND LIFESTYLE
You may be wondering: “are there ways to increase estrogen levels naturally?”
The good news (actually, great, amazing, fantastic news) is YES - there are natural ways to help increase low estrogen levels in the body.
This important question we need to be asking is: why is my estrogen low in the first place?
This is taking a root cause approach when it comes to understanding our health and hormones. When we answer this question, we are understanding what is driving the imbalance (which is showing up as symptoms in the body).
By addressing the root cause, not simply just the symptom (or the hormone imbalance for that matter), we can find long-term, sustained healing.
I’m here to help you have better periods, symptomless cycles, and optimize fertility (whether that’s now or in the future) all through simple nutrition and lifestyle shifts that feel simple, doable, and empowering (not overwhelming).
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I’m so passionate about sharing this info with anyone on a hormone healing journey, so I’m letting you in with all the info here!
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What are signs and symptoms of low estrogen?
Here are 13 signs of low estrogen levels:
1. Low Libido
Low libido or low sex drive is another one of the signs of low estrogen. Sex drive is highly dependent on the balance of hormones between testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. When estrogen is low and out of balance, this will cause a change in the homeostasis of the other hormones. This is why low sex drive is another one of the signs of low estrogen.
Source: 26589379
2. Short or Light Periods
If you notice your periods are days shorter than usual, or they are a lot lighter than usual, this may be one of the signs of low estrogen. Short or light periods are a result of stress on the body. The stress response in our body causes multiple body functions to change. As a result, we will produce higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, from the adrenal glands. Depending on the situation, stress can cause either an increase or decrease in estrogen, it just depends on the source of the stress. Additionally, the short or light periods are signs of low estrogen because one function of estrogen is to build up the endometrial wall for menstruation. If this wall isn’t built up, then estrogen is low.
3. Bladder Infections (UTI)
A UTI is a bladder infection where residual bacteria in the urethra causes discomfort when urinating, and it can be one of the signs of low estrogen. This is because having low levels can facilitate physical and chemical variations in the urinary system. A study found that the reintroduction of balanced estrogen levels will increase the production of antimicrobial peptides and will form a narrower intercellular connection which will prevent the bacteria from reaching hidden cells. The increased estrogen will also support the integrity of the urinary system and cell membrane function.
Source: 24296328
4. Bone Loss
Bone loss is one of the common signs of low estrogen. Bones need to be constantly rebuilt in order to maintain strength, this is because the bones become degraded by the impact of daily living. When estrogen is low, this forces osteoclast production to increase. Osteoclasts are cells that function to degrade bone formation. Additionally, estrogen increases calcium deposition into the bone which helps to increase bone density and strength. This is why bone loss is one of the signs of low estrogen.
5. Achy Joints
Achy joints can originate from inflammation, bone thickening, and degradation of tissue. This ultimately can lead to osteoarthritis which is when the joints become very painful and in unfortunate cases, immobile. Achy joints are one of the signs of low estrogen because estrogen is found to have protective effects on maintaining tissue balance. Joint pain relevance in postmenopausal women is because many estrogen receptors are found in the joint tissues, so if there is no estrogen to bind to these receptors, then this causes joint pain. Another study found that postmenopausal women who were administered an estrogen supplement reported significantly less joint pain than the placebo group over a year.
6. Night Sweats
Night sweats or hot flashes occur in about 85% of postmenopausal women. Night sweats are caused by an increase of blood flow to areas of the body at a rapid rate for about 1-5 minutes at a time. The mechanism of this is that there is excessive dilation of blood vessels which causes a decrease in blood pressure and a loss of heat in parts of the body. Estrogen is secreted in parts of the hypothalamus which is a part of the brain that controls body heat regulation. This is why night sweats are one of the signs of low estrogen.
Source: 31001050
7. Anxiety or Depression
Anxiety is a mental illness where feelings of worry, anxiousness, and fear can overpower aspects of one’s day. It is additionally one of the signs of low estrogen. A study found that administering rats with an optimal dosage of estrogen can balance them out and cause anxiety and depressive tendencies to decrease. They found that anxiety behaviors stem from the amygdala in the brain which is the emotional control center, and estrogen plays a key role in balancing the emotional response so this is why anxiety is a sign of low estrogen.
8. Trouble Sleeping
Trouble sleeping can be when you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. A study found that in both perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who were administered a low dose of estradiol there was an increase in sleep quality and insomnia was decreased. This shows that balanced estrogen levels have a positive effect on sleep quality, and trouble sleeping can be one of the signs of low estrogen.
Source: 25325454
9. Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness is another one of the signs of low estrogen. When estrogen is low, there becomes a cascade of effects in the vaginal region. Low estrogen causes less glucose produced which decreases lactic acid production. This results in an increase in pH making the vagina more basic when it is usually more acidic. This will cause inflammation, dryness from low production of cervical fluid, and an overgrowth of other bacteria. This is why vaginal dryness is one of the signs of low estrogen.
Source: 20042564
10. Painful Sex
Painful sex is another one of the signs of low estrogen. During normal sex, the vagina will produce cervical fluid to lubricate the area to make penetration much smoother. When you suffer from vaginal dryness, this process will be hindered causing irritation, or burning. This is why painful sex is one of the signs of low estrogen.
Source: 20042564
11. Mood Swings
Mood swings are another one of the signs of low estrogen. Mood and cognition stability are both heavily reliant on estrogen balance. Estradiol and estrone are different forms of the estrogen molecule that we produce. Estradiol binds to both alpha estrogen receptor and beta estrogen receptor whereas estrone only binds to the beta estrogen receptor. Because of this, it has been shown that estradiol is more beneficial to balance out mood swings and has antidepressant effects when taken in normal limits, but with low levels, it can cause mood swings and unstable emotions which are signs of low estrogen.
Source: 23990808
12. Infertility
Infertility is another one of the signs of low estrogen. To be able to carry a baby, your body needs to have stable hormones to maintain breast tissue growth, uterine wall development, and create a placenta so the baby can receive nutrients. If there is less estrogen being produced, these processes do not have enough estrogen to be carried out, and ovulation will decrease causing infertility.
Source: 30142848
13. Poor Memory
Poor memory can be one of the signs of low estrogen too. Estrogen has a biological role in the hippocampus which is the part of the brain we rely on for old and new memories. Estrogen receptors have been found in membranes of cell bodies, spines, and in neurotransmitter gaps called presynaptic terminals which are in the hippocampus. The binding of estrogen to its receptor activates its effects in the body. When estrogen is low, this processing can not be carried out enough which can cause poor memory.
Source: 25205317
FINAL THOUGHTS
There are several signs of low estrogen that your body may be showing you.
While we chatted through lots of different options, remember that every body is unique and it’s about determine what works best for your body.
Remember: simple shifts build to make a big impact over time!
Healthy estrogen levels are possible for you.
-Krista
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KRISTA KING, MS, RDN, LDN, IFNCP
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