Prior to menopause, women usually do not pay much attention to their estrogen levels, except during occasional discomforts around monthly periods. However, once the transition begins, they often learn the significance of estrogen balance the hard way, often leaving them in disbelief that it can cause such distraught in their bodies and minds.
Continue reading to discover the most common symptoms of low estrogen during menopause, both physical and psychological, so that you can be a step ahead in creating an effective action plan to tackle them for ultimate relief.
Physical Symptoms of Low Estrogen
Did You Know?
The type and severity of menopause symptoms will vary from woman to woman as well as across that various stages of the transition.
While some lucky women hardly experience any, most are plagued by a combination of the following physical symptoms of low estrogen during menopause:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Irregular periods
- Vaginal dryness
- Joint pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Loss of libido
- Irregular heartbeat
- Hair loss
- Weight gain
- Low back pain
- Bloating
- Tingling extremities
- Change in body odor
Psychological Symptoms of Low Estrogen
Just as low estrogen levels can cause debilitating symptoms in the body, so they can wreak havoc in the mind, including causing the following:
- Depression
- Panic attacks
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Low self-esteem
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Memory lapses
- Difficulty concentrating
Words of Caution
Although it is reasonable for middle-aged women to attribute the aforementioned symptoms of low estrogen during menopause to the hormone, it is important to remember that there are other medical conditions that might produce similar discomforts.
This can include an under- or overactive thyroid gland, eating disorders, nutritional deficiencies, high blood pressure, and heart disease, among others.2,3,4
Luckily, scheduling a prompt consultation with one's doctor to undergo a physical exam and estrogen tests can bring clarity as to the underlying cause of symptoms and direct women towards appropriate treatment.
Conclusions
It is clear that a drastic drop in estrogen levels due to menopause may cause a host of physical and psychological discomforts. Although hormonal decline is a natural process in every woman's life, consistently low estrogen levels can increase her risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and incontinence.5 As such, increasing estrogen levels is key and can be achieved healthily and effectively with wholesome lifestyle practices of a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and stress-relief techniques alongside herbal supplements that promote hormonal balance. Click on the preceding link to learn more and tackle symptoms of low estrogen during menopause for years to come!
Sources
- Medline Plus. (2019). Menopause. Retrieved November 25, 2019 from https://medlineplus.gov/menopause.html
- National Institute on Aging. (2017). What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Menopause? Retrieved November 25, 2019 from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-signs-and-symptoms-menopause
- Office on Women's Health. (2019). Menopause. Retrieved November 25, 2019 from https://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause
Footnotes:
- University of Rochester Medical Center. (n.d.). Estradiol (Blood). Retrieved November 25, 2019 from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=167&ContentID=estradiol
- The North American Menopause Society. (n.d.). Is It Menopause or a Thyroid Problems? Retrieved November 25, 2019 from https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/is-it-menopause-or-a-thyroid-problem-
- Harvard Medical School. (2013). Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky, harmful. Retrieved November 25, 2019 from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-b12-deficiency-can-be-sneaky-harmful-201301105780
- National Eating Disorders Association. (n.d.). Warning Signs and Symptoms. Retrieved November 25, 2019 from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/warning-signs-and-symptoms
- Better Health. (2019). Menopause. Retrieved November 25, 2019 from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/menopause