Low Estrogen

Estrogen levels naturally rise and fall throughout your life. They also change during certain bodily processes, like your menstrual cycle. Depending on your age, consistently low estrogen may mean you’re going through the natural change of menopause.

But having estrogen levels that are consistently low when they’re not supposed to be is different. Sometimes, low estrogen is a sign of a condition or the result of a medical treatment. It can cause a variety of symptoms that affect both your reproductive and overall health.

Symptoms of low estrogen in females

After puberty, signs and symptoms of low estrogen in females can include:

• Decreased sex drive
• Difficulty concentrating
• Dry skin
• Headaches before or during your period (menstrual migraine)
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Irregular periods or no periods
• Moodiness and irritability
• Painful sex
• Vaginal dryness or atrophy
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)

In girls, low estrogen may delay puberty or slow or prevent sexual development.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have these symptoms, especially if they’re unexpected or severe.

Symptoms of low estrogen in males

After puberty, symptoms of low estrogen in males can include:

• Increased adipose tissue (body fat) in your belly
• Decreased sex drive

In boys, low estrogen can limit their growth spurt in puberty due to the hormone’s effect on bones.

Low estrogen causes

It’s natural for your estrogen levels to fall as you age and enter menopause. They also drop dramatically after giving birth (but then stabilize). Low levels unrelated to menopause or postpartum may be a sign of a condition or the result of a treatment.

Most causes of low estrogen result from issues with your ovaries, which are the primary source of estrogen. These causes include:

• Ovary removal (oophorectomy): Surgical removal of both of your ovaries results in immediate menopause. Removal of one ovary may put you at risk for early menopause.
• Primary ovarian insufficiency: Your ovaries have a significantly reduced egg supply before age 40. This can lead to irregular periods, skipping periods and infertility. You may have symptoms similar to those of early menopause.
• Early menopause: The average age of menopause is 51 years old. Going through menopause younger than age 45 is considered early.
• Turner syndrome: This is a chromosomal disorder that involves underdeveloped or absent ovaries.
• Pelvic radiation therapy: This cancer treatment may damage your ovaries.
• Autoimmune oophoritis: Your immune system attacks your ovaries. This is very rare.

Other causes of low estrogen include:

• Hypothalamus issues: Your hypothalamus releases GnRH. This hormone triggers other hormones that control your menstrual cycle (including estrogen). If it gets a message that something is stressing your body, it can stop releasing GnRH. This is what happens in hypothalamic amenorrhea.
• Pituitary gland conditions: Your pituitary gland releases hormones that tell your ovaries to make estrogen. Issues with your pituitary gland can disrupt this communication.

Complications of this condition

Complications of low estrogen vary depending on your life stage. For example, low estrogen in girls can stall puberty and sexual development. Low estrogen during your reproductive years can cause infertility.

In general, low estrogen can contribute to complications like:

• Heart disease
• Mental health conditions, like depression
• Sexual health issues, like pain during sex
• Weak or brittle bones (osteoporosis), which can lead to fractures

In addition, symptoms of low estrogen can be more severe in some people compared to others. This can cause significant distress and decreased quality of life. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider for help if low estrogen symptoms are affecting your daily life.

How doctors diagnose this condition

Your healthcare provider may consider checking your estrogen levels with a blood test. If you have periods, blood tests may not be accurate due to the natural fluctuations of estrogen throughout your menstrual cycle. They may recommend other tests to find the cause of the low estrogen level if it’s unknown.

What is the treatment for low estrogen?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the main treatment for low estrogen, especially during menopause and postmenopause. With HRT, you take manufactured forms of estrogen and/or progesterone. It helps manage certain features of menopause, like low bone density and vaginal dryness.

HRT has various risks and benefits. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if it’s an option for you.

Is there anything I can do to boost my estrogen levels?

There aren’t home remedies for most causes of low estrogen (like ovarian damage). But you can try to maintain healthy estrogen levels with the following lifestyle adjustments:

• Aim for a healthy body weight: Underweight is a risk factor for low hormone levels. Talk with your healthcare provider about dietary changes you may need to ensure you’re getting proper nutrition.
• Aim for moderate exercise: Overexercise can contribute to low estrogen.
• Reduce stress: Cortisol can cause reproductive hormones to become imbalanced. Managing stress is good for your overall well-being, too.
• Get enough sleep: Sleep recharges your body so that it can release hormones properly.