The hormone estrogen, which is commonly used in a woman’s body, falls amongst the top essential hormones that the body needs. Although it is also produced in men, the hormone is in higher amounts in women as compared to men. Estrogen deficiencies can lead to the deterioration of one's’ overall health and it’s therefore necessary for the body to produce amounts of estrogen that will help maintain a healthy body.
Some of the functions of estrogen include:
· Regulation of food, maintaining body weight.
· Brings about a change in the breasts for pregnant women and puberty stage.
· Aids in the formation of the uterine wall during the early stages of pregnancy and menstruation.
· Bone, cholesterol, and glucose metabolism.
Identification
Although all women can experience estrogen deficiencies, most of those affected are teenage girls yet to get to their puberty stage and women nearing menopause. Low estrogen levels result in weight gain, no periods or an irregular menstrual cycle, depression, vaginal dryness which leads to pain during sexual intercourse, bladder infections leading to urinary tract infections, lack of concentration, migraines, and even insomnia in extreme cases.
In other cases, the bones are also affected since estrogen normally works alongside other minerals in the body such as vitamin D and calcium in bone formation. This results in weakening of the bones.
Causes
The ovaries are the organs that produce estrogen and any damage to them or improper functioning can lead to estrogen deficiencies. If not diagnosed and treated early, estrogen deficiencies can cause infertility in women. Most women experience low levels of estrogen production as they age towards menopause, a period called perimenopause.
However, some women encounter hormonal issues at a young age that lead to lower estrogen, which might be due to bad eating habits, vigorous exercises, dysfunctional ovaries, chronic kidney disease or even improper functioning of the pituitary glands.
Diagnosis
Due to the fact that a history of hormonal imbalances in the family and diseases like ovarian cysts can lead to lower estrogen levels, one’s medical history is among some of the things looked into when diagnosing for estrogen deficiency. Apart from this, a physical examination out also carried out and the symptoms checked. The hormonal levels are checked through a blood test carried out by the doctor for any signs of low hormonal levels and to eliminate any other conditions with similar symptoms.
Treatment
Estrogen deficiencies can be treated using two common treatments which are estrogen therapy and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Estrogen therapy is normally recommended for women with lower estrogen levels to prevent hormonal imbalances. Estrogen therapy can be done through injections, through the vagina, topically or orally and normally takes a year or two since it can increase one’s chances of getting cancer.
Women experiencing extreme cases of estrogen deficiency, medical conditions such as hysterectomy and those nearing menopause, sometimes have to undergo long-term treatment where lower doses are administered to get back to balance hormonal levels.
HRT which is done as one nears menopause restores the estrogen levels to normal. Similar to estrogen therapy, the hormones can also be administered through the vagina, topically, orally or through injection. There are different types of hormone replacement therapy, some including the combination of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
The diagnosis will determine the type of treatment administered since HRT can increase one’s risk of cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and stroke.
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