Can you increase estrogen through diet and lifestyle?
You can often address low estrogen levels related to certain behaviors by making lifestyle adjustments.
- Aim for a healthy body weight: Being underweight is a risk factor for low hormone levels. Talk with your provider about dietary changes needed to ensure you’re getting the right amount of calories each day.
- Moderately exercise: Overexercise can contribute to low estrogen. Exercise in moderation is good. Overdoing it can deplete the important resources your body needs to function.
- Reduce stress: Too many stress hormones can cause the hormones that regulate your reproductive system to become imbalanced. Incorporating stress-reduction techniques into your daily routine is good for your overall well-being and your hormones, too.
- Get enough sleep: Sleep recharges your body so that your hormones can function properly. On average, adults need from seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
What medications treat low estrogen?
Hormone replacement therapy (HT) is a common treatment for low estrogen, especially during menopause and postmenopause. With HT, you take synthetic forms of estrogen and/or the hormone progesterone to boost your levels. There are two types of HT, estrogen therapy and estrogen progesterone/progestin hormone therapy (EPT). Providers prescribe the lowest doses possible to treat your symptoms while preventing side effects.
The only FDA-approved reasons for body-wide hormone replacement therapy are low bone mineral density and hot flash treatment, typically in the form of pills or patches. vagin*l estrogen — in the form of rings, creams, and vagin*l inserts — are formulated to treat vagin*l dryness and painful intercourse. Sometimes "body wide" estrogen can affect the vagin*l tissue. Sometimes it doesn’t. Vice versa, vagin*l estrogen is not approved for the treatment of hot flashes.
It’s not unusual to need vagin*l estrogen in addition to body-wide estrogen if you’re experiencing hot flashes and painful sex.
Estrogen therapy
You’ll take estrogen supplements only, with no progesterone. Your provider will only prescribe this therapy if you no longer have a uterus (ex., you’ve had a hysterectomy).
Estrogen progesterone/progestin hormone therapy (EPT)
If you still have a uterus, you’ll take a combination of estrogen and progesterone. Taking both is important because progesterone balances the action of estrogen in the uterus. Estrogen thickens your uterine lining. Too much thickening can also cause overgrowth in the uterus that can lead to uterine cancer. Progesterone prevents overgrowth.
HRT isn’t without risks. Research has shown that long-term use of combination therapy (5 years or more) may increase your risk of breast cancer, blood clots, heart attacks and stroke.
Discuss whether you’re a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy with your provider. They can talk you through any risks and side effects associated with any treatment you may receive. The most common reasons you may not be a good candidate for hormone therapy include:
- Menopause more than 10 years ago.
- A history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer or melanoma.
- History of blood clots in your legs, lungs and brain.
FAQs
Systemic hormone therapy.
Systemic estrogen — which comes in pill, skin patch, ring, gel, cream or spray form — typically contains a higher dose of estrogen that is absorbed throughout the body. It can be used to treat any of the common symptoms of menopause.
What diseases are caused by low estrogen? ›
Other symptoms of low estrogen, which may happen during or outside of menopause, include :
- absent or irregular periods.
- bone fractures due to osteoporosis.
- infertility in males or females.
- decreased libido in males or females.
- erectile dysfunction in males.
- high cholesterol or high triglycerides.
- coronary heart disease.
Systemic hormone therapy.
Systemic estrogen — which comes in pill, skin patch, ring, gel, cream or spray form — typically contains a higher dose of estrogen that is absorbed throughout the body. It can be used to treat any of the common symptoms of menopause.
What happens to a woman's body when estrogen is low? ›
Low estrogen levels in women can cause symptoms including irregular periods, hot flashes, painful sex, headaches, mood swings, and more. The most common cause of low estrogen is menopause. But too much exercise, disordered eating, or complications with your ovaries could also lead to lower levels.
What happens if low estrogen is not treated? ›
Low estrogen levels can cause irregularities in sexual development and sexual functions. They can also increase your risk of obesity, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Treatments have evolved and become more effective over the years.
What cancers are caused by low estrogen? ›
Estrogen-dependent cancers, like breast cancer, ovarian cancer and endometrial (uterine) cancer, rely on estrogen to develop and grow. Treatments can stop your body from making estrogen or prevent hormone receptors from binding to estrogen.
What depletes estrogen? ›
The most common cause of low estrogen is age. It's natural for your estrogen levels to fall as you get older. Low levels unrelated to menopause may be a sign of a condition.
What does low estrogen feel like? ›
Symptoms of low estrogen can include: Hot flashes, flushes, and night sweats are the most common symptoms of low estrogen. At times, blood rushes to your skin's surface. This can give you a feeling of warmth (hot flash).
Does low estrogen cause weight gain? ›
For women, a specific estrogen hormone called estradiol decreases at menopause helps regulate metabolism and body weight. The lower the levels of estradiol may cause weight gain. Throughout a woman's life, they may notice weight gain around their hips and thighs.
What happens to skin when estrogen is low? ›
Estrogen insufficiency decreases defense against oxidative stress; skin becomes thinner with less collagen, decreased elasticity, increased wrinkling, increased dryness and reduced vascularity.
When estrogen levels are too low (aka <22.4 pg/mL) Excluding menopause, the most common cause of low estrogen levels is an oophorectomy (surgical removal of the ovaries). They can also happen as a result of excessive exercise or disordered eating (an effect of reduced ovarian stimulation).
What age is too late for estrogen? ›
So the best practice guidelines currently state that the ideal time to start HRT is within 10 years of the initiation of menopause, or under the age of 60.
What is the disorder caused by deficiency of estrogen in females? ›
Deficiency of oestrogen causes female hypogonadism.
What disorders are associated with estrogen? ›
Given this widespread role for estrogen in human physiology, it is not surprising that estrogen is also implicated in the development or progression of numerous diseases, which include but are not limited to various types of cancer (breast, ovarian, colorectal, prostate, endometrial), osteoporosis, neurodegenerative ...
What is the disorder caused by a decrease of estrogen production? ›
Primary ovarian insufficiency (also known as premature menopause): With this condition, the ovaries prematurely stop producing eggs (before age 40). As a result, your ovaries don't secrete the estrogen your body needs.
Can low estrogen cause digestive problems? ›
Decreasing amounts of estrogen and progesterone during menopause can slow down the process of food passing through the GI system. When the digestive process takes longer, more water is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream, which can lead to constipation, increased gas and bloating.
