Causes of Low Estrogen Levels

High estrogen level is a serious problem for women of all ages. Its counterpart, low estrogen levels, can be just as important however, and the two regularly go hand in hand, with a period of high estrogen levels followed by a sudden drop. This is especially true for women who may be going through menopause. In order to combat the symptoms of low estrogen levels, such as hot flashes and fatigue, it is important to understand their causes which are predominantly hormonal. Read on to learn about the various causes of low estrogen levels, including both hormonal and lifestyle-related triggers.

Understanding the Causes of Low Estrogen Levels

While certain conditions or environmental causes can lead to low estrogen levels in women, for most of them, the primary cause of decreased estrogen is hormonal fluctuation.

The causes of low estrogen levels can be divided into three categories: natural, induced and special cases. Each of these is explained in more detail below.

1. Natural Causes of Low Estrogen Levels

Estrogen is produced primarily in the ovaries, by the eggs. Over time as a woman uses her eggs through the cycle of menstruation, the number decreases, leading to a corresponding decline in the secretion of estrogen until menstruation finally ceases and menopause begins. This decline in estrogen levels is predominantly what causes the host of menopausal symptoms that women experience during this time.

Low estrogen levels can also be caused by the ovaries´ inability to produce estrogen. Furthermore, in young girls links have been made between low estrogen levels and the late onset of puberty as well as delayed development and lack of menstruation (amenorrhea).

Menopause and low estrogen levels

Menopause is one of the main reasons that estrogen deficiency occurs in women. Perimenopause is the period prior to menopause when the ovaries' production of estrogen begins to slow down. Women experiencing peri and postmenopause have found that supplemental estrogen provides the hormones needed to ensure physical and emotional well-being. During postmenopause, low levels of estrogen can increase the risk of conditions such as heart disease and osteoporosis.

2. Induced Causes of Low Estrogen Levels

Causes of low estrogen in women
	• Menopause • Hormonal fluctuations • Lifestyle • Diet • Stress • Eating disorders • Extreme exercise • Pituitary diseases

Induced low estrogen levels can be caused by various procedures and treatments but the most common causes among women are hysterectomy and chemotherapy or radiation.

Hysterectomy is one form of surgery that can result in low estrogen levels. Hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus and this can be partial - where the uterus is taken away but the ovaries remain - or total hysterectomy. Also known as "surgical menopause", total hysterectomy is when the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed and this disrupts ovarian hormone production.

Following a hysterectomy a woman enters into surgically-induced menopause and experiences hormone imbalance, regardless of whether or not her ovaries remain. Typically, the ovaries stop working within 1-3 years after hysterectomy as blood flow to them ceases.

It´s recommended that women who begin menopause due to hysterectomy should check their estrogen (estridiol), progesterone and testosterone levels. Hysterectomy results in a shortage of vital hormones and therefore many women may want to use available treatments to deal with this deficit.

Another cause of low estrogen levels in girls and women is radiation therapy or chemotherapy for cancer and other conditions. Many females find that after such treatments their ovaries do not function correctly. Yet, it is worth noting that every woman´s experience is different and the performance of the ovaries is down to the type of chemotherapy received and whether or not radiation was used on the ovaries.

3. Special Cases for Low Estrogen Levels

Conditions such as anorexia nervosa disturb the activity of hormones such as estrogen within the body. Although this condition is extremely rare in women entering menopause it is important to remember that a balanced diet and active lifestyle are key to maintaining hormonal balance.

For young women in particular the following conditions can each prompt low estrogen levels:

• Genetic disease, such as Turner syndrome (which leads to short stature and lack of ovulation, normal female development and lack of menstruation).
• Thyroid disorders.
• Insufficient body fat.

Other causes of low estrogen in women are related to the pituitary gland. As well as eating disorders, extreme exercise and pituitary diseases can all result in insufficient estrogen levels. This is because such ailments lead to a miscommunication between the pituitary gland and the ovaries, with the pituitary gland failing to inform the ovaries to produce estrogen, resulting in inadequate amounts being created.

Now that the causes of low estrogen levels have been explained, continue reading to better understand the symptoms of low estrogen level.

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