Estrogen Deficiency

Estrogen is the general term used to describe the female sex hormones (estradiol, estrone, and estriol) collectively. Estrogen plays a central role in nourishing and protecting the body, exerting influence over, among other things, cholesterol levels and osteal, cardiac, dermal, and neural health. It also aids in the production and secretion of other important hormones.

Stable estrogen levels are important to maintain throughout life, but particularly during menopause. A surplus or deficit of estrogen can cause unpleasant menopausal symptoms as well as negatively affect a woman’s general state of health and well-being. Estrogen deficiency shows itself in various forms, including vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and irregular menstrual periods.

Read on to learn more about problems attributed to estrogen deficiency.

What is estrogen deficiency?

Estrogen deficiency is a lack of estrogen that has adverse effects on the female body. Insufficient levels of estrogen are primarily caused by normal hormonal fluctuation, most commonly during the menopausal transition. However, other triggers of estrogen deficiency include hysterectomy and radiation therapy or chemotherapy, eating disorders, insufficient body fat, thyroid disorders, extreme exercise and pituitary diseases.

Estrogen Deficiency Tests

A simple estrogen test is the best way of determining whether or not a woman is experiencing estrogen deficiency. Some doctors may test for a particular type of estrogen; estradiol is the most common but estriol and estrone can also be assessed. However, tests for estriol and estrone are less common when trying to establish problems with estrogen deficiency during menopause.

Saliva tests can also be carried out in order to diagnose estrogen deficiency but are more affected by environmental factors such as what the patient has been eating or drinking and whether or not she smokes. Thus, these tests are deemed less reliable than others. Medication, hormone treatments such as HRT and contraceptive pills can also have an affect on the results of saliva tests.

Due to variations in the amount of estrogen present in the body during menstruation it is suggested that samples only be taken on the third day of a woman's cycle. This is in order to eliminate any major fluxes in estrogen levels that may occur at other times, for instance, during ovulation.

Testing for menopause allows women to take control of their body and health and educate themselves about the menopausal transition and what to expect.

Estrogen Deficiency Symptoms

Estrogen deficiency is often a direct result of menopause. As such, women can experience a host of symptoms including night sweats, irregular menstrual periods, dizziness, and mood swings. These menopausal syndromes are a group of physical and psychological symptoms commonly experienced in the climacteric period due to estrogen deficiency. However, because these symptoms often come before menopause, they can also be a result of relative estrogen deficiency as well as fluctuating levels of ovarian hormones.

Symptoms of estrogen deficiency include:

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