Estrogen and Menopause

Menopause, the female body’s biological transition from the reproductive to non-reproductive phase of life, is typically experienced by women in their early forties or fifties.  It is characterized by, as the definition suggests, the end of menstruation and fertility and often is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings.

The following sections will explain about menopause and its link to estrogen, the fluctuations of this hormone during the different stages of menopause and its relationship to  menopause symptoms.

Estrogen and Menopause

Female Hormones
	• Estrogen • Progesterone • Testosterone • DHEA

Of all of the female hormones estrogen is the most well-known and as well as helping to control the menstrual cycle and promote the formation of secondary female sexual characteristics, it plays an important part in the menopausal transition.

Menopause is a natural process that occurs due to the ovaries slowing down and functioning less. Due to the fact that the ovaries control estrogen production, menopause brings about many changes in estrogen and other hormone levels. Hormones essentially control our physical, mental and emotional well-being, so an imbalance can easily lead to many irritating symptoms or illness.

Menopause can provoke estrogen deficiency due to the fact that the ovaries are slowing down and there is a decline in estrogen production. However, menopause can also result in high levels of estrogen as it compensates for the drop in progesterone production.  Excess estrogen and lack of estrogen each prompt a range of symptoms.

Fluctuations of Estrogen during Menopause Stages

Average Estrogen and Menopause
	Age (yrs) • 20 - 29 • 30 - 39 • 40 - 44 • 0 - 30	Estrogen level (pg/ml) • 149 • 210 • 152 • 130

Premenopause: This is the period from a woman´s first period to her last. Monthly cycles cause hormonal fluctuations and a range of unpleasant symptoms.

Perimenopause: The stage before menopause and the time when most women first experience menopausal symptoms. Perimenopause is, in effect, the reproductive years coming to an end and resulting changes in estrogen levels trigger unpleasant symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flashes and night sweats. Perimenopause usually lasts between 2 to 8 years prior to menopause but it´s possible for women to experience symptoms as early as their mid-30s.

Menopause: It is when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. During this time, fluctuating hormone levels can pose real problems for women, forcing many to seek appropriate relief from troublesome symptoms.

Postmenopause: It is the stage after menopause and during this time a lack of hormones such as estrogen triggers a new range of health risks such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

Estrogen and Menopause Symptoms

During the menopause stages, the estrogen levels produces by the body will vary. This is the main reason why there are many symptoms that women will experience.

Pre-menopause and Perimenopause: During a woman´s regular monthly period and entering into perimenopause she will encounter a range of common symptoms such as:

• Hot flashes
• Mood swings
• Vaginal dryness and itching
• Disturbed sleep

Menopause: Throughout menopause, estrogen levels can become extremely unbalanced, resulting in excess or insufficient estrogen. This can result in additional symptoms such as:

Postmenopause: For postmenopausal women there are new concerns due to continued low levels of estrogen and other hormones. Health risks during this time are more serious and can be more long-term. These include but are not limited to:

• Allergies
• Strokes
• Heart Disease
• Lupus
• Breast / Uterine Cancer
• Gallbladder Disease
• Osteoporosis
• Thyroid Dysfunction
• Arthritis

After having seen the relationship between estrogen and menopause, it is important to be aware of any estrogen fluctuation that could cause any discomfort in women. To keep learning, please click on the link about estrogen imbalance.

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