Symptoms of High Estrogen Levels

Excess estrogen in the body can lead to a myriad of unpleasant symptoms and side effects. Unfortunately, this is far from unusual in women, particularly during the menopausal transition. Below are some of the most commonly experienced symptoms that may indicate abnormally high estrogen levels. They may arrive one at a time or altogether and levels of intensity and duration may vary as well.

Symptoms of High Estrogen Levels

The most common symptoms of excess estrogen are:

• Bloating and weight gain
• Tender breasts
• Uterine fibroids
• Nausea and vomiting
• Decreased sex drive
• Irregular periods
• Leg cramps

Conditions that Indicate High Estrogen Levels

The various signs of high estrogen levels can manifest in both physical and mental conditions:

Conditions of High Estrogen Levels
	Physical Conditions • Artherosclerosis (a thickening of the artery wall due to a build-up of fatty materials, including cholesterol). • Headaches/Migraines. • Vaginal Infection. • Arthritis (a common condition causing pain and inflammation (swelling) of the joints and bones).	Mental Conditions • Depression. • Panic Attacks. • Low Self Esteem.

Other Symptoms of High Estrogen Levels

In addition to the physical and psychological signs outlined above, high estrogen levels can lead to a range of side effects and more serious conditions. These include but are not limited to the following:

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

As these conditions can go beyond just being uncomfortable and can pose real risks to a woman´s health, it is important to learn what causes the symptoms of high estrogen levels in order to be able to deal with them effectively.

High Estrogen Levels and Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease that is very common during menopause. Osteoporosis affects bones by making them thinner and weaker, making them more susceptible to breaks and fractures.

Bones are made up of two major elements: minerals (including calcium and phosphorous) and bone cells (consisting of osteoblasts and osteoclasts). Osteoclasts weaken bones while osteoblasts help to rebuild them. It´s vital that osteoclasts and osteoblasts work properly so that our bones constantly regenerate themselves, keeping us strong and healthy.

If a woman experiences hormonal imbalance, particularly estrogen (which maintains the osteoclasts - the bone cell breaker - at a controlled amount) then she is more likely to develop osteoporosis because estrogen helps prevent calcium loss.

Menopause impacts on a woman´s bones and if osteoclasts (bone cell breaker) outnumber the bone cell producer because of estrogen hormone imbalance then this increases a woman´s chances of developing osteoporosis at some point during the menopausal transition.

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