Estrogen

Hormones are chemical matter produced by the body to regulate its growth and development. Secreted by the endocrine system - specifically, the pituitary gland - they travel through the bloodstream and aid in controlling the behavior of certain organs. The most ubiquitous of the "female" hormones, estrogen, is for many a major part of what it means to be a woman.

As women age and enter menopause, it is imperative to have a strong understanding of estrogen's role in the female body. Estrogen imbalances, if and when they occur, can have serious detrimental effects on various parts of a woman's life. Mood, menstrual cycle, and weight are just a few of the ways in which estrogen imbalances can negatively affect women.

The sections below outline estrogen's function and relationship with the female body, estrogen levels and treatment for its imbalance.

About Estrogen

Monitoring estrogen levels is one of the most important things that women can do to preserve overall health. Fluctuating estrogen levels, a condition that can afflict women of all ages, has the potential to cause a sobering array of side effects.

What is Estrogen?

Estrogen is a steroid compound hormone that is made up of a group of three different hormones: estrone, estradiol, and estriol. Estrogen is primarily responsible for regulating menstrual cycles. It also plays a central role in other uniquely female functions, such as reproduction and lactation.

Abnormally low or high levels of estrogen can cause the body to react in various negative ways. Women may become infertile, have irregular monthly periods, experience mood swings or hot flashes, or gain weight.

Click the following link to learn more about estrogen or keep reading for more information about estrogen imbalance.

Estrogen Roles and Effects

As one might expect, the roles that estrogen plays in and the effects that it can have on a woman's body and mind are plentiful. Its most essential roles can be summed up as follows:

• Promoting formation of female sexual characteristics.
• Accelerating metabolism.
• Regulating the menstrual cycle.
• Increasing uterine tissue growth.
• Preserving bone density.
• Protecting against heart disease.

Click on the following link to learn more about estrogen roles and effects, or continue reading below to learn more about estrogen levels in women.

Estrogen Tests

Women usually experience the effects of both high and low estrogen levels as they approach typical menopausal age (35 - 55). Be it a surplus or deficit, any imbalance in estrogen levels can have a serious negative impact on both the mind and body. Estrogen tests, which are conducted in a variety of ways, are purported to establish the presence or absence of an estrogen imbalance.

Click on the following link to learn more about estrogen tests, or continue reading to learn more about what is considered a normal level of estrogen.

Estrogen Levels

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

Physicians have at their disposal numerous ways to test estrogen levels, among them blood, saliva, and urine.

The table to the right shows the average estrogen levels for a woman at different times during her reproductive years. Further information about low estrogen levels and hormonal imbalance can be found below, or click here to learn more about estrogen levels.

Low Estrogen Levels

A simple estrogen test (usually blood, saliva, or urine) can be carried out by a doctor to determine whether an estrogen imbalance is present. A woman suffering from low estrogen levels during menopause will usually have an estrogen reading of 10 - 20 pg/ml (pictograms/milliliter). Click the following link to get more information about low estrogen levels or continue reading to learn about the causes of low estrogen levels.

Causes of Low Estrogen Levels

Over time, the amount of estrogen produced by a woman's ovaries (or more precisely, her eggs) naturally tapers off as her body prepares for the non-reproductive biological phase. Declining estrogen levels are overwhelmingly to blame for the onset of menopausal symptoms.

Click the following link to learn more about causes of low estrogen levels or read on to find out about the symptoms of low estrogen levels.

Symptoms of Low Estrogen Levels

Because symptoms of low estrogen levels can be subtle and varied (and are frequently associated with other conditions), many women fail to correctly identify their condition. Below are some of the most frequently-experienced symptoms that indicate low estrogen levels, particularly in menopausal women.

Symptoms of Low Estrogen Levels
	• Fatigue • Hot Flashes • Night Sweats • Memory Lapses	• Difficulty Concentrating • Joint Pain • Vaginal Dryness • Dry Skin

Women who believe they may suffer from low estrogen levels should contact a physician to avoid serious long-term consequences, the most common of which is osteoporosis. A shocking 20% of menopausal women are thought to be afflicted by osteoporosis, a steady decrease in bone density that has the potential to cause fractures. Osteoporosis results when there is not enough estrogen in the body to help the bones properly absorb calcium and vitamin D, which promotes bone strength and density.

Click the following link to learn more about symptoms of low estrogen levels or read on for more information on high estrogen levels.

High Estrogen Levels

A woman suffering from high estrogen levels during menopause will usually have an estrogen reading of 200+ pg/ml (pictograms/milliliter). Click the following link to learn more about high estrogen levels.

Causes of High Estrogen Levels

One of the first signs of menopause is a drop in progesterone production. The decrease in progesterone prompts the body to compensate by over-producing estrogen. The two hormones exist in a delicate balance that is often upset during perimenopause (the phase just before full-fledged menopause).

Xenoestrogens, manmade chemicals that mimic the body's naturally-produced estrogen when introduced into the body, have recently been proven to raise estrogen levels. Everyday plastic is a major source of xenoestrogens, making them difficult to avoid completely, if at all.

The box below lists some other causes of high estrogen levels.



Intense stress has also been linked to high estrogen levels.

Click the following link to learn more about causes of high estrogen levels, or continue reading to learn about the symptoms of high estrogen levels.

Symptoms of High Estrogen Levels

Symptoms of High Estrogen Levels
	• Mood Swings. • Anxiety. • Depression. • Loss of   Libido. • Insomnia.	• Headaches. • Weight Gain. • Breast Tenderness. • Irregular Periods. • Water Retention/   Bloating • Hypoglycemia

Women suffering from high estrogen levels are typically afflicted by both physical and psychological side effects, including weight gain, mood swings, and hot flashes. While these symptoms are inconvenient and bothersome, they can usually be alleviated with a combination of treatment methods. However, much more serious conditions can result from high estrogen levels, among them breast and uterine cancer.

Click the following link to discover more about symptoms of high estrogen levels or keep reading to learn more about estrogen and menopause.

Estrogen and Menopause

Ovarian slowdown and decreased estrogen production during menopause can cause estrogen deficiency. However, the natural processes of menopause can also trigger a drop in progesterone, resulting in accelerated production of estrogen, which quickly exceeds normal levels. Excess estrogen (and an estrogen deficiency) can prompt a range of symptoms.

Click on the following link to learn more about estrogen and menopause or read on to learn more about treatments for estrogen imbalance in women.

Treatments for Estrogen Imbalance

There are numerous treatments for estrogen imbalance, including lifestyle changes, alternative remedies, and estrogen replacement therapy. They are spelled out below.

Lifestyle Changes

Diet and exercise play a large role in the regulation of hormone levels within the body, particularly estrogen. By paying attention to eating right and getting a minimum of 20 minutes of exercise three times a week, it is possible to treat estrogen imbalance.

Alternative Remedies for Estrogen Imbalance

Alternative medicines - specifically, non-estrogenic herbs that stimulate the body's natural production of hormones - can aid significantly in balancing estrogen levels. Another type of herbs, called phytoestrogenic, introduce similar (but not human) hormones into the body.

Estrogen Replacement Therapy

In recent years, estrogen replacement therapy has been criticized for its association with breast and uterine cancer, heart disease, and strokes. Hormone replacement therapy should be used only in extreme cases and always under the supervision of a health care professional.

A combination of approaches is usually the most effective treatment option. Lifestyle changes combined with alternative medicine has been shown to alleviate hormonal imbalance.

Being thoroughly informed about the different possibilities to treat estrogen imbalance is vital to find relief of its symptoms. Click the following link to learn more about treatments for estrogen imbalance.

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