Life
Sometimes healthcare can feel like a never-ending task. Keeping track of everything that can go wrong with your body can drive anyone a bit bonkers. However, watching out for your hormonal changes is a smart move for any woman. For instance, knowing the signs you’re not producing enough estrogen can let you know when there might be an imbalance with your hormones.
According to Hormone.org, estrogen is the hormone responsible for reproduction in women, but it also handles a number of other bodily tasks. For instance, estrogen can also affect your cholesterol levels, bone health, and brain functioning. This multi-tasking hormone plays an important role in the function of many bodily systems.
So if your estrogen levels are low, does this mean you’re going through menopause already? Not necessarily. Granted, your estrogen levels get all out of whack during The Change, but it’s important to remember that the average age of menopause is 51, as noted by eMedicineHealth. In the aforementioned eMedicineHealth piece, premature menopause, which occurs in a woman younger than 40 years of age, only affects about 1 percent of women. Granted, both premature menopause and on-time menopause have their own sets of challenges, but it isn’t necessarily the root cause of low estrogen.
For women who are not yet menopausal, low estrogen levels can be caused by a whole host of factors. For instance, issues with your your pituitary gland, kidneys, or ovaries can all lead to low levels of estrogen, as noted by Healthline. What’s more, lifestyle choices, such as lots of exercise, may also lead to decreased levels of estrogen. Basically, if these signs your estrogen is low seem too familiar, then a visit with your physician may be a good call.
Fatigue
Feeling wiped out? Far too many people have to slog through each day on little to no energy, and the list of things that can make you feel tired all the time is a mile long. One of the potentially overlooked culprits of fatigue is low estrogen, as noted in BodyLogicMD. It can affect your moods and make your existent fatigue even worse.
Sleeping Troubles
Sleeping problems often go hand-in-hand with feelings of chronic fatigue. And as noted by The Institute of Endocrinology and Preventive Medicine, declining estrogen levels can cause insomnia. If you're buzzing around all night and exhausted all day, then it may be time for a hormonal check-up.
Concentration Problems
It turns out hormones can even affect your ability to focus. According to the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, decreasing estrogen levels can cause you to feel easily distracted. Who knew estrogen could hamper your concentration?
Headaches
For some people with chronic headaches, it may be easier to list the things that don’t trigger a migraine. But you can add another potential cause to the list: low estrogen. According to MDhealth, low estrogen symptoms may include bodily pain such as headaches. If your frequent headaches are defying explanation, then low E may be something to check out.
Rapid Heartbeat
This is a scary symptom, but according to Everyday Health, an increased risk of heart conditions, including heart palpitations, is another potential side effect of dropping estrogen. In fact, knowing the symptoms of women’s heart disease is crucial for everyone.
Incontinence
Hey, it’s everyone’s favorite medical symptom. As explained by Healthy Women, incontinence may be caused by thinning of the urethra, brought about by (you guessed it) decreased estrogen. This is an excellent reason to visit your doctor for a checkup, because it’s an annoying symptom on its own.
Decreased Libido
Just not feeling it lately? It’s no secret that hormones can have major effects on your sex drive. What’s more, low estrogen can cause you to experience vaginal dryness and uncomfortable intercourse, as noted by Everyday Health. This can only make sex even less appealing.
Depression
Mental health is worth attention, too. According to WebMD, unstable levels of estrogen may lead to depression. If you experience symptoms of depression, then chatting with a physician or mental health professional is a good first step toward wellness.
Forgetfulness
Lastly, feeling a bit scattered may not indicate a lack of self-discipline or anything. Rather, forgetfulness and memory lapses are another common sign of low estrogen levels, as explained in BodyLogicMD. Getting your hormone levels checked out may ultimately help you feel more at home in your own head.
