Though they’re present in the body in very small quantities, hormones play a major role in maintaining your overall health. Estrogen, the primary female sex hormone, is responsible for regulating a variety of critical functions in the female body, including bone density maintenance, metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and many others.

 

But when your estrogen levels move out of their normal range, this hormonal shift can result in a number of seemingly unexplainable symptoms that can negatively impact your overall wellness. The experts at Arijai Aesthetics explain 10 of the most common of those symptoms below.

 

5 Common Signs of Low Estrogen

A decline in your normal estrogen levels can lead to a number of health issues that may seem as though they have no explanation. While estrogen decline is often associated with perimenopause or menopause, low estrogen can actually occur at any age and for a variety of reasons. Some of the most common symptoms that may indicate declining estrogen levels include:

 

●        Depression. Your body cannot produce adequate serotonin (one of your “feel-good” neurotransmitters) without adequate estrogen. So when your estrogen levels are low, so are your serotonin levels, which can result in seemingly unexplained depression and mood swings.

 

●        Hot flashes. Estrogen helps regulate hypothalamic function, which controls your body temperature. If your estrogen levels are too low, you may experience night sweats or hot flashes, two common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.

 

●        Painful sex. Low estrogen levels can negatively affect vaginal lubrication, which can result in painful intercourse. If you’re in your 20s or 30s and experience pain during sex, consider requesting a hormone panel from your gynecologist to determine whether low estrogen may be the culprit.

 

●        Irregular periods. If your menstrual cycle seems erratic or you’ve lost your period completely, that may indicate an abnormal drop in estrogen. This is typical during perimenopause and menopause, but if you are still in your child-bearing years, missed periods are never normal.

 

●        Problems sleeping. Your estrogen levels are closely tied to your serotonin levels. Because serotonin converts melatonin (your body’s natural sleep hormone), if you have low estrogen, you may struggle to fall asleep or get enough deep, restful sleep. 

 

5 Common Signs of High Estrogen

While high estrogen levels can develop from natural causes, too much estrogen can also result from specific lifestyle factors. Taking certain medications or receiving hormonal treatments to combat symptoms of menopause can cause your estrogen levels to increase beyond their normal range, which in turn, can cause problematic health symptoms. Some of the most common signs that may indicate you’re suffering from high estrogen levels include:

 

●        Unexplained weight gain. High estrogen levels often cause an increase in body fat retention, especially around the hip area. Excess estrogen can also make it difficult to lose extra body fat, even with diet and exercise. If you have trouble losing weight or have gained weight with no lifestyle changes, talk to your doctor about hormone testing. If you’re suffering from a hormonal imbalance, bioidentical hormone therapy can help get your body back on track.  

 

●        Low libido. Many women think low estrogen is the culprit behind their non-existent sex drive, but high estrogen can also cause low libido. Regardless, if you’ve experienced an unexplained drop in your desire for sex, bioidentical hormone therapy may be able to help bring it back.

 

●        Breast tenderness or non-cancerous breast lumps. One of the most telltale signs of estrogen dominance is breast tenderness, but many women also experience changes in their breast tissue as a result of a hormonal imbalance. If you’ve noticed unusual lumps in your breasts, talk to your doctor right away. If those lumps are non-cancerous, hormone testing can help you determine whether high estrogen is causing them.

 

●        Bloating. High estrogen levels can cause your body to retain more water than normal, which can leave you feeling bloated without apparent cause. If you consistently hold on to an excessive amount of water weight, talk to your doctor about getting a hormone panel to determine whether your hormones are causing the bloat.

 

●        Hair loss. Having too much estrogen can cause your hair to start thinning, especially if your progesterone is also lower than it should be. If your shedding more hair than usual, talk to your doctor about testing for a hormonal imbalance. If high estrogen is taking a toll on your tresses, bioidentical hormone therapy may be able to help.

 

Is Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Right for You? Learn More at Arijai Aesthetics

If you believe you may be struggling with an estrogen imbalance, our team at Arijai Aesthetics is here to help. We specialize in administering BioTe® bioidentical hormone therapy, a unique pellet-based form of hormone therapy designed to help you optimize your hormone levels take back your health.

 

To learn more about bioidentical hormone therapy and whether BioTe® may be the right treatment option for your unique needs, feel free to call our Burnsville, MN office today at (952) 435-0605. You can also request a consultation or send us a message with your questions, and we’ll be in touch promptly.