Hormones are vital to helping your body perform at its most optimum. For women one of the most important hormones is estrogen. Estrogen signals to your body to increase its blood sugar when levels dip, deposit fat in your breasts and hips and even help maintain bone mineral density. When this hormone becomes unbalanced it quickly becomes apparent your body is experiencing a change. For many women this change occurs in their early 40s to late 50s and is termed menopause. Read on to learn about the effects of low estrogen during menopause.
When Does Estrogen Decline?
Estrogen levels decline about a year before the onset of menopause - or the year before your last period. When menopause hits estrogen levels can decline by as much as 60 per cent.
How Do I Know If I Have Low Estrogen?
As menopause approaches, hormones levels become unbalanced as progesterone, estrogen and testosterone levels decline. To determine if you have low estrogen, it's important to recognize the symptoms of low estrogen. These symptoms include;
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Mood swings
- Memory lapses
- Dry eyes
- Dry skin
- Vaginal dryness
- Collagen loss
- Decreased libido
- Constant fatigue and lethargy
- Unexplained weight gain
How Does Low Estrogen the Body During Menopause?
Low estrogen has many effects on the female body. One of the best know is bone loss or osteoporosis. Lack of estrogen doesn't allow the body to properly absorb calcium and vitamin D leading to bone problems. Addition with anxiety, depression or memory problems may be suffering from low estrogen. Some women may also notice their skin appears drier or develop acne following a decline in estrogen during menopause.
How Do I Increase My Estrogen Levels?
In the past, synthetic hormones were often the only therapy to remedy the symptoms of low estrogen. Due to recent studies the dangers of using synthetic hormones has heightened interest in finding natural alternatives to hormone therapy. Popular alternative food and herb sources include phytoestrogens, plant based compounds that mimic estrogen when introduced into the body. Replacing hormone therapy with the use of natural alternatives such as phytoestrogens, further helps to reduce the risk of hormone therapy related conditions, side effects and disease.
Before menopause strikes learn to recognize the symptoms of low estrogen and talk to your doctor about methods to help increase your estrogen. Click here to read more about estrogen.