Surely throughout your life, you have heard words like progesterone or estrogens many times, but have you ever stopped to think about what they are and what they do in our body. Indeed, when you detect low levels in any of these hormones, you get serious about knowing what their meaning is and what options you have in your hands to increase their levels.
Among which we find estrogens, hormones fulfill many functions in our body. And these, even if they are sexual, are not only limited to the development of fertility but their presence can be felt throughout the body. When, for whatever reason, its levels drop, we notice annoying symptoms throughout the body. If you want to know everything about low estrogens in women: symptoms and treatment, what they are, and the functions they carry out in our body, we recommend that you continue reading this FastlyHealarticle.
Table of Contents
Estrogens: what are they, and what are they for?
The female body begins to produce estrogens and progesterone from the moment she has the first menstruation. These hormones, secreted from the ovaries, are in charge of preparing the development of the sexual organs to be able to face a future pregnancy. Among the things that estrogens do in a woman’s body, we find the enlargement of the cervix essential for a baby to fit. On the other hand, progesterone improves the condition of the eggs so that it is easier for the woman to get pregnant.
Taking this into account, we can observe the great importance of both in the physical preparation of women for their fertile years. But its functions are not limited only to the field of fertility but also fulfill other essential tasks in the rest of the body and women’s health.
For example, these hormones also significantly influence female cholesterol levels. This is one of the reasons why, during their productive life, women tend to have low cholesterol levels, essential for the arrival of the baby to occur in good health. Estrogens and progesterone are also responsible for distributing a woman’s fat throughout the body. They are why the female body tends to accumulate fat on the breasts and hips, unlike men, who do so on the belly. The reason for this lipid distribution is that in this way, the baby is more protected; hips and lower abdomen, and the breasts increase to be able to breastfeed better.
Low estrogens: symptoms
Now that you know the importance of progesterone and estrogens for the body both before you get pregnant and once you have already conceived, you can get an idea of what it means for their levels to drop. Both hormones must be at adequate levels throughout the productive life of the woman, and if these levels fall, not only will the ability to get pregnant be affected, but its symptoms and consequences will be transferred to her general health.
In general, a woman’s body sees estrogen levels drop during menopause, between 45 and 55. However, certain conditions such as early menopause can advance that event. Although during adolescence a woman’s body undergoes many changes due to the excessive increase in hormones that prepare her for abundant life, during menopause, the symptoms of low estrogens in women are the following:
- Recurrent headache
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Tiredness and sleep
- Fluid retention
- Alterations in menstruation appear with clots and are altered in time.
But the symptoms of low estrogen can not only be observed on a physical level. The alteration of hormonal levels can also cause severe changes in women from a psychological point of view :
- The sexual desire of women decreases.
- Alterations in mood, with frequent mood swings.
- They may feel sad and have a constant urge to cry.
- Insomnia and inability to sleep.
- Memory loss
As we have mentioned before, both estrogens and progesterone are responsible for giving the breasts the necessary shape, distributing fat in them, and giving color to the nipples. On the other hand, they also fulfill the function of giving them the sensitivity to be aroused during sexual intercourse and form them so that after the birth of a child, they can breastfeed. However, low estrogen levels will inevitably change the nature of the breasts, making them feel much more sensitive, leading to pain.
Low estrogens in women: treatment
With the symptoms that we have given you previously, you may be able to detect if you have had a drop in estrogen levels. If that is your case or you suspect that this may be the case, we advise you to consult a gynecologist so that he can diagnose you correctly and can indicate what treatment you should follow from now on.
No medical treatment is usually followed when low estrogens in women are due to menopause. It is a normal process of the body, framed within normality, so it makes little sense to combat it. Another thing is the symptoms, which will be minimized and controlled through different measures. For example, since tobacco harms levels of this hormone, it is often recommended that women who do stop smoking. On the other hand, it is pretty common to prescribe small doses of oral contraceptives, which contain estrogen, to increase the levels of this hormone in the body.
Finally, you also have other alternatives, such as estrogen therapy, in which variable doses of this hormone are administered to the body. It is possible to minimize the effects of the drop in its levels to the maximum.
However, as we have already explained at the beginning, menopause is normal, logical, and, to a certain extent, desirable in a woman’s body. Instead of opting for a medical or pharmacological route, the most common thing is to face these bodily changes by adapting the diet and providing estrogen through the foods we eat daily.
How to Increase Estrogens Naturally
It is much more common for these alterations to be treated through a correction in the diet that the administration of drugs is given by the fact that this is the safest way to do it, without any side effect appearing if it is done as it should be done. If you want to know what you should eat, then we will explain how to increase estrogen naturally through diet:
Nuts
Nuts, especially dates, are great at increasing estrogen levels in your body. On the other hand, they offer numerous benefits to your body. On the one hand, they are fiber-rich food that helps regulate intestinal transit. On the other hand, its antioxidant levels prevent the onset of cardiovascular accidents, degenerative diseases, and osteoporosis.
Flaxseeds
Flaxseed and other seeds that we will see below can become a great ally when it comes to increasing estrogen levels. This seed is gaining more and more popularity, not for less, because it is complete. On the one hand, it has a large amount of omega 3. It also provides fiber and antioxidants, and, as we have already said, it raises estrogens.
Sesame seeds
Suppose we were to talk to you about a product that provides you with natural oils capable of lowering blood pressure and regulating blood pressure, with a large number of minerals and vitamins capable of preventing some types of cancer, which can reduce the risk of diabetes, which keep strong your bones and that, in addition. In that case, they are capable of raising estrogen. You would surely want to get hold of it quickly. Well, this food exists, and it is about sesame seeds.
The chickpeas
Like legumes in general, Chickpeas are one of the foods that should never be missing from our diet. This, which should be necessary for everyone, is essential for vegetarians, as they are a meat substitute but healthier. Its amount of fiber can cover the minimum daily amount, but it also increases estrogen levels and vitamin B and iron.
Soy milk
An easy way to increase estrogen levels is to switch from cow’s milk to soy. The benefits of the second are not only seen in this aspect. On the other hand, it is fat-free and, on the contrary, the content of fatty acids is much higher, which provides it with properties to improve cardiovascular health.
This makes it an excellent ally for menopausal women, minimizing the effects of hormonal deficiency at this stage of their life.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Low estrogens in women: symptoms and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of the Female reproductive system.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.