Post-Menopause Excessive Estradiol Symptoms

Menopause is a natural process of a woman's development in life. This change typically occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55. The symptoms of menopause depend on hormone fluctuation. Excessive hormone production of estradiol in post-menopausal woman may appear as mood swings, irritability and anxiety.

Causes

• Menopause is caused by the changes in the levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen. The ovaries produce less over time. Post-menopause is caused by the absence of menstruation for one year. Pregnancy is no longer a risk after this time. Surgical and medical treatments causing menopause are referred to as "surgical menopause." Ovarian removal can cause a sudden decrease in estrogen levels. Chemotherapy and anti-estrogen medications are other examples that cause the undesirable drop in estrogen, resulting in menopausal symptoms more severe than when the body is allowed to adjust slowly.

Symptoms

• Menstruation may halt suddenly or gradually stop over time, and become irregular in flow or frequency. This can occur for one to three years before complete cessation. More common symptoms are hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping and heart palpitations. Other symptoms can include sexual dysfunction related to vaginal pain or disinterest, mood swings or forgetfulness, and aches or pains in the joints. The significance of the symptoms differentiate with the level of progesterone and estrogen. Excessive estradiol symptoms in post-menopausal women may present as mood swings, water retention, weight gain in the hip area and fibrocystic breasts. Uterine bleeding changes and thyroid deficiency may be observed as well.

Test

• Estradiol is one test physicians use to measure hormonal changes in women. Estradiol is the most important form of estrogen found in the female body. It is produced in the ovaries, adrenal cortex and also the placenta. Physicians can tell whether a woman is menopausal or post-menopausal by the amount occurring in the blood stream. Normal results for women pre-menopausal are 30 to 400 pg/ml and post-menopausal women should be within 0 to 30 pg/ml.

Treatments

• As menopausal symptoms vary from woman to woman, so do the treatments. Discussing what's best for your body should be done with your health care provider. Menopause brought on by a surgical treatment may not include the same therapy as menopause brought on naturally. Hormone replacement therapy, natural remedies such as lifestyle changes or supplements may be beneficial.

Warning

• Tell your health care provider about any medication you are taking prior to hormonal testing. Estrogen therapy and birth control pills may affect results. Follow up with any abnormal results. Contact your physician if you experience 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea and sudden vaginal bleeding or spotting occurs.