|  | Family Health | Womens Health

Liver Function in Menopause

When a woman enters menopause, the adrenal glands begin producing estrogen, taking over for the ovaries, which are no longer functioning. Estrogen is also produced by your liver. However, even though other organs kick in to compensate for the demise of ovarian function, estrogen production is reduced to approximately 40 percent.

  1. Fire and Water

    • The function of the liver and the kidneys, both of which regulate hormones in the body, changes once menopause arrived. The Chinese equate the liver to “fire,” whereas they equate the kidneys to “water.”

    Imbalances Occur

    • The liver and kidneys are apt to become imbalanced due to menopause and when this happens liver function can become dominant while water function, your kidneys' job, becomes sluggish, and the menopausal woman may find herself symptomatic. She may become irritable, experience anxiety, water retention and hot flashes, according to the Hale Clinic.

    Over-taxed Liver

    • During menopause, the liver can become overtaxed. The liver is attempting to deal with the transition that the woman’s body is going through as well as with the onslaught of hormones. Sometimes it does not function optimally as a result.

    Effects

    • Women can become overly sensitive to foods and chemicals at this time because of these imbalances.

    Making Symptoms Worse

    • According to Dr. Carolyn DeMarco, an under-functioning liver along with a poorly functioning digestive system can exacerbate menopause symptoms.

    Importance

    • Because estrogen is broken down in the liver, it is vitally important to reduce stress levels, improve your diet and decrease your exposure to xenoestrogens to keep your liver healthy. Proper bowel function and proper digestion are also necessary.

Womens Health - Related Articles