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Estrogen in Menopause

During menopause, a woman's ovaries cease the production of eggs and she stops having menstrual periods. A woman's body goes through many changes during menopause and she can experience a number of side effects from hormonal changes. Many of the unpleasant side effects of menopause are caused by a drop in the production of estrogen.

  1. Menopause and Estrogen

    • Menopause usually occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, according to the National Institutes of Health. As a woman's body stops producing eggs in the ovaries, the ovaries gradually stop producing progrestrone and estrogen. With the decrease in estrogen, a woman can experience unpleasant side effects such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and decreased libido. The reduction in estrogen can also put women at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, which causes fragile bones.

    Estrogren Replacement Therapy

    • To combat the side effects of the drop in estrogen, some doctors recommend estrogen replacement therapy. ERT involves the menopausal woman taking estrogen supplements, such as Premarin or Estrace. The regimen for ERT varies, and your doctor should give you specific instructions for the amount and days you should take estrogen. According to a Johns Hopkins University medical study, some women are advised to take estrogen every other day and others may be advised to take it Monday through Friday.

    Other Options for Treatment

    • For women who want to reduce the side effects of the decrease in estrogen but don't want to do estrogen replacement therapy, there are other remedies. According to the National Institutes of Health, the use of some antidepressants at low dosages can help with the mood swings and hot flashes associated with menopause. These antidepressants include Paxil, Prozac and Wellbutrin. To reduce hot flashes, the drug gabapentin can be used.

    Side Effects and Risks of ERT

    • There are risks involved with the use of estrogen replacement therapy, such as stroke and heart attack, so the benefits and risks involved with ERT must be carefully weighed by you and your doctor. Other side effects include breast tenderness, vaginal bleeding, nausea, vomiting and cramps. To reduce the risks, some doctors will add other hormonal therapy to the estrogen therapy, specifically progestrone or testosterone.

    Controversy

    • There is some controversy about the role of estrogen in menopause. Although many experts believe that the symptoms of menopause are caused by the reduction of estrogen production, some alternative practitioners believe the symptoms are caused by too much estrogen, or what is called estrogen dominance. Because of this theory, put forth by Dr. John Lee, some physicians recommend an overall hormone replacement therapy with a combination of progrestrone and estrogen, and having women's hormone levels checked often.

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