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Low Estrogen Symptoms in Women

Estrogen is the hormone that controls a woman's sexual and reproductive development. When a woman's body goes through menopause, her body's production of this hormone fluctuates. Although the onset of menopause is the most common cause of low estrogen levels in women, a condition such as anorexia nervosa, the late onset of puberty, or a woman's stress level, nutrition and lifestyle can all impact the amount of estrogen her body produces. According to Natural Hormones, "drops in estrogen can lead to a wide array of ... symptoms and warning signs that menopause may be on its way, along with a host of other possible hormonal conditions."

  1. Hot Flashes

    • Although a hot flash generally does not last longer than five or six minutes, according to Healthy Women, this "sudden sensation of heat in your face, neck and chest ... may cause you to sweat profusely, increase your pulse rate and make you feel dizzy or nauseous." Hot flashes are completely unrelated to environmental temperature, and a woman experiencing a hot flash may find herself sweating heavily when she is walking outside in the middle of the winter.

    Fatigue

    • Low estrogen levels can affect a woman's physical energy, leaving her fatigued for no apparent reason. She may suddenly feel the need to take afternoon naps when she did not need this extra sleep before, or she may find it difficult to finish tasks that she otherwise would have had the energy to undertake.

    Migraines

    • A woman with low estrogen levels may experience migraines, which are incredibly intense headaches that, according to the Mayo Clinic, can be "preceded or accompanied by a sensory warning sign (aura), such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg," as well as "nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound."

    Trouble Focusing

    • Low estrogen levels may cause a woman to find find she has trouble focusing at times and in situations when she would normally be able to concentrate. She may even find herself experiencing memory lapses, forgetting items, appointments or names that she would otherwise have been able remember.

    Osteoporosis

    • If left untreated or uncorrected, low estrogen levels can eventually lead to a condition called osteoporosis. According to Natural Hormones, "Estrogen helps the bones to absorb calcium and vitamin D, without it bones become weak and there's an increased risk of fracturing."

    Mental Conditions

    • Low estrogen levels do not just affect a woman physically, they can also impact her mental state. A woman whose body is not producing enough of this essential hormone may experience periods of depression, anxiety or a feeling of low self-esteem.

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