Yes, a lack of estrogen, particularly the fluctuations and drops during perimenopause and menopause, can significantly increase anger, irritability, and mood swings by affecting brain chemicals like serotonin, reducing resilience to stress, and raising cortisol (stress hormone) levels, often creating a cycle where poor sleep worsens emotions. While other factors also play a role, hormonal changes are a primary driver behind "menopause rage" or increased irritability.
We commonly see menopause rage manifest as intense anger outbursts and irritability affecting up to 70% of women during their menopausal shift. These emotional shifts stem from declining estrogen and progesterone levels, which disrupt key neurotransmitters like serotonin and cortisol in the brain.
Top 7 foods and remedies to boost estrogen
Estrogen helps regulate mood by influencing the production of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain. When estrogen is low, these feel-good chemicals are also affected. It can lead to mood swings, low energy, or heightened anxiety.
Feelings like anger, anxiety, and irritability are attributed to fluctuating estrogen levels that occur during the luteal phase of your cycle.
Most of these aren't unique to women; they are universal for people in general.
Physical Symptoms of Low Estrogen
Hot flashes and night sweats. Breast tenderness. Irregular periods or skipped periods. Decreased bone density, increasing the risk of osteopenia (reduced bone density) or osteoporosis (more severe loss of bone density)
Irregular periods or no periods (amenorrhea). Weight gain, especially in your belly. Headaches before or during your period. Decreased sex drive and painful intercourse (dyspareunia).
As the primary sex hormone secreted by the ovaries, E2 is recognized for its ability to modulate mood and cognitive functions, making it a key therapeutic target for depression. In fact, research has found that depressed women exhibit significantly lower levels of estrogen than healthy women [20].
You might experience persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of motivation, characteristic of depression. Anxiety may also become more prevalent, with excessive worrying and difficulty relaxing.
To increase your estrogen levels, consider adding: Boron, a mineral that helps your body absorb testosterone and estrogen. Vitamin B, which helps your body create and use estrogen. Vitamin D, which functions as a hormone in the body and helps with estrogen production.
Low estrogen levels in women can cause symptoms including irregular periods, hot flashes, painful sex, headaches, mood swings, and more. The most common cause of low estrogen is menopause. But too much exercise, disordered eating, or complications with your ovaries could also lead to lower levels.
Alcoholic beverages, particularly red wine and bourbon, increase estrogen levels in the body through hormone disruption mechanisms. Coffee and caffeinated beverages can increase estrogen levels specifically in Asian populations. Soy-based drinks contain phytoestrogens that mimic estrogen effects in the body.
There are a range of psychological symptoms of perimenopause due in part to the hormonal changes that happen. The hormone fluctuations can cause low mood, anxiety, irritability, anger, brain fog and difficulty concentrating. Changes in body image and your sense of self are also common for some women.
You can take estrogen as a pill or use a patch, gel, vaginal cream, or slow-releasing suppository or ring that you place in your vagina. If you have only vaginal menopause symptoms, estrogen in a low-dose vaginal cream, tablet or ring is usually a better choice than an oral pill or a skin patch.
HRT can help with mood changes during menopause, including anger, irritability and rage. HRT also treats other symptoms of menopause including hot flushes, night sweats and sleep problems among others.
Some of estrogen's effects include: Increasing the mood-altering chemical serotonin and the number of serotonin receptors in the brain. Modifying the production and the effects of endorphins, the "feel-good" chemicals in the brain. Protecting nerves from damage and possibly stimulating nerve growth.
Naturally occurring periods of low estrogen (premenstrually and during late perimenopause) may introduce windows of increased vulnerability to depression through the withdrawal of beneficial modulation of emotional processing and mood regulation.
Progesterone also plays a role in mood by having a calming effect on the brain, promoting relaxation and even aiding in sleep. Some HRT plans include progesterone such as Utrogestan, which can help women feel more at ease and support anxiety relief.
Mood swings are another effect of low estrogen. You may feel sad, anxious, or frustrated. Shifting hormone levels and night sweats may disrupt your sleep. This can cause fatigue, which may make mood swings worse.
Hormonal imbalances show up as symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, weight changes, irregular periods, skin issues (acne), hair changes, sleep problems, brain fog, low libido, digestive issues, and temperature sensitivity, affecting energy, body functions, and mental well-being, often linked to stress, thyroid, or reproductive hormones.
How can I check my hormone levels at home? Blood tests – At-home estrogen blood tests are quick and easy. You just need to prick your finger and collect a small blood sample in a vial. After that, you can send your sample to a lab for testing.
Wrinkles: Fine lines appear more pronounced, especially around the eyes and mouth.. Sagging: Loss of firmness in the jawline and cheeks. Dullness: Your skin loses its natural radiance, appearing more lackluster.
Low estrogen can happen with age, after pregnancy, from medical conditions, or even lifestyle factors like stress and under-eating. Symptoms range from hot flashes and brain fog to vaginal dryness, irregular periods, and mood changes.