Yes, low estrogen can absolutely cause dizziness, particularly during perimenopause, menopause, or right before a period, because estrogen fluctuations affect the inner ear (vestibular system), blood flow, neurotransmitters, and blood sugar regulation, all crucial for balance. These changes can lead to lightheadedness, vertigo, imbalance, or make you feel generally unsteady, often alongside other symptoms like hot flashes, anxiety, or heart palpitations.
Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help stabilise blood pressure and improve blood flow, reducing the likelihood of dizziness. Maintain stable blood sugar levels: Consuming regular, balanced meals and snacks can prevent sudden drops in blood sugar, which may contribute to dizzy spells.
Signs of low estrogen include:
What causes dizziness?
Low estrogen levels could be considered as additional underlying factors that may trigger vestibular attacks; however, further studies are needed to gain a better understanding [22]. The psychological impact of menopausal symptoms, coupled with hormonal fluctuations, may contribute to anxiety-related vertigo [35].
Hormonal changes
This means that as oestrogen levels drop, women going through menopause may become more susceptible to dizziness (4).
Inner ear problems, which affect balance, are the most common causes of vertigo. It can also be caused by problems in certain parts of the brain. Common causes of vertigo may include: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – where certain head movements trigger vertigo.
Menopause-related dizziness is common and is reported by up to a quarter of women as they transition through the menopause.
If you are dizzy right now and have any of the following neurological symptoms along with your dizziness or vertigo, call 911 immediately:
Hot flashes while you are sleeping are called night sweats. 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.
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.
Thinning: The skin becomes visibly thinner, making blood vessels more apparent and you might even notice that you bruise more easily. Wrinkles: Fine lines appear more pronounced, especially around the eyes and mouth.. Sagging: Loss of firmness in the jawline and cheeks.
Although the precise mechanisms underlying this are still unclear, it is thought that hormone imbalances may affect the brain's blood flow, and hence exacerbate episodes of dizziness.
One of the reasons for vertigo, which patients describe as a 'feeling of turning', is a lack of vitamins. Yeditepe University Hospitals Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Specialists, who drew attention to the latest research, said "Iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 and D deficiency cause vertigo".
Dizziness (lightheadedness) is a common symptom. It's not usually a sign of anything serious but it should still be investigated by a doctor. Dizziness can mean different things to different people. Some people use it to describe feeling lightheaded or off balance.
If your dizziness is caused by fluctuating hormones, replacing them with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help.
Dizziness with red flags requires emergency care, signaling potential stroke, heart, or neurological issues, and includes symptoms like sudden severe headache, chest pain, slurred speech, facial drooping, sudden weakness/numbness (especially one-sided), vision changes (double vision, loss of sight), trouble walking/coordination, or fainting. Other serious signs are rapid/irregular heartbeat, confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding, and persistent, severe dizziness, warranting immediate medical attention.
Low estrogen during perimenopause causes hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, mood swings, brain fog, headaches, and joint aches, reflecting hormonal fluctuations affecting physical and mental health as the body transitions to menopause.
Since BPPV more specifically is caused by the dislodgment of the calcium crystals in the inner ear, some studies suggest that supplementing vitamin D can help reduce episodes of dizziness.
Lightheadedness is when you feel like you might faint or pass out. Some people call it 'feeling woozy'. Lightheadedness is related to dizziness. Dizziness is when you feel unsteady or are having trouble keeping your balance.
A cup of ginger tea or eating ginger chews, or taking ginger supplements may help with your symptoms. A healthy lifestyle may help in preventing dizziness. Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and reducing alcohol and caffeine consumption, as well as regular exercise can help reduce the frequency of dizziness.
Causes
Drink enough fluids, eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep and manage stress. If your dizziness comes with an upset stomach, try medicine called an antihistamine. Get the kind that's sold without a prescription. Examples include meclizine (Dramamine Less Drowsy) and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).
Common Vertigo Triggers