A lack of estrogen causes symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irregular periods, mood swings, and sleep problems (insomnia), affecting skin, bones (osteoporosis risk), and cognitive function, with fatigue and decreased libido also common as the body transitions into menopause or due to other imbalances.
What are the symptoms of low estrogen levels?
Some of the common symptoms of low oestrogen levels include:
Mood swings. Hot flashes. Headaches. Breast tenderness.
Symptoms of low estrogen can include: Hot flashes, flushes, and night sweats are the most common symptoms of low estrogen. At times, blood rushes to your skin's surface. This can give you a feeling of warmth (hot flash).
Estrogen plays a role in collagen production and skin hydration. Low levels can lead to dryness, thinning, and sensitivity. You may also notice an increase in fine lines and changes in skin elasticity. If your skin care routine hasn't changed but your skin has, your hormones could be shifting.
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.
Top 7 foods and remedies to boost estrogen
Here are six estrogen-positive foods to avoid:
The decrease in estrogen may lead to symptoms like vaginal dryness, mood changes, night sweats and hot flashes. The primary estrogen in your body changes from estradiol (E2) to estrone (E1) during menopause.
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.
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.
As women approach menopause, estrogen levels can plummet, affecting sleep more than during any other period of life. Mood swings that come with low estrogen can make it difficult to relax to prepare for sleep, and hot flashes and night sweats can impair sleep.
Hormonal imbalance symptoms
Oestrogen is only available on prescription. It comes as tablets that you swallow and patches, gels or sprays that you put on your skin. Brand names include Elleste Solo, Bedol, Progynova and Zumenon tablets, Evorel, Estradot, Estraderm, Femseven and Progynovna patches, Oestrogel and Sandrena gel, and Lenzetto spray.
The hormone estrogen is responsible for making skin look younger due to the hyaluronic acid it produces. Estrogen not only affects your skin but also your muscle mass, metabolism, and energy levels. Women have more estrogen than men do; men have more testosterone than women do.
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.
Consuming 200 milligrams or more of caffeine per day-roughly equivalent to two cups of coffee-can either increase or decrease a woman's estrogen level, depending on her ethnic background and the source of the caffeine, a study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) finds.
In addition to the top phytoestrogen-rich foods mentioned above, other foods that lower estrogen may include bananas, pomegranates, oranges, legumes, spinach, and many nuts and seeds. Animal-sourced foods like dairy, eggs, fish, and meat may contain estrogens or phytoestrogens.
One of the most common signs is irregular or missed periods, as estrogen is essential for regulating the menstrual cycle. Many women also experience hot flashes and night sweats, which are sudden feelings of warmth often accompanied by sweating and flushing.
The B-vitamin family, particularly B6 and B12, are vital for regulating estrogen and supporting methylation processes that break down excess hormones. We've found that folate contributes directly to estrogen production, while magnesium and calcium support overall hormone synthesis.
Fish, beef, eggs, and pork are all high-estrogen foods as well. If you are wondering if this could affect you, it's important to note that chicken estrogen is the same molecule as human estrogen. Heavy meat eaters have high levels of estrogen in their urine as a result.
(2004) reported that women with the body shape that is found most attractive by males (large breasts and a low waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), e.g. Singh 1993; Henss 2000) have higher oestrogen levels than other categories of body shape.
Estrogen is often considered the “beauty hormone” due to its positive effects on skin. It plays a vital role in: Collagen production: Estrogen helps maintain skin thickness and elasticity by stimulating collagen production, which keeps skin firm and youthful.
Dietary Changes to Boost Estrogen