Estrogen doesn't inherently make you sad, but fluctuations or imbalances can trigger sadness by affecting brain chemicals like serotonin (a mood booster) and interacting with brain regions that control emotions (amygdala, hippocampus). Both drops (like in menopause) and relative increases (estrogen dominance) can disrupt neurotransmitters, leading to mood swings, irritability, and depression, often seen in PMS, perimenopause, or postpartum.
Hormonal Fluctuations
The same hormones that control your menstrual cycle also influence serotonin, a brain chemical that promotes feelings of well-being and happiness. For instance, when estrogen levels drop, serotonin function can be affected, which contributes to increased irritability and sadness.
FAQ: Crying spells and menopause
Estrogen influences mood‑regulating brain areas (amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus) and when those systems shift, it can lead to mood swings, tearfulness or emotional sensitivity.
The changes in estrogen and progesterone levels during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle can trigger a range of symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and insomnia, collectively known as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) [36].
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.
It's easy to cry during your period, even when you can't understand what's happening. This is due to the menstrual cycle and ovulation causing hormonal changes throughout the month. The result of this disruption is emotional turmoil in the weeks leading up to menstruation, often part of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Here are 10 of the warning symptoms to look out for:
Feeling irritable, anxious, or unusually weepy? 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.
T3 is the most broadly used thyroid hormone for treatment of depression, in contrast to in endocrine patients where T4 is routinely used for thyroid replacement therapy17 In early studies, T3 was used as monotherapy for the treatment of depressed patients.
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.
Symptoms of Oestrogen Dominance
Common signs include: PMS symptoms (bloating, breast tenderness, irritability) Irregular or heavy periods. Weight gain, particularly around the hips and abdomen.
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.
Estradiol (E2) is the primary form of estrogen in your body during your reproductive years. It's the most potent form of estrogen. Estriol (E3) is the primary form of estrogen during pregnancy.
5 Signs you might have low estrogen
What Does A High Estrogen Face Look Like? High estrogen levels can cause puffiness, redness, or acne on the face. Skin may appear more oily, and some women experience melasma (dark patches on the skin).
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.
Relieve stress.
Decreasing the amount of stress hormones your body produces can help keep your estrogen and progesterone levels balanced. Eat a healthy diet: Eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet with very little processed sugar can make it easier for your liver to process estrogen.
Higher levels of prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, Leu-enkephalin, potassium and manganese have all been located in emotional tears. Some researchers have hypothesized that the release of stress hormones like leu-enkephalin may help regulate the body or bring it back to a homeostatic level.
In line with previous studies (Haselton and Gangestad, 2006; Durante et al., 2008), naturally cycling (NC) women felt less attractive, especially for potential partners, during the late luteal phase (cycle end) relative to ovulation (mid cycle).
Follicular Phase
This is considered the happiest part of the cycle phases. This normally starts at the beginning of your period and can last for about two weeks. This is when the hormone estradiol starts to increase.
Mood Changes: Feelings of irritability, anxiety, or depression might creep in. Vaginal Dryness: This can cause discomfort, especially during intimacy. Low Libido: A noticeable dip in sex drive could be linked to low estrogen. Breast Soreness: Tenderness or changes in how your breasts feel might occur.
The reduction of circulating estrogens during menopause is associated with a number of symptoms of disrupted homeostasis, such as hot flushes, cognitive impairment, vaginal atrophy, bone loss, sleep disturbances and mood alterations.
High hormone levels could lead to disturbances in the timing of and blood flow during menstruation. Swelling or tenderness of the breasts, unexplained weight gain, frequent headaches, depression or mood swings and a decreased sex drive are some of the other signs of excess oestrogen in females.
(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.