Taking estrogen (such as in Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT) is not inherently "bad," but it carries, in some cases, serious, well-documented risks that depend heavily on age, health history, type of hormone, and delivery method. While estrogen is effective for treating menopause symptoms, the primary concerns arise from its potential to cause blood clots, certain cancers, and cardiovascular issues.
Risks of HRT
In some cases, your doctor may have valid medical reasons for advising against HRT. A personal or family history of breast cancer, blood clots, or liver disease may influence their recommendation. Certain medications may also interact with HRT, which could raise safety concerns in individual cases.
The drop in estrogen just before your period may cause headaches. Many people with migraines report that they have migraines before or during their periods, also known as menstruation. You can turn to proven treatments for migraines related to hormone changes.
UCSF researchers discover that estrogen can turn on pain signals associated with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome. Women are dramatically more likely than men to suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a chronic condition causing abdominal pain, bloating, and digestive discomfort.
Symptoms of Estrogen-Related Histamine Intolerance
Many women notice an increase in belly fat as they get older even if they don't gain weight. This is likely due to a lower level of estrogen because estrogen seems to have an effect on where fat is located in the body. Genes can contribute to an individual's chances of being overweight or obese too.
However, your symptoms often provide important clues. High estrogen is usually associated with heavy or irregular periods, bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, or mood swings. Low estrogen symptoms include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, poor sleep, or irregular periods.
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.
The '3 month pill' is not a pill that lasts for 3 months at a time, but rather, a dosage cycle where pills are taken every day for 3 straight months, followed by a week of inactive pills.
Estrogen can ease vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning and pain with intercourse. It also may help bladder symptoms of menopause, such as urinating often, having a strong urge to urinate, leaking, burning and urinary tract infections. Need to prevent bone loss or broken bones.
Goldman: If a woman begins hormone therapy within 10 years of menopause or before age 60, the benefits usually outweigh the risks. And there's no reason to stop based on age. But as women get older, they may develop cardiovascular risk factors.
As women approach menopause, they begin to experience menopausal symptoms that are sometimes treated with a hormone therapy, which contains estrogen and can increase the risk of blood clots up to three-fold. Again, the absolute risk of blood clots associated with hormone therapy is 1 in 300 per year.
The first changes you will probably notice are that your skin will become a bit drier and thinner. Your pores will become smaller and there will be less oil production. You may become more prone to bruising or cuts and in the first few weeks you'll notice that the odors of your sweat and urine will change.
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.
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.
If estrogen levels are low, it is possible to increase them without taking hormones. Natural ways to increase estrogen include adding more vitamin D, magnesium, phytoestrogens, and boron to your diet, managing stress, exercising regularly, and getting enough quality sleep.
Here are six estrogen-positive foods to avoid:
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.
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).
Getting rid of belly fat during menopause can be challenging, requiring changes to diet, exercise, and lifestyle. While it can be harder to lose belly fat during menopause due to hormonal changes and metabolic shifts, it is not impossible.
Here are 9 signs your hormones may be out of whack:
You may be able to get rid of your lower belly pooch without surgery, but it depends on the reason for your belly. A pooch triggered by menopausal hormone changes or pregnancy may not go away no matter how diligently you stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan.