Before going over each of these symptoms, we need to know the potential causes of these symptoms. For starters, estrogen is in large part produced in women through the ovaries.

This means that anything that has an impact on the ovaries will have an effect on estrogen production.

What are the things that can affect the ovaries? Here is a short list:

• Chronic kidney disease
• Too much exercise
• Turner syndrome
• Premature ovarian failure
• Anorexia and other eating disorders
• Genetic defects
• Problems with the pituitary gland
• Autoimmune conditions
• Impact of toxins on the body

These potential causes can affect women of any age. You don’t have to be 40 years old or near to that age to experience these things that will impact your ovaries and produce low estrogen symptoms.

Earlier we mentioned the following common symptoms of low estrogen. Note that these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions as well.

However, it is important to understand how each of these symptoms is related to low estrogen production. This will help you find an effective long-term solution that deals with the causes behind each symptom that you experience.

In the discussion below, we will go over the most common low estrogen symptoms so you can know the interventions that your doctor may suggest.

When the estrogen production goes down, one of its direct effects is that the lining of the urethra gets thinner. The urethra is the duct in a woman’s body where urine passes through from the bladder.

One of the roles of estrogen is to maintain the lining of the urethra. In simple terms, it helps the urethra do its job.

This lining in the urethra is responsible for keeping non-beneficial bacteria away. When the production of estrogen is low, this protective lining tends to get thinner which gives bad bacteria plenty of chances to invade.

When there are too much harmful bacteria along the urinary tract, a urinary tract infection occurs.

Another thing that estrogen does is that it stimulates and supports the production and growth of lactobacilli, a beneficial type of bacteria.

When the urinary tract has enough lactobacilli, a balanced pH level is achieved. This balance in the pH levels contribute to the prevention of urinary tract infections.

TThere are many factors behind weight gain in women. However, this is also a special concern for women who are perimenopause and menopause.

Studies show that having low estrogen production may add to weight gain in women. Remember that estrogen is one of the hormones that help regulate the fat that is stored in the body.

Having enough estrogen in the body usually brings about better weight management. However, during menopause and perimenopause, women tend to store more fat in certain areas such as the hips and the thighs.

This phenomenon has been observed as women’s estrogen levels are seen to take a dip later in life. One study shows that during mid-life, women tend to experience an increase in abdominal fat, which is about the time when their estrogen levels start to decrease.

Even though weight gain can be caused by a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, it might be a good idea for older women to check with their doctor. This is just to see if their reduced estrogen production could be a factor in their weight gain.

Hot flashes are one of the vasomotor symptoms that are characteristic of menopause or early menopause. Another related symptom that also occurs during that time is night sweats.

What are hot flashes? A hot flash comes as a feeling of warmth or extreme warmth that you experience in your upper body.

It usually feels really hot around the chest, neck, and face. You may even visibly see your skin blush or redden when it occurs.

A hot flash can also cause sweating, which is why menopausal women may also experience night sweats along with hot flashes.

Note that researchers do not know exactly how hot flashes work. However, one plausible explanation is the fact that estrogen impacts certain glands of the body.

Estrogen has a direct effect on the hypothalamus. This gland is responsible for regulating the body’s temperature.

When estrogen levels are reduced, the hypothalamus tends to overreact and cause hot flashes and night sweating.

In effect, it senses that your body is too hot even though it really isn’t. This gland then tells your body to release heat ergo you feel an immediate albeit brief moment of intense warmth.

Note that hot flashes and night sweats affect around 85% of women around the age of 50 and above.

The frequency of hot flashes experienced by women varies from one person to the other. Some women experience it only several times each year while there are those who have hot flashes as much as 20 times each day.

Another common symptom that menopausal women experience is depression. This state can be caused in older women by a number of things such as aging, infertility, sexuality, body image, and hormonal fluctuations.

According to Harvard researchers, lower levels of estrogen may lead to mood swings and other related disorders. It is further suggested that estrogen calms down the fear response.

The same report also suggests that the higher a woman’s estrogen levels are the less likely they are to get emotional, startled, afraid, or anxious.

A combination of several causes may cause distress in women and may potentially result in mood swings and depression. It may be characterized as a depressed mood, a form of clinical depression, or a symptom of an underlying cause or condition.

Remember that the hormones of the body can affect one’s mood and mental state. They may be the cause behind moments like feeling really happy highs one time and then quickly transition into tear jerking low points in the next moment.

Experts believe that ovarian hormones such as estrogen have a direct impact on a woman’s mood. Add to that the fact that hot flashes may reduce sleep due to the discomfort a woman may experience.

Fluctuating hormone levels plus lack of sleep doesn’t make Jill a happy girl. Note that this period of depression can be experienced by women during and even after perimenopause.

Painful intercourse is due to the reduced amounts of vaginal lubrication experienced by women during perimenopause and menopause. This condition is also known as vaginal atrophy.

Vaginal atrophy is classified as one of the more serious low estrogen symptoms. When estrogen levels go down too low, a woman may experience vaginal dryness.

Since vaginal lubrication has been severely decreased when one attempts intercourse, it may result in a rather painful experience.

This condition is also known by other names such as atrophic vaginitis. It is described as the slow deterioration of the vagina and is usually associated with age.

Vaginal atrophy can also be experienced by women who take certain medical medications such as those for endometriosis or uterine fibroids. It may also be experienced by women who have had their ovaries removed.

In many instances women may not notice the gradual dryness until they have reached post-menopause. It many cases, the atrophy or deterioration occurs slowly and takes a very long time.

However, there are certain signs that you can look out for that may help provide early detection of this condition. They include the following:

• You can sometimes feel that your vaginal canal has become either tighter or shorter
• Women may feel the urge to go to the bathroom more frequently
• You feel a burning sensation when you urinate—often mistaken as a urinary tract infection
• The vagina feels a lot itchier than it used to be
• It feels dryer down there than usual
• You experience pain or even bleeding during or after having sex