In women, estrogen is produced in the ovaries. Conversely, just 20% of estrogen in men is produced directly in the testicles while the remaining 80% is made by transforming testosterone into female hormones.

Although estrogen is produced naturally in the body, this isn’t the only source of this hormone. There are certain types of estrogen-like compounds that are produced by plants (phytoestrogens) and synthetic hormonal disruptors with estrogen-like properties (xenoestrogens, i.e. some types of plastic).

Here are some of the functions of this hormone—particularly in women:

• Controls the changes in the breast that happen during pregnancy and in adolescence
• Takes part in weight management
• Responsible for sexual development in young girls when they reach puberty
• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Controls the growth of the uterine lining
• Controls bone tissue development
• Promotes cardiovascular health
• Helps regulate insulin sensitivity
• Supports the absorption and retention of calcium
• Aids in the metabolism of glucose

Women experience low estrogen levels and all the related symptoms when they approach menopause.

Some of the most common symptoms of low estrogen levels include the following:

• Fatigue
• Night sweats
• Trouble concentrating
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Headaches
• Vaginal dryness
• Weight gain
• Increasing migraine symptoms
• Tenderness in the breasts
• Osteoporosis (bone weakness)
• Hot flashes
• Mood swings
• Absent or irregular periods
• Increased frequency of urinary tract infections
• Pain during sexual intercourse

There are other symptoms as well that you should also be mindful of. For instance, women with low estrogen levels also tend to suffer from bone fractures more often.

This is because lower secretions of estrogen may contribute to reduced bone density.

Do take note that older women who may be experiencing these symptoms may need to supplement with calcium, vitamin D, and other essential nutrients for stronger bones.

Are there complications to reduced estrogen levels in women? There is in fact at least one—it may contribute to infertility.

There are many possible causes for the decrease in estrogen production in women. For instance, any damage that may have been caused to the ovaries can immediately have an impact on estrogen levels.

And still, the most common factor that causes low estrogen levels is a woman’s age. It is very normal for women to experience a drop in estrogen levels as they approach menopause.

In fact, women may experience a reduction in estrogen levels in an earlier period of their lives called perimenopause. This occurs several years before a woman enters into the menopausal stage.

Note that women over the age of 40 may already be experiencing symptoms of reduced estrogen production. This is usually the age when perimenopause begins.

Note that a woman’s ovaries will still continue to produce estrogen, but production will gradually go slower over time. After menopause sets in, women’s ovaries will no longer produce estrogen.

Here are some of the other potential causes of low estrogen levels in women:

• Too much exercise
• Thyroid disorders
• Anorexia and other eating disorders
• Being severely underweight
• Health issues of the pituitary gland
• Chemotherapy
• Premature ovarian failure
• Turner syndrome
• Chronic kidney disease

Note that if you have hormonal problems in your family history then that may also contribute to the development of low estrogen levels.

Remember that estrogen and other hormones have a strong impact on weight management. Simply put, they can affect how the body stores fat.

It is possible that reduced estrogen production during perimenopause and in menopause may cause weight gain in women.

According to one study, the way a woman’s body stores fat changes when she reaches perimenopause. The female body usually stores fat in the thighs and hips.

During midlife and the years leading to menopause, the body switches the fat stores from the hips and thighs to the abdomen, which is why women tend to gain more abdominal fat as they get older.

As a woman reaches the stage of menopause, she may notice that she is getting more frequent urinary tract infections. This is because the tissues that are lining the urethra are getting thin.

This thinning of the urethral lining is due to the reduction of estrogen.

Estrogen also regulates the production of the feel good hormone called serotonin. With the reduced production of this mood boosting hormone, women tend to feel more depressed—and more frequently so.

Estrogen also regulates the amount of vaginal lubrication. With the reduced estrogen levels, vaginal secretion rates drop and result in dryness. This, in turn, may lead to pain and discomfort during sex.

After considering the causes, the following are the risk factors for developing low estrogen levels:

• Having any issues with your pituitary gland
• Exercising too much
• Undergoing extreme diets
• Having eating disorders like anorexia
• Family history with ovarian cysts and other hormonal issues
• Age

As with any other health condition, early diagnosis of low estrogen can help you find the best treatment for any of the related symptoms mentioned above. Having said that, if you experienced any of these unpleasant symptoms, make sure to consult with your doctor as soon as possible.

These preventive consultations will help make things easier for you as you approach menopause as well. It will also help prevent any further complications that are associated with this medical condition.

Apart from a physical exam, your doctor will also want to discuss your family history with you. Together with your medical history, your doctor will assess the symptoms that you are currently experiencing.

Apart from the physical exam, your doctor will also request some lab work for you, such as blood tests that will help to determine your current hormonal levels.

The blood work will be very useful at determining your current estrogen levels. Your doctor will also test your estradiol and estrone levels.

Your doctor will require these tests in case you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Missed periods
• Insomnia
• Night sweats
• Hot flashes

Note that these are symptoms of menopause. There are other tests that your doctor may recommend as well.

Your doctor will also check for other potential underlying conditions. Examinations may also be conducted to check for pituitary disorders and/or thyroid disease.

For instance, your doctor may also recommend brain scans. Don’t worry; it will be used to determine any conditions that may be affecting the way your endocrine system is functioning.

If a brain scan is not possible, then your doctor may recommend DNA tests instead. These tests can also help determine the current state of your endocrine system.

After a thorough examination, your doctor can prescribe a treatment that best suits your current condition. Remember that there are natural remedies that you can opt for and there are medical interventions as well.

We’ll go over the different options that can be made available to you. Let’s start with the natural remedies.