Low estrogen can cause absent or irregular menstrual periods, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, night sweats, and more. Lifestyle modifications and hormone therapy can help reduce or prevent these symptoms.

The hormone estrogen plays an important role in overall health and wellness regardless of sex or anatomy.

It helps maintain bone health, regulates blood sugar levels, supports cognitive function, and protects against heart disease, among other essential functions.

It also supports the development of certain sex organs and secondary sex characteristics. Although low estrogen levels can affect anyone, it’s more common among people who:

  • are approaching menopause or are postmenopausal
  • have had one or both ovaries removed
  • have an underlying condition that impacts the ovaries
  • have undergone treatments that impact the ovaries

This article will focus on the symptoms of low estrogen in these populations.

Physical symptoms of low estrogen often include:

  • absent or infrequent menstruation
  • brittle nails
  • decreased libido
  • dry skin
  • fatigue
  • headaches
  • hot flashes
  • night sweats
  • pain during penetration
  • sore breasts or chest tissue
  • thinning hair
  • vaginal dryness
  • weight gain, particularly around your midsection

You may also find that you’re prone to bone fractures or breaks. This may be due to a decrease in bone density. Estrogen works along with calcium, vitamin D, and other minerals to keep your bones strong.

Low estrogen can also affect your mental and emotional well-being. You may experience:

The ovaries are primarily responsible for producing a form of estrogen called estradiol. Estradiol levels naturally decrease with age as ovarian function declines.

Low estrogen in your 40s or 50s is typically a sign of perimenopause, or the transition to menopause. This process can take anywhere from a few months to several years.

Anything that affects the ovaries will affect estrogen production. Low estrogen may result from:

A healthcare professional will ask questions about your symptoms, review your medical history, and perform a physical exam. This information will help them determine what tests to order.

Blood tests are typically used to measure the three most common forms of estrogen: estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3). However, urine or saliva samples may also be used.

Your healthcare professional may also order a blood or urine test to measure:

Hormone therapy (HT) is the standard treatment for low estrogen. Your healthcare professional may recommend a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone combined or synthetic estrogen only.

Combined pills and patches may be prescribed to treat low bone density and hot flashes in people who have a uterus. Estrogen-only pills are only prescribed to people who have had a hysterectomy.

Estrogen-only vaginal inserts, rings, or creams can only treat vaginal symptoms. These treatments do not have an impact on your overall hormone levels or symptoms in other areas of the body.

You may be able to manage some symptoms of low estrogen through certain lifestyle modifications. For example:

Vaginal moisturizers and lubricants can also help with genital discomfort and increase sexual pleasure.

Symptoms of low estrogen are commonly associated with menopause. The transition to menopause typically begins in your 40s. Symptoms of low estrogen before age 40 may be a sign of primary ovarian insufficiency.

No matter the cause, there are ways to help manage or even alleviate your symptoms, so consider making an appointment with a healthcare professional.

Prompt diagnosis and treatment can help prevent long-term complications.