Oestrogen is a steroid compound hormone that is made up of a group of three different hormones: estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3). Estrogen is the hormone primarily responsible for a woman's monthly periods.
Oestradiol levels are used in evaluating ovarian function. Its main use has been in the differential diagnosis of amenorrhea – for example, to determine whether the cause is menopause, pregnancy, or a medical problem. Oestradiol is also sometimes used to monitor menopausal hormone replacement therapy.
Oestrogen's Function
Functions of oestrogen in a woman's body are all-encompassing and complex. Their most essential roles can be summed up in the following list.
• Promotes formation of secondary female sexual characteristics.
• Accelerates metabolism.
• Helps regulate the menstrual cycle.
• Increases uterine growth.
• Preserves bone density.
• Protects against heart disease.
Sudden oestrogen withdrawal, estrogen fluctuations, or periods of sustained low oestrogen levels can all contribute to a lowered mood, particularly in menopausal women.
Oestrogen Imbalance
Oestrogen is one of the most important players of menopausal symptoms.
Low Oestrogen Levels
A woman suffering from low oestrogen levels during menopause will usually have an estrogen reading of 10 - 20 pg/ml (pictograms/milliliter).
Oestrogen Levels
Age (yrs) oestrogen level (pg/ml) and Pictograms per milliliter
20 - 29 level 149
30 - 39 level 210
40 - 44 level 152
0 - 30 level 130
Oestradiol
Picograms per milliliter (pg/mL) or Picomoles per liter (pmol/L)
Women before menopause 30 - 400 or 110 - 1,468
Women after menopause 0 - 30 or 0 - 110
Symptoms of Low Oestrogen Levels
Because symptoms can be subtle and varied, women may not recognize at first that their issue is low estrogen. Below are some of the most frequently experienced symptoms that indicate low estrogen levels, particularly in menopausal women.
•Fatigue
•Hot Flashes
•Night Sweats
•Memory Lapses
•Difficulty Concentrating
•Joint Pain
•Vaginal Dryness
•Dry Skin
The most common long-term side effect of low estrogen levels is osteoporosis, which 20% of post menopausal women are thought to have.
Osteoporosis - Estrogen helps the bones to absorb calcium and vitamin D, without it bones become weak and there's an increased risk of fracturing.
Ref: http://www.natural-hormones.net/estrogen-symptoms-low-levels.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment