/assets/images/provider/photos/2806592.jpeg)
Estrogen plays a significant role in the body, especially for women. It affects everything from your mood to your skin, bones, and brain. When estrogen levels drop, the signs aren't always obvious. Some can be subtle, surprising, or easily confused with other issues.
That’s why it’s essential to understand the lesser-known symptoms of estrogen deficiency. At Innovative Women’s Care in Las Vegas, Nevada, board-certified OB/GYN provider Marguerite Brathwaite, MD, F.A.C.O.G., helps women with hormone therapy to keep estrogen levels correct.
Having a hard time staying asleep? You’re not alone. While many people blame stress or screen time, low estrogen can also be the culprit.
Estrogen helps regulate body temperature and impacts the part of the brain that controls sleep. When levels dip, night sweats or sudden warmth can wake you up. Even if you fall asleep easily, staying asleep becomes harder. You wake up tired and groggy.
Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining urinary tract health, a fact that many people may not be aware of. When levels drop, tissues can become thinner, drier, and more susceptible to bacterial infection.
As a result, you may notice more frequent UTIs or a constant sense of urgency. These changes are widespread during perimenopause and postmenopause. If UTIs become a regular issue, hormone levels could be part of the problem.
Skin changes often sneak up gradually. Your moisturizer may stop working. Maybe your arms and legs feel dry no matter what you do.
Estrogen plays a role in collagen production and skin hydration. Low levels can lead to dryness, thinning, and sensitivity. You may also notice an increase in fine lines and changes in skin elasticity. If your skin care routine hasn’t changed but your skin has, your hormones could be shifting.
Everyone forgets things sometimes. But if your memory feels noticeably fuzzier or you’re struggling to focus, low estrogen could be a factor.
Estrogen helps support brain function, particularly in areas such as memory and attention. When it drops, you might notice brain fog or difficulty concentrating. These symptoms are common during perimenopause and are often overlooked or dismissed.
Aches and stiffness aren’t always due to aging or overuse. Estrogen has anti-inflammatory effects and helps maintain joint flexibility and mobility. When levels fall, inflammation can increase, and tissues can become less elastic.
It can lead to joint pain, particularly in the hands, knees, or hips. If you’re noticing new aches or morning stiffness, hormone imbalance might be worth discussing with your doctor.
Feeling irritable, anxious, or unusually weepy? Estrogen helps regulate mood by influencing the production of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain.
When estrogen is low, these feel-good chemicals are also affected. It can lead to mood swings, low energy, or heightened anxiety. Many people attribute these shifts to stress, but hormone levels might be playing a bigger role than you think.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, don’t ignore them. Track your emotions and note when they occur. Share that information with Dr. Brathwaite.
Simple blood tests can check hormone levels. If estrogen deficiency is confirmed, there are treatment options. Hormone therapy, lifestyle changes, and nutritional support can help rebalance your system and relieve symptoms.
Estrogen deficiency doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. Sometimes the signs are quiet, scattered, or unexpected. But your body has a way of signaling when something is off.
Pay attention to those signals. The sooner you identify the root cause, the sooner you can start feeling like yourself again. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today if you have any questions.