What Are The Symptoms Of Low Estrogen
Signs of low estrogen include:Dry skinTender breastsWeak or brittle bonesTrouble concentratingMoodiness and irritabilityVaginal dryness or atrophyHot flashes and night sweatsIrregular periods or no periods More items.
HRT using a combination of oestrogen and progestogen is often used after a hysterectomy when widespread endometriosis is present.
What Are Symptoms Of Low Estrogen After Hysterectomy
The most common symptoms of surgically-induced menopause are no different than menopause at a normal age. These include:
- vaginal dryness
- urinary tract infections
- breast tenderness
Maybe there is indeed something to the Greek etymology of hysterectomy? These symptoms are indeed capable of making anybody hysterical In addition to these symptoms, other negative outcomes of having early menopause include increase risk of bone fracture.
Because estrogen teams up with calcium, vitamin D, silica and other minerals in maintaining healthy bones, the lower your estrogen levels, the lower your bone density will be. This puts you at greater risk of breaking bones.
If your estrogen levels drop, youre also likely to pack on extra weight. This is because female sex hormones help digest fats and control blood sugar. This is why, as this research suggests, women approaching menopause are likely to become overweight.
Is Low Estrogen Dangerous
As if hot flashes werent reason enough to correct hormonal imbalances, perhaps the following statistic will.
Getting a hysterectomy has the potential for generating serious consequences in terms of health, says this research study. This includes having 2 to 7 times higher rates of heart disease. This is likely disheartening news for the more than 500,000 American women who get a hysterectomy every year.
The good news is there are a few different options of correcting hormonal imbalances.
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The Cons: Reasons To Lean Against Hrt After Surgical Menopause
- Your menopausal symptoms aren’t bothering you, or other treatments work fine. Some women don’t have very severe symptoms after surgical menopause and don’t want or need treatment. Even if you do have acute symptoms, HRT is not the only way to control them. Other drugs or lifestyle changes can help. Talk to your doctor.Ã
- You’re 50 or older. Many women who go into surgical menopause at 50 or older — the natural time of menopause – decide not to get HRT. That’s because their supply of estrogen would naturally drop during menopause anyway. There is some evidence that the older you are when you start HRT, the higher the cardiovascular risks – at least initially.Ã
- You have liver disease. Estrogen pills can put a lot of stress on the liver. So if you have liver disease, your doctor may not want you to take oral HRT. Other ways of getting estrogen – like patches and gels – bypass the liver and are safer options.Ã
- You’re concerned about the side effects. HRT can also cause symptoms of its own. Many resemble the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome — swollen and painful breasts, headaches, and nausea.Ã
- You’re at a higher risk of health problems like:
o Strokes. Hormone therapy can increase the risk of stroke, although your odds are still very low.
o Blood clots. Oral estrogen, at least, may also raise the risk of blood clots. Estrogen patches and creams may pose a lower risk, but that’s still unclear.
Starting Hormone Replacement Therapy After Hysterectomy
Because hormone replacement therapy is so effective at relieving symptoms, doctors often prescribe estrogen medications or a combination of estrogen and progesterone/progestin for women to take until the average onset age of menopause unless there is a medical reason not to proceed with treatment. Younger women tend to experience fewer side effects when taking hormone medications than those who begin taking hormones in their later years. Of course, like any pharmaceutical, hormone replacement therapy comes with side effects and risks that youll want to discuss with your doctor and monitor closely.
There are many hormone treatments available on the market, but many women prefer to pursue bioidentical hormone replacement therapy a plant-based alternative to conventional hormonesin order to treat their symptoms after hysterectomy. BHRT works by administering hormones that are chemically identical to those produced by the female body, in a ratio thats fully customized to your needs. These medications are typically well-tolerated and often provide powerful relief for menopause symptoms.
If youve recently had a hysterectomy and youre struggling with difficult symptoms of surgical menopause, its time to consult with an expert hormone health practitioner to achieve balance once again. With the right treatment, you can optimize both your health and your comfort as you enter this new stage of life.
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What Is Known About Hormone Therapy And The Risk Of Breast Cancer
Taking combined hormone therapy can increase your risk of developing breast cancer. Here are some important findings:
- Taking combination hormone therapy showed a rare increase of absolute risk of less than one additional case of breast cancer per 1000 person years of use.
- There was a nonsignificant reduction in breast cancer seen in women with hysterectomies on estrogen only therapy.
- If youve been diagnosed with breast cancer you should not take systemic hormone therapy.
Will I Enter Menopause After A Hysterectomy
Whether or not you enter menopause after a hysterectomy will depend on the type of surgery you have.
Menopause begins when the body reduces producing estrogen. Because your ovaries produce a large amount of your bodyâs estrogen, their removal through a radical hysterectomy, or a hysterectomy with oophorectomy, will trigger a sudden decrease in estrogen and lead to menopause. This is known as induced or surgical menopause.
If your hysterectomy doesnât involve the removal of your ovaries, or only one ovary is removed, you wonât enter surgical menopause, but you are still likely to enter menopause within five years.
Even with both ovaries intact, donât be surprised if, for a short time, you still experience menopause symptoms like hot flashes. This can happen because of the reduced blood flow to the ovaries, but should improve as you heal from the surgery.
If you are experiencing surgical menopause, you may experience other symptoms associated with a decrease in estrogen, not just hot flashes. These can include:
- Vaginal dryness
Compared to natural menopause, these symptoms, especially hot flashes, may be more frequent and severe than experienced in natural menopause.
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Natural Estrogen Replacement After Hysterectomy
Bioidentical estrogen replacement therapy starts with man-made hormones derived from plant estrogen. Chemically, bioidentical hormone replacements are the same as the natural hormones the body produces. This is why bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is considered a natural way to stop of the symptoms of menopause.
This is different from traditional hormone replacement therapy. In traditional therapies, hormones are prescribed like a medication and the drug is supplied by the pharmaceutical company. Custom-made hormones are designed to meet the precise needs of the individual. Custom-made hormones must be overseen by the doctor, who ensures that the corrrect dosages and amounts are given to the patient.
Herbs That Contain Efas
Fennel and fenugreek contain essential fatty acids, the substances that improve brain function, skin and hair, while they help prevent bone loss and heart disease. A lack of these same health benefits is directly related to menopause symptoms such as mood swings, confusion, osteoporosis, vaginal dryness and cardiovascular disease. Balch warns that fennel suppresses the appetite. She also states that fenugreek can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. These herbs are not intended as a substitute for traditional medical treatment.
- Fennel and fenugreek contain essential fatty acids, the substances that improve brain function, skin and hair, while they help prevent bone loss and heart disease.
- She also states that fenugreek can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea.
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How Is Low Estrogen Treated
Women who have low levels of estrogen may benefit from hormonal treatment. Hormonal treatment is the standard for low estrogen. There are non-hormonal options to help relieve symptoms. Non-hormonal options are preferred for women at high risk for breast cancer, blood clots, stroke, or liver disease.
Okay Good To Know But What Does This Have To Do With A Hysterectomy
If your healthcare team deems it necessary to remove both of your ovaries during the hysterectomy, your body will experience a quick drop in hormones which will lead to something called early menopause. The sudden loss of estrogen can trigger those notorious hot flashes, as well as several other symptoms:
- Vaginal dryness
- Painful intercourse
The ovaries also produce hormones that help prevent various health complications such as osteoporosis, heart disease, and aging skin . Unfortunately, there’s growing evidence to suggest that unnecessary ovary removal may be linked to increased risk for heart disease and stroke and other age-related diseases.
Whats more, results from the Mayo Clinic Cohort Study of Oophorectomy and Aging found that people who have both ovaries removed before natural menopause may be more likely to experience cognitive impairment however, more research is needed to prove causation.
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Balancing Hormones Without Hrt
Some functional medicine doctors like this one believe that bioidentical hormones are better than conventional hormone replacement therapy. One FMD, Jeffrey Dach, says,
A cocktail of bioidentical hormones including estradiol, estriol, progesterone, DHEA and testosterone works as well or better than the horse hormones. Since all women are humans, we I consider it preferable to prescribe human hormones rather than hormones from pregnant horse urine .
Some alternative health experts believe bioidentical hormones are better because theyre more natural than pharmaceutical hormone drugs. However, not all bioidentical hormones are regulated by the FDA.
If youre going to use bioidentical hormones, make sure you do it under the supervision of a medical doctor. Make sure the MD has an extensive history of helping patients with BHRT . Do your due diligence. Check the practitioners website and/or Yelp page. See if the functional medicine doctor is listed on HealthGrades.com.
How have you managed low estrogen symptoms? Leave a comment.
A Note From Cleveland Clinic
The decision to take hormone therapy needs to be a very personalized one. Hormone therapy is not for everyone. Discuss the risks and benefits of hormone therapy with your healthcare provider at an office visit specifically dedicated for this conversation. Youll need the time to address all the issues and answer questions in order to arrive at a decision that is best for you. Factors considered should be your age, family history, personal medical history and the severity of your menopausal symptoms.
Be sure to talk about the pros and cons of the different types and forms of HT as well as non-hormonal options such as dietary changes, exercise and weight management, meditation and alternative options.
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What Are My Estrogen Replacement Options/alternatives
Fortunately, there are several ways to increase estrogen levels naturally. One option is bio-identical hormone replacement therapy , which involves taking estrogen injections, pills, patches, or creams.
In fact, most patients need estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone to feel their best after a hysterectomy or oophorectomy.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Hormonal Imbalance After A Hysterectomy
After a hysterectomy, a woman will immediately feel the full effects of menopause, meaning that she will be dealing with a severe hormonal imbalance. This is rarely a comfortable transition for women, and it can have extreme physical and emotional side-effects. The effects of sudden menopause and recovering from the surgery can be very challenging for women to get through on their own, and many will consider hormone replacement therapy to make the transition more tolerable.
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When To Contact A Doctor
At the onset of perimenopause, a person may wish to schedule regular doctor visits for preventive healthcare.
Around perimenopause, doctors may recommend certain health screenings that sometimes include a colonoscopy, mammogram, and blood tests.
An individual should not hesitate to seek a doctors care and advice to deal with disruptive menopausal symptoms. If vaginal bleeding occurs after menopause, a person should also seek medical attention.
, including:
- Cardiovascular disease: As estrogen levels decline, the risk of heart disease rises.
- Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to weaken, increasing the risk of fractures. For the first years after menopause, people lose bone density very rapidly. This increases the risk of osteoporosis and breaks.
- Certain cancers: The risk of breast and ovarian cancer rises after menopause. The reasons vary but may be due to hormonal changes related to menopause and its treatments or natural aging.
Most people continue to enjoy a healthy life throughout menopause, however. They can further ensure this by maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet, exercising, and regularly checking in with a doctor.
What Happens If You Dont Take Estrogen After Menopause
These lower hormone levels cause a number of health issues throughout your body: Brain and nervous system You experience a mix of physical and emotional symptoms like mood swings, memory loss, irritability, hot flashes, fatigue, night sweats, anxiety, and depression.
Stroke, blood clots, and heart attackWomen who took either combined hormone therapy or estrogen alone had an increased risk of stroke, blood clots, and heart attack For women in both groups, however, this risk returned to normal levels after they stopped taking the medication .
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How Can I Increase My Estrogen Naturally
Foods and supplements that contain ingredients similar to estrogen may help boost your levels. Speak to your provider before starting any regimen to increase your estrogen.
Foods that contain phytoestrogens
Phytoestrogens are plant-based estrogens. Some studies suggest that eating foods that contain phytoestrogens helps with menopause symptoms like hot flashes. Some phytoestrogens may help promote heart health, bone health and skin elasticity. More research is needed to know for sure.
Foods that contain phytoestrogens include:
Supplements that contain phytoestrogens
The FDA doesnt regulate the safety and effectiveness of supplements, so its important to check with your provider before taking supplements. Some supplements contain phytoestrogens similar to the ones found in foods and may help manage symptoms associated with low estrogen:
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Contact Your Physician For Help With Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Whether youre experiencing menopause after a hysterectomy where your ovaries have been kept or removed, you may need bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Menopause and perimenopause can be very disruptive, especially following a major surgical procedure.
The best way to lessen the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause is through bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. At Nava Health and Vitality Center, we perform evaluations to help people going through hormone changes. Our hormone therapies can help put your body back into balance. To find out more about hormone replacement therapy, weight loss help, diagnostic services and skin care and aesthetics, make an appointment online.
What Other Symptoms Can You Experience After A Hysterectomy
The most obvious symptom of a hysterectomy is actually lack thereof: no more menstrual cycle! For many people, a hysterectomy symbolizes an improved quality of life however, others might experience grief over the loss of fertility or a disinterest in sex.
Dr. van Dis shares that for women whose menstruation or fibroids were interfering signifcantly with their quality of life, they may experience great joy after recovering from a hysterectomy. She elaborates, They may feel free to have more sex, if sex was painful. They may decide to perform exercise that before caused bladder leakage or pain. In short, she says, The majority of women who have hysterectomy experience marked improvement in their quality of life.
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Hrt And Surgical Menopause
So what is surgical menopause? It’s menopause that develops suddenly after the ovaries — the main producers of the hormone estrogen — are surgically removed.
The removal of the ovaries is called an oophorectomy. The procedure is often combined with a hysterectomy — removal of the uterus — but not always. And in fact, women who only have their uterus removed will not go into surgical menopause. Their ovaries are still making estrogen. They’ll go into menopause naturally when they get older, although sometimes a bit earlier than usual.
Estrogen plays a key role throughout the body. It affects the brain, the bones, the skin, the heart, the blood vessels, and more. While estrogen levels lower gradually during natural menopause, they plummet with surgical menopause. That sudden drop in estrogen can lead to menopausal symptoms that can be quite severe.
Hormone therapy after surgery — either with estrogen and progestin or with estrogen alone — is a way to counteract the supply of estrogen you’ve lost. Women who have both the uterus and ovaries removed usually just get estrogen replacement therapy alone. But women who have only the ovaries removed need both estrogen and progestin. That’s because estrogen alone can increase the risk of cancer in the uterus. Adding progestin removes this risk.
Rarely, if ever, will both ovaries be removed without the uterus. Often, only one ovary may be removed, which will negate the need for HRT at the time of surgery,
How To Get Started On Hrt
Speak to your local GP practice if youre interested in starting HRT.
You can usually begin HRT as soon as you start experiencing menopausal symptoms and will not usually need to have any tests first. However, a blood test to measure your hormone levels may be carried out if youre aged 40 to 45. Blood tests may also be carried out to help diagnose suspected premature menopause if youre under 40 and have menopausal symptoms.
Your GP can explain the different types of HRT available and help you choose one thats suitable for you.
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